www.royalshow.org.uk

Judges Report
by John Jefferson

May I take this opportunity to thank the Council of the Simmental Society and RASE for the opportunity to judge the most prestigious show in England.

Having been a member of the Judge’s Panel for 24 years, I have seen many changes to the type of cattle that have been bred. Fashions change and so we have to adapt. When I judge I try to think what are present day needs, because like it or not if we lose the commercial man’s requirements we will struggle.

72.01 FIRST CLASS:
A big class to get me going – 16 impressive heifers.
1st was the very impressive MOORSIDE LORNA’S SNOWQUEEN. Tall, stylish quality heifer who commanded attention as soon as she entered the ring. This is a female for the future.
2nd HORSFORDMANOR SAFFRON. Another super heifer – well presented with very good conformation and character. She should mature into a very good cow.

72.03 SECOND CLASS:
This was won by HORSFORDMANOR RUBY - a big powerful dark red heifer, who is definitely going to make a big cow.
2nd: PERRYWOOD ROWANNE – a very thick heifer who had a lot of conformation, but lacked the size of the 1st, but the type to breed a bull.

72.04 THIRD CLASS:
This was lead by the lovely CRACKLEY CORNELIA 53R – a light coloured heifer that was huge, plenty of breed character and conformation – a super beast.
2nd DARSHAM REAL TREASURE – another smashing heifer, beautifully turned out, but just lacked the power of the winner.

72.05 FOURTH CLASS:
1st POPES REGINA – a darkish coloured heifer, well grown, clean bellied and had tremendous hindquarters. A true beef animal, but still retaining her femininity.
2nd BURGHBRIDGE EMILY 5TH – a pale coated heifer which had very good conformation. With being thickly made she looked a shade smaller than the 1st.

72.06 FIFTH CLASS:
1st POPES NELLYS PRINCESS – beautifully shown with a bonny calf at foot. An outstanding beast showing great breed character and conformation. An excellent example of what we should be aiming to breed. My Reserve Female Champion.
2nd JAGERGARD UNIQ – a well grown heifer with great stature. She had great length and moved very freely, but just lacked the power in the hindquarter.

72.07 SIXTH CLASS:
1ST DARSHAM NINA – another wonderful young cow who showed excellent breed qualities, tremendous length and sweetness. Another beast beautifully turned out.
2nd CELTIC NOODLE – a real beef machine with excellent hindquarters and locomotion, but just lacked femininity.

72.08 SEVENTH CLASS:
1st ATLOW RHIANS VALENTINE – demanded attention as soon as she entered the show ring. Turned out to perfection – her head, body capacity, huge hindquarters, movement, were all truly outstanding. This cow is as good as it gets. Valentine is awesome and to make her Female & Supreme Champion was my easiest decision of the day.
2nd BURGHBRIDGE HALEY – up to size and showing plenty of breed character, conformation, good movement. Hadn’t the power of Valentine, but a wonderful cow nevertheless.

BULLS:
72.12:
Winner of the Junior Bull Class was ASTCOTE SARACEN – a powerful youngster with a lot of potential, who paraded well. My Junior Male Champion.
2nd POPES STRONGBOW – the youngest bull who probably had the best conformation, but just lacked finish and maturity.

72.13:
Not a vintage class of bulls, but the top three were a little way ahead of the rest.
1st WROXALL SHAGGY [P] – a very good correct well fleshed bull with a clean belly, who had the best hindquarters, development and movement.
2nd KEY SPARTACUS – a long modern type, well grown and carried excellent fleshing, but just needed a little more 2nd thigh.

72.14:
THE START OF THE BIG BOYS!!
1st HAZELDEN RINGMASTER – a bull of tremendous stature and outstanding conformation. He carried a great deal of flesh and no waste. He ended up Reserve Male Champion.
2nd CORSKIE RADIUM – another wonderful bull, well grown and well fleshed. He had excellent length and locomotion was very good. He had very good rounds, but needed a little more 2nd thigh development.

72.15:
1st GLENTURK NOMAD – an outstanding beast who was very difficult to fault. His head full of character and wonderful skin that covered a tremendous amount of flesh, which complimented his huge hindquarters. For a heavyweight he paraded well. This bull had sparkle and was beautifully turned out. I made him my Male Champion and Reserve Supreme.
2nd SUNDIAL LEWIS – another bull with wonderful fleshing and conformation, but I felt he was a little heavy in the fore quarters. The oldest bull in the class and I thought he was just starting to show his age.

72.23:
THE SIR JOHN EASTWOOD Dam Group of the Year:
1st D M DONNELLY
Only one Group, but a damn good one!

72.24:
THE ROBERT HITCHINS STERLING Sire Group of the Year: Judging Groups can be difficult due to the different types of animals selected. In the end it comes down to which Group compliments each other the best.
1st G D KEY & SONS
2nd JH & VG WOOD
3rd A & PA HURN, JD & A LOFTUS, JT & G SMITH

I would like to congratulate all exhibitors for putting forward a wonderful show of quality animals, and I would like to thank the stewards and the girls of the Society for keeping everything running smoothly and for looking after me. A day to savour.

ROYAL SHOW JUNIOR STOCK JUDGING COMPETITION

SENIOR TEAM:
1st North West; Rob Heaps & Ron Loftus
2nd Midlands; Rob Fitton & Boomer Birch
3rd Scotland; Gillian Greenhill & William Young

JUNIOR TEAM:
1st Wales; Anwen Jones & Rhys Francis
2nd Wales; Angharad Jones & Angharad Francis
3rd South East; Emma & Luke Blomfield

SENIOR INDIVIDUAL:
1st North West & Centre West; Rob Heaps & Nina Blundell
3rd Midlands; Rob Fitton

JUNIOR INDIVIDUAL:
1st South East; Luke Blomfield
2nd Centre West; Vicki Hicks
3rd Wales; Rhys Francis

SENIOR BEST REASONS:
Scotland; Gillian Greenhill

JUNIOR BEST REASONS:
Midlands & Centre West; Boomer Birch & Sara Hunt