Future stars of the show ring strut their stuff in Barnard Castle (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Future stars of the show ring strut their stuff in Barnard Castle

12:00am Saturday 2nd March 2013 in News By Stuart Laundy, Reporter (Barnard Castle & Teesdale)

JESSIE J, Rhianna and Britney strutted their stuff to an admiring crowd in Barnard Castle this week.

Will.i.am, however, was not in the best of temper.

And when it came to the number one spot, none of them could match Betty Boo.

Pop stars in Teesdale?

Not exactly. Bringing a certain X-Factor to the dale were the future stars of the cattle show ring.

It just so happens that this year the farmers had, quite independently, plumped for well known names from the music world – there was also a Dizzy Rascal and an Emilie on show.

Robert Hutchinson, of R Hutchinson and Sons, Valley Farm, Bowes, joked: “The musical names were just the first that came into my head.”

Malcolm Wood, from L Guy and Son, Home Farm, Gilmonby, added: “These pop star names are just a coincidence.”

In total, there were 16 entries for the show and sale of show potential haltered cattle, the second time the event had been staged by Barnard Castle Auction Mart.

The cattle, all born before the end of June last year, will now go on to compete in agricultural shows both locally and further afield.

As an extra incentive, the mart will award £250 to any of those which go on to be judged supreme champion at major events including Countryside Live, Scottish Winter Fair, English Winter Fair, Agri Live Smithfield and the Royal Welsh Winter Fair.

Mart manager Libby Bell said the show potential competition had been set up to reflect the quality of cattle coming through the Barnard Castle sale ring.

“Other places do these type of show and we have just as good cattle as anybody else.

“There is tremendous quality of cattle in this area and in the North-East this is the best market for quality, so it seemed silly other places having these shows and not us.”

She added: “It's been well received and is definitely a firm fixture in the mart calendar.”

Judges Hannah Donaldson and David Hall picked out Betty Boo, shown by J W Dent and Sons, of Naby Farm, Lartington, as the best British blue heifer and overall champion.

She was one of six entries from J W Dent and Stuart Dent agreed she was the pick of the bunch. At the subsequent sale, she went for £1,750 to Messrs Fawcett, from York.

Reserve champion was Tiny Tempa, from R Hutchinson and Sons, Valley Farm, who was judged best British blue steer and was sold for £1,020 to R C & H Donaldson, of York.