Leyburn heifer wins supreme champion at National Commercial Cattle Show

The show, part of the National Beef Expo at Darlington Farmers' Auction Mart, featured more than 120 head of cattle across 16 classes and four championships.

Judged by Welsh duo Bryn Lloyd and Dafydd Lewis, overall supreme champion was awarded to B&L Wilkinson, from Leyburn for their home bred Limousin heifer Maggie, shown by 22-year-old Beth Wilkinson. The reserve supreme animal was exhibited by Stewart and Lindsay Bett from Stirling, Scotland and bred by W P Hughes, Anglesey.

Commenting on his selection, Bryn said: “There was not a lot of difference between the two – both are excellent heifers. Both have great style and exceptional tops and correctness, however, as soon as I saw the winner, I just thought it can’t get better than this.”

The baby beef champion was a June 2021 exhibitor-bred heifer from Edwards Brothers, Corwen, Denbighshire, Wales. The baby beef reserve champion was a June 2021 heifer bred by P & A Jarman, from Cumbria and exhibited by Andrew Ewing from Annan, Dumfriesshire, Scotland.

The champion young handler was Amy Vance, aged 14, from Whithorn, Newton Stewart, Scotland.

Young handler champion Amy Vance

The reserve champion young handler was Orlena Henderson, aged 17, from County Durham.

Judge Dafydd Lewis took a somewhat different approach by asking the two finalists to swap animals. This posed a slightly different challenge and required both handlers to put all their skills to the test. Amy was described as confident in the ring as well as in her handling and caught the eye of the judges from entering the ring.

This year, the Ghyll House Perpetual Trophy was awarded for the first time to the overall supreme champion in memory of Hannah Brown. On being awarded overall supreme champion, Beth said: “To win like this at Beef Expo is just amazing, especially with a homebred animal. This is our first show of the season, so we’ve set the bar high.”

The Expo's best breed society stand award was presented to Wagyu, 1st for Farmers was awarded best indoor trade stand, and Glendale Engineering scooped best outdoor trade stand.

National Beef Association chief executive, Neil Shand said: "The cattle show was as expected truly outstanding, and a showcase of some of the very best of British Beef cattle and of course congratulations must go to the overall of champions of champions the Wilkinson family for their homebred heifer Maggie.”