THE skills of a young farmer from Hamsterley have been recognised at a competition organised by Darlington Farmers’ Auction Mart (DFAM).
Lily Williamson, of Littleburn Farm, took top prize in the heifer section for eight to 11-year-olds in DFAM’s Junior Farmers Club show and sale of overwintered cattle.
The 11-year-old’s Limousin also received the rosette for overall reserve champion.
The competition challenges the next generation of farmers to buy a beast in the autumn sales, look after it through the winter months and produce it for sale in the spring.
Lily bought her heifer at the mart’s Great Annual October suckled calf show. The cow hailed from Chop Gate based Stuart Beeforth, High Crookleith.
The show was judged by Mark Statton, of Messrs Renton Highlaws, Morpeth, and he decided 14-year-old Charlie Askwith, of Middle Mown Meadows, Crook, had the best beast on show, a 15-month-old red roan Limousin heifer.
The show was held on Easter Sunday, with mart officials declaring the event a great success with good support from vendors, onlookers and the wider public. The sale followed a day later.
A DFAM spokesman said the champion was brought to the show in “absolute perfection” and deservedly scooped the championship and the coveted showmanship prize.
“Congratulations must also go to Matthew Lawson, of Buddle House, Whashton, who bred the heifer and sold her at our special backend suckled calf show back in November,” he added.
He described Lily’s entry as “another lovely Limousin and further fantastic presentation as the standard from our youngsters reached new heights” . In the sale, Lily’s heifer headed to Scotland after being bought by Moir Livestock, Aberdeenshire.
The show was sponsored by Dot’s Cafe, Carrs Billington and Brockhills of Yorkshire.
Results
Class 1 Steer (vendor 8-15 years): 1, Francesca Stobbs, Killerby Farm (originally purchased from P Dent, Moory Lea); 2, Matthew Collin, Intake Farm (originally purchased from K O Stones, Nun Cote Nook).
Class 2 Heifer (vendor 8-11 years): 1, Lily Williamson, Littleburn Farm (originally purchased from S Beeforth, Crookleith); 2, John Carter, Hinedon Cottage (originally purchased from N Swinbank, Cold Comfort); 3, Abigail Dent, Moory Lea (originally purchased from P Tindale, Paradise).
Class 3 Heifer (vendor 12-15 years): 1, Charlie Askwith, Low Mown Meadows (originally purchased from B R Lawson, Buddle House); 2, Harry Willey, Broomfield (originally purchased from Northfield Farms, South Thornberry); 3, Sarah Willey, Broomfield (originally purchased from N Swinbank, Cold Comfort).
Class 4 Steer (vendor 16-29 years): 1, Oliver Dennis, Brook House (originally purchased from D L Brown, South View); 2, Elliot Grieves, Oakdene (originally purchased from G Corner, Rye Close).
Class 5 Heifer (vendor 16-21 years): 1, Elliot Grieves, Oakdene (originally purchased from C Walton, Barnard Castle); 2, Harry Askwith, Low Mown Meadows (originally purchased from K O Stones, Nun Cote Nook); 3, Abi Hill, Knavesmire (originally purchased from East Newbiggin Farms).
Class 6 Heifer (vendor 22-29 years): 1, Daniel Lynn, Northway (originally purchased from K O Stones, Nun Cote Nook); 2, Rebecca Wilson, Throstlenest (originally purchased from A Newton, Gibbet Hills); 3, Alex Wilson, Heugh Farm (originally purchased from D L Brown, South View).
Showmanship and presentation: 1, Charlie Askwith, Low Mown Meadows; 2, Matthew Collin, Intake Farm; 3, Francesca Stobbs, Killerby Farm.
Champion: Charlie Askwith, Low Mown Meadows (originally purchased from B R Lawson, Buddle House); Reserve: Lily Williamson, Littleburn Farm (originally purchased from S Beeforth, Crookleith).
