Ashford Cattle Show 2010 – Monday and Tuesday 29th and 30th November
2010 Show and sale report
The 140th show in the 152nd year was held in wintery conditions with snow threatening on
the Monday and by the time we sat down to dinner on Tuesday evening 3 or 4 inches on
the ground in the area. However the support of the local farming and rural community
was as strong as ever and a very special event resulted. The biggest entry of stock for
many a year, particularly in the led cattle classes and the sheep pens led to some very
strong classes in both sections and very worthy winners of all the classes. There will be
very few shows left in the south of England which display such a strong line of carcases
and poultry as found in the Charter Hall and judged by Richard Scott and John Cox while
the crops classes produced another good display from the growers in the district – long
may this event continue. Everyone involved deserves a pat on the back – without
exhibitors we would have no show, without sponsors no prizes and no volunteers to run
the event would mean the end of the show as we now know it.
So now to the details of the 2 days and first the cattle section. Mark Newman from
Hampshire was principle judge following in fathers footsteps (Robert judged in the same
ring only 4 years ago). The family’s business is P C Turner Ltd running a medium sized
abattoir in Farnborough which as slaughterers and meat wholesalers serve many
customers in a area of the south and east of England. Mark has become a regular buyer of
stock from Ashford in recent years and as buyer and judge of good stock his opinion is
very much respected. 83 cattle were catalogued in the led classes and this section
produced the best selection of stock for many years. First time exhibitors in Ashford,
Robert Martin (Sevenoaks) and W A Ketley and Sons (Will and Gerald from Colchester)
eventually come out at the top winning the champions prizes with regulars Angley School
Young Farmers (Cranbrook) completing the picture in the final lineout – want an
impressive ring of 4 cattle the final was (2 steers and 2 heifers) from which the best were
selected. The first 7 classes saw 2 first prizes for new exhibitor Mr S J M Evans from
Staplehurst with young Limousin cross cattle in addition to the 3 already mentioned
exhibitors who produced first card winners in the remaining classes. Angley School took
the honours in the Young Farmers classes, Charlie and Dawn Bull a red card with a
Blonde x Blue heifer and Westlands School Young Farmers top in the non Sussex native
line with an Alan Vincent bred Lincoln Red cross steer. Sussex honours went to Angley
School in the steer class and L Stevens and Sons producing best heifer.
The best in show was eventually judged to be Robert Martins super Limousin x British
Blue heifer and reserve again a heifer the Ketleys Blonde Cross. Best steer was a
Limousin cross bred by Miss Wendy Turley shown by Angley School and reserve a pure
Limousin from the Ketleys.
Market supporter Michael Hickman judged the penned cattle and best native pair were
Gerry Smiths Sussex steers bought in September from David Burkes herd dispersal and
Mark Cleverdon – 01233 506288, 07748 202688
mark.cleverdon@hobbsparker.co.uk
Julie Coney – 01233 506242 or Julie.coney@hobbsparker.co.uk
Ashford Cattle Show 2010 – Monday and Tuesday 29th and 30th November
then Gallagher Farms and Rupert Taylor Ltd had red cards for their Limousin cross steers
and Charolais heifers The best pair were judged to be Gallaghers Farms steers.
From the Tuesday market cattle commercial judge Simon Jenner picked best pens for
steers from Tom Masters, Seaford; Ralph and Angie Dickson, Steyning and Dylan Issac,
Mersham and Thomas Broom and Sons (Farmers) presented the best cull cow.
The sheep section was a challenge to judge Jimmy Godden and the stewards with nearly
140 pairs of lambs to judge in 13 classes. The job was eventually completed in just over 4
hours (and at about the same time as the cattle). Nine individual exhibitors lined up 13
pairs for the championship in the end and Mrs Hazel Long from Mystole near Canterbury
(with daughter Katie) was awarded championship with her Texel cross lambs and Ed and
Gemma Lovejoy from Woodchurch were reserve with Beltex crosses. Young Farmers
Clubs were again prominent with Homewood School, Teneterden (under Andrew Town
leadership) taking 2 YFC class firsts and Angley School and Meopham School also
featururing in the red card list. Scott and Montgomerie (Wrotham) exhibited best Romney
lambs and Jonathon Long (Aldington) best other natives with Hampshire Down x Beltex
crosses while Hazel Long notched 3 first in all.
Michael Hickman also judged the pens of 5 in this section with Suffolk crosses from Peter
Francesconi best native and then Angley School and Stephen Curran winning the 2
continental cross classes both with Texel crosses.
Tuesday morning saw market (and often show) regular Caroloine Worley show the best
pen of lambs and R G Hobbs Farms and John Lilley also in the prize list. David
Thompson kindly judged these prizes.
Young handlers classes were judged in these 2 main sections prior to the main judging
and Sarah Lindsey (Angley School) caught the eye of Rhys Grenham in the cattle ring
and from 3 age groups in the sheep ring Emma Walsh (Newline Learning YFC formerly
Oldborough Manor School, Maidstone) came through for judge Gemma Lovejoy to win
the champions John Donavan salver.
Live pigs were judged by market haulier Paul Bowen from Sevenoaks and Angley School
YFC were champions with Ben Hope bred pigs and the Hosiers from Elham reserve.
Angley School also presented the best single pig.
The carcase show remains a strong section and again market regulars competed strongly
with the Young Farmers Clubs with first prizes eventually ending up in the hands of
Stephen Curran (Southdown x Texel); Shenley Farms, Headcorn (Suffolks); L Stevens
and Sons (Beltex) and Lordsland Farm as well as both Homewood and Angley School.
The reintroduced (in a different format) ‘live and dead’ classes were won by Wakeham,
Dawson, Harmer from Lewes (Southdown cross) and Angley School. Best carcase (and
section champion) came from Angley School (a Texel cross) and reserve was a Beltex
cross from L Stevens and Sons (Sittingbourne). Pigs and poultry also feature in this
Mark Cleverdon – 01233 506288, 07748 202688
mark.cleverdon@hobbsparker.co.uk
Julie Coney – 01233 506242 or Julie.coney@hobbsparker.co.uk
Ashford Cattle Show 2010 – Monday and Tuesday 29th and 30th November
section and Angley School again produced the best pig carcase while Ben Hope was in
reserve spot this time. Best chickens from the 7 pairs entered came from Mrs Julie Wade
from Sandhurst while turkey class red card exhibits were shared between Mr S Everett
and John Howe (Biddenden) with Johns birds winning best overall while first prize
winning goose came from K J (Gilbert) Kemp of Bexhill.
The “Best potatoes in the show” award went to R J & M P Finn-Kelsey from the heart of
Romney Marsh with their Melody while the Thompson family won the “White
unwashed” trophy with a sample of Estima. The Corn points cup was won, for the second
year, by Denne Hill Farms from Canterbury. New and familier names on the first prize
winners list including in the first category C P Fuggle and Sons with their Mascani oats
and then A J Thompson and Sons (Viscount wheat), J Batchelor Partners (Kahuna peas),
P W Francesconi (Cordiale wheat) and M A Piper and Son Farms (Sunrise linseed) from
the regular supporters. S Weller and Son (Stephen and family from Woodchurch)
presented the best bay of hay.
Cakes and art classes attacked good entries again with Claire Burden baking and icing the
best Christmas cake and Bethersden Brownies and Homewood School YFC producing the
best group art and Molly Shorter and James Wright winning the individual effort classes.
Cup presentation in the Amos Hall saw the Mayor of Ashford present various cups
including the major summer competition cups to the Bromleys (crops), David Howards
Farms (Flocks) and glassware (kindly sponsored by Nick Bates from Maidstone) has been
presented to the beef herd class winners and champions, Thorndean Farms (Cowbeech,
Hailsham) and G Bates Ltd (Sutton Valance, Kent).
Supper was served on Monday evening, courtesy of Marchants Butchers, Bethersden and
EBLEX and beef and sausage banquettes were enjoyed by all supporters and helpers. The
Hobbs Parker bar was also appreciated again. The evening is a very important pre
Christmas social occasion for many and the committee work hard to provide other
attractions including the Amos Hall craft and business stand area and this year the new
cookery demonstrations run alongside the EBLEX meat cutting presentation. Di Hickman
(cookery), Liz Ford and Jonathon Eckley (EBLEX), and Alan Pout from Surmans
Butchers, Tankerton all made their contribution to this part of the show – thank you.
Now to sale day on Tuesday 30th November – first section to be sold and always the live
pigs and the trend of fair prices without any real fireworks was set from the beginning.
The champions (Angley Schools pair) were in the first pen and made £2 per kg (£136
each) to Marchants Butchers, Bethersden while the judge, Paul Bowen on behalf of Brian
Wilson, Hockley, bought the reserve champions from Mrs B Hosier for £1.30 (£101.40).
Brian Wilson took the majority of other pigs in the sale for between 92 and 100p. Best
sow was bought by Peter Martin for Cheales at 60p (£177).
Mark Cleverdon – 01233 506288, 07748 202688
mark.cleverdon@hobbsparker.co.uk
Julie Coney – 01233 506242 or Julie.coney@hobbsparker.co.uk
Ashford Cattle Show 2010 – Monday and Tuesday 29th and 30th November
The live lambs saw a big entry for sale and the majority made between £70 and £95 per
head and most of the notable prices coming for lambs in the continental cross classes
where the best and heavier lambs were making £85 to £95. Champion lambs from Hazel
Long made £205 to Lee Moore for his business ‘The Butcher of Brogdale’ and the reserve
champions (Ed and Gemma Lovejoy’s) were bought by the same man for £138. Park
Farm Butchers, Hawkhurst and The Butcher of Brogdale bought the best pens of 5 from
Angley School and S W Curran for £91 and £72 respectively.
The cattle sale ring was where the best trade was to seen with local retail butchers keen to
source good cattle for the traditional strong demand for red meat over the Christmas
holiday period. Wilkes of Cranbrook; H W Coldbeath, Seal, Sevenoaks; Fulk Butchers,
Pirbright; Park Farm Butchers, Hawkhurst; The Butcher of Brogdale, Faversham;
William Orme, Offham, Maidstone; the Kemps and Lower Hardres Farmshop,
Canterbury; and L F Read, Teynham, Sittingbourne were all retailers who bought cattle.
In addition Anglo Dutch Meats, Charing; Tottingworth Farms, Heathfield; Highfields
Farm, Mayfield; Michael Hickman, Sissinghurst; Fowlers, Burnham on Crouch, Essex; P
C Turner Ltd, Farnborough, Hampshire; and Lamberts of Eye, Suffolk were the regional
abattoirs and wholesalers who purchased cattle – a thank you goes out again to these men
and there buyers for supporting the sale. In the ring 20 of the 49 led cattle sold made over
£2 per kg with the champion top call at £7 per kg (£4235 gross) to H W Coldbreath Ltd
and reserve heifer £3.30 (£227.50) to The Butcher of Brogdale. Champion steer was
purchased from Angley School YFC by Mark Newman for P C Turner Ltd at £3.00
(1977).
The carcases sold to a fair trade again but it is should be said a few prospective customers
in this section were put off attending by the deteriorating weather conditions. The better
fleshed and generally heavier lambs made either side of £4 per kg while others traded at
between £3 and £4. The champion was the highlight making £23 (£552.20) to Cottage
Farm Meats, Sevenoaks and reserve going to the same buyer at £8 (£184) while
Marchants, Bethersden bought Homewood Schools best Charollais (a first prize winner)
for £4.80 (£120).
Tony Denne, President bought the best Christmas cake for £90 with £260 raised from the
sale of 3 cakes for the Pilgrims Hospice (presidents selected charity for the year.
290 people attended the Annual show dinner at the Ashford International Hotel (a sell out
2 weeks before the day).
Full averages will be printed next week as an addendum to this report in the weekly
news
Mark Cleverdon – 01233 506288, 07748 202688
mark.cleverdon@hobbsparker.co.uk
Julie Coney – 01233 506242 or Julie.coney@hobbsparker.co.uk
Ashford Cattle Show 2010 – Monday and Tuesday 29th and 30th November
Averages – Led cattle 58 exhibited and 51 sold - 26 Steers to £3.29 per kg and
£1598.07 per beast av £1.84 and £1083 (without reserve to £2.27 and £1382 av
£1.79 and £1062). 26 Heifers to £3.29 and £1083 av £1.84 and £976 (without
champion to £2.59 and £1336 av £1.77 and £938). 34 commercial cattle
exhibited and 34 sold - 14 Steers to £1.93 per kg and £1170 per beast av £1.67
and £908. 16 Heifers to £1.85 and £955 av £1.67 and £761. 4 Bulls to £1.69 and
£948 av £1.66 and £905. Lambs 196 exhibited and 188 sold - to £6.80 per kg
and £320 per lamb av £1.92 and £85.80 (without champion and reserve to £2.93
and £132 av £1.83 and £81.79). 65 commercial lambs penned and sold to £2.14
per kg and £85 per lamb av £1.80 and £74.80. Pigs 53 exhibited and 53 sold to
£2.50 per kg and £165 per pig av £1.10 and £101 (without champion and reserve
to £2.50 and £165 av £1.06 and £98). Lamb carcases 99 exhibited and 86 sold
to £15 per kg and £312 per carcase av £4.01 and £84 (without champion and
reserve to £7 and £140 av £3.79 and £79.59). Pig carcases 14 exhibited and 13
sold - £3.30 per kg and £308 per carcase av £2.58 and £184 (without champion
and reserve to £3.30 and £272 av £2.54 and £175). 5 geese exhibited and sold to
£7 per kg and £49 av £5.73 and £34.96. Chicken 5 pairs exhibited and sold - 10
to £4 per kg and £22.50 per bird av £3.46 per kg and £17.86. Turkeys 33
exhibited and 23 sold to £18 per kg and £117 av £4.53 and £38.50 (without
champion and reserve to £7 and £108.50 av £3.89 and £33.59).
Mark Cleverdon – 01233 506288, 07748 202688
mark.cleverdon@hobbsparker.co.uk
Julie Coney – 01233 506242 or Julie.coney@hobbsparker.co.uk
Ashford Cattle Show 2010 – Monday and Tuesday 29th and 30th November
Any comments and suggestions to improve the whole
event are always welcome.
Don’t miss next years show – Monday and Tuesday
29th and 30th November 2010
Mark Cleverdon – 01233 506288, 07748 202688
mark.cleverdon@hobbsparker.co.uk
Julie Coney – 01233 506242 or Julie.coney@hobbsparker.co.uk