Northants sheep breeder in record triple title championship achievement
Sheep breeder David Wadland from Aston le Walls, Northants is celebrating having achieved what is believed to be a first at the English Winter Fair livestock showcase.
Mr David Wadland and Kate Gunn with the Best Pen of Lambs in Show
Sheep breeder David Wadland from Aston le Walls, Northants is celebrating having achieved what is believed to be a first at the English Winter Fair livestock showcase, Staffs County Showground, on Nov 15/16 scooping all three top sheep titles in live ring and Carcase Hall competitions.
Mr Wadland who breeds Texel and Beltex sheep saw his lambs scoop the Champion’s title in the Live/Dead class with Beltex x Dutch Texel having been picked out by live lamb judge Robert Rattray – a butcher and sheep breeder from Aberystwyth, Wales – as his choice of champion in the competition sponsored by marketing group Farmers Fresh.
This allowed Mr Wadland to collect his first prize money from this year’s English Winter Fair with £50 offered by sponsor Blue Merle Ltd. And more cash prizes were to soon follow as Mr Wadland attracted more titles.
In the Carcase Hall classes his Beltex X wether lamb carcase weighing 23.4kg and graded E2 was selected as Champion under judge David Prince who runs a thriving butchers shop at Stonedge, near Chesterfield. The judge later purchased the carcase in the EWF’s Auction of Prizewinners paying £8.60/kg (£209.24 gross).
Mr Robin Slade and Derek Watkins with the Reserve Champion Pen of Lambs
Returning to the live ring classes Mr Wadland – assisted by professional handler Kate Gunn – then led a pair of Dutch Texel wether lambs to victory as Best Pen of Lambs in the show attracting £200 prize money from sponsor Blue Merle Ltd.
Sheep judge Robert Rattray described Mr Wadland’s pair as being simply ‘solid with meat’. Despite interest from buyers at the event’s ringside the lambs were retained by the exhibitor.
Into Reserve Champion Pen of Lambs spot went another of the English Winter Fair’s time-served supporters as Robin Slade assisted by Derek Watkins (whom was making his 51st visit to the show) led a pair of Dutch Texel ewe lambs to victory attracting £50 prize money from Blue Merle Ltd. This pen later sold for £360/head (£8.04/kg live weight) to Ivanhoe Livestock.
In the Carcase Hall Mr Wadland’s victory saw B Blandford & Sons of Ledbury, Herefordshire’s 26kg entry graded E3L take Reserve Lamb Carcase title helping nudge 41 lamb carcases sold to average £4.19/kg deadweight (£93/head), reports auctioneer Bagshaws.
Elsewhere in the Sheep Section H Heath of Muggington, near Ashbourne, Derbyshire took top honours in both the Novice and the Single Lamb classes; and Miss J Walker of Baden Hall Wharf, Staffordshire took top honours in the Cull Ewe class.
