Better weather for South of England
Committee Chairman: Nick Wren Secretary: Nick Williams Treasurer: Martin Gibson Show secretary: Aimee Hewlett
With better grass growing weather than the summer of 2018, the South of England Hereford Breeders’ Association enjoyed a successful 2019. What a contrast 2019 was to the year before, when record high temperatures and very little rainfall in the south not only proved difficult for grazing cattle, but also for making forage for the winter months. In 2019 there seemed to be the right amount of rain at the right time to ensure a supply of grass throughout the summer and, as a result, the calves have done well on the dams with very little supplementary feeding. The year started with the annual AGM which was kindly hosted by Simon and Gemma Hartwright, of Spartan Herefords, Abingdon, Oxfordshire. As always, it was a great opportunity for members to meet up and have a good catch up over what was a very good meal after the formaility of the meeting. Afterwards, a trip round the cattle gave way for much discussion. The showing calendar in the South of England altered this year with the region’s first show of the year, Surrey County, not having any competitive livestock classes for the first time. Therefore the
APPLERIDGE HEREFORDS
Pedigree young bulls and breeding females usually for sale. EBV recorded
Cleland 1 Oyster Gem 49th was junior female champion at the Royal Three Counties
first show competed at by South of England Hereford Breeders' Association (SEHBA) members was the South of England where Kevin and Sally Ann Hasemore, Chidham, West Sussex took the championship with Millenium Hellcat and Harriet Jackson, Gundleton, Hampshire was reserve with Hudley 1 Lucy. A large contingent of breeders then headed to the Royal Three Counties Show and members from the area again showed their credentials with a number of breed successes. Grand and junior female was the 15 month old heifer Cleland 1 Oyster Gem 49th from AE Nesbitt Farms Ltd, Hungerford, Berkshire. Tony Yaldren, Crawley, Hampshire took reserve interbreed with his heifer Banjo’s 1 Gilly Coco at Cranleigh Show. At Kent County Show, the Herefords were represented by Kevin and Sally Anne Hasemore. At New Forest Show, regular exhibitor Jayne Pothecary, Beaulieu, Hampshire had success in the ring with her cattle but the championship was taken by Solpoll 1 Perfection exhibited by SC and GL Hartwright with Les Gould, Shaftesbury, Dorset in reserve with Baybridge 1 Rufus. Englefield Home Farms, Theale, Berkshire, took the breed championship with Englefield 1 Georgia 9th while local breeder Tony Yaldren followed on from his successful season last year and took reserve champion with his female Gilly Coco. A good representation of local breeders went to the Royal Berkshire Show at Newbury, with Gloucestershire - based Michael Clark’s heifer, Lowesmoor 1 Beauty 1117, winning female champion and A E Nesbitt Farms Ltd winning further plaudits for Cleland 1 Oyster Gem 49th which took junior female champion.
Martin Jenkins Appleridge Farm, Stone, Berkeley, GL13 9LJ 07785 388408 martinljenkins@aol.com
52
South of England
This year the herd competition was judged by Glenn Pritchard, Tir Phil, Rhondda Cynon Taff who is a council member for Wales. Glenn and Sian spent a two week break travelling round the South of England in the summer judging a record number of entries.