Held at Hexham Mart, 2014’s Beef Expo was a tremendous showcase for pedigree and commercial livestock, breed associations, demonstrations, commercial trade stands, cutting edge technology and the younger generation. Over 6500 people and in the region of 350 head of the very best of British Beef Cattle were in attendance.

Crowds at NBA Beef Expo

There were over 160 trade stands, and 22 breed societies representing the industry at all levels. However the highlight of the day and the perfect conclusion to this major event was the announcement of the overall Supreme Champion of The National Spring Spectacular Show. Winner was Neil Slack’s Watabootie, a Limousin cross heifer, Reserve Supreme Champions was awarded to Tecwyn Jone’s British Blue Cross Steer, Will.I.Am.

L- R Roy Firth Crystalyx Sponsor, Philip Parrott Judge and owner Neil Slack with Supreme Champion Watabootie

From Newby Farm, Penrith, Watabootie is no stranger to this area of Northumberland, as she was last year’s Champion of Champions at the Northumberland County Show.

On receiving his trophy from Roy Firth, Crystalyx’s Regional Manager for Scotland and East of England, Neil said: “It is absolutely tremendous to win this award both at this the British Beef’s industry’s key annual event and at the same time being on my very own doorstep.”

Judge of Native and Continental Classes and Supreme Champion was Philip Parrott, commenting afterwards on the strength of the entries he said: “The way that cattle breeding has evolved over the last 10 years is amazing, and there has been a tremendous show of cattle here in Hexham today with not one bad beast.”

“The Supreme was a very well balanced heifer, well fleshed throughout its body with tremendous length. The reserve was exceptionally well balanced and it certainly was a challenge to pick a winner.”

Kevin Ludgate, from Bedfordshire judged the Baby Beef and Championships and Young Handlers. The Baby Beef Classes attracted entries from across the UK with the overall Baby Beef Champion being awarded to County Down’s Dermot Small’s Baby Heifer, Khaleesi, and Reserve Baby Beef Champion was J W Wilkinson’s Baby Steer, iTunes.

Commenting afterwards Kevin said:
“The calibre of the stock in the competition was very high. With excellent presence in the ring, the style and potential of this Baby Beef heifer is fantastic.”

As always the next generation were well represented, and encouraged to participate in competitions. The Young Handler Classes 12-16 years old went to Will Glover, and the winner of the Young Handler Classes 17-21 years old was awarded to Nicola Chappelhow.

Young Show Stars Champions the British Charolais Cattle Society's Charolais Youth Team

The Young Show Stars Challenge was another much anticipated competition with competitors aged 14 to 23 competing from the length and breadth of the country in addition to a team from Canada. In total eight teams battled it out over a 24 hour period. Each team completed a number of tasks including, animal preparation, handling and parading cattle, presenting and stockjudging. The Overall winning team was presented with the Duke of Northumberland Trophy and a trip to the Royal Canadian Agricultural Winter Fair to compete in the National Junior 4H Beef Cattle Competition in early November 2014 were the British Charolais Cattle Society’s Charolais Youth Team, runner up was the British Blondes and third prize went to Limousin Scotland.

The four seminars, “Guarantee your income whatever the weather”, “Know the health status of your herd”, “Calving made easy with advance text alert technology” (Medria) and “Making the most of your cattle” were specifically designed to help farmers boost production and achieve better returns, and attracted strong audiences on the day.

Throughout the day there were a range of demonstrations on both the indoor and outdoor stands. Around half or more of the beef from the herd originates from dairy cattle, so the Beef from the Dairy Herd exhibition and demonstration, supported by EBLEX and XL Vets was very well received. Amongst the outdoor demonstrations was a showcase by Zetor Tractors.

Education is always at the heart of Beef Expo events, and through an innovative and tailored programme, more than 100 school children from schools in the Tynedale area were given the opportunity to see first-hand where their meat comes from, and the importance of the Beef Industry to their local economy.

British Beef is renowned throughout the world so it was not surprising that this event a number of international inward missions had been organised. Joining a delegation from Northern Ireland were missions from Ireland, Norway, Canada and Poland.

An event such as this is only possible with support from many individuals and organisations. This year’s valued mainline sponsors included Caltech, Dunbia, Eblex, Hexham & Northern Marts, Lightsource Renewable Energy, MSD Animal Health and Farmers Guardian as media partner. Reiterating the importance of this support Robert Addison, Chairman of this year’s event and Director of Hexham and Northern Mart, said:

“On behalf of everyone here at Hexham Mart, I would like to thank those who have been integral in making 2014 Beef Expo such a huge success. This includes the mainline sponsors and companies who supported and sponsored individual competitions, the organising committee, local volunteers, students from local colleges and schools, the exhibitors and of course all of the visitors who attended. Not only has the 2014 Beef Expo further raised the profile of the industry, it has also raised the profile of Northumberland as a county.

Without a doubt the most light humoured and tasty element to the day was very definitely the Ready, Steady, Cook competition. Not only were spectators highly entertained by the competitors, some of the region’s top auctioneers, they were also hugely entertained by compere Frankie Walton of Flotterton Farm. Supporting the four competitors and overall judge was De Vere Slaley Hall’s Head Chef Michael Eames, who announced the overall winner of the competition as Ryan Roddan from Longtown Mart, there was only one point between him and fellow finalist Hexham Mart’s very own auctioneer and representative Trevor Simpson.

During the day Lord de Mauley, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Natural Environment and Science, Defra, made an Official Visit, he met with the Board of the National Beef Association and key stakeholders in the industry.

Exhibitors included breed societies, the latest in on-farm machinery and technology, livestock genetics and feed and supplement providers. Winner of the overall “Best Outdoor Trade Stand” was won by David Henderson Tractors Ltd, winner of the “Best Indoor Trade Stand” was won by Hexham and Northern Marts and the “Best Breed Society Stand” was won by South Devon and the “Best Small Breed Society” was won by The Galloway Cattle Society.

This was not just a huge event for the National Beef Association, Northumberland as a county, but also for the hosts Hexham and Northern Marts. Robert gives us his final word:
“The event started on the Wednesday with over 250 attending the farm tours along Hadrian’s Wall. The sun shone and farmers from across the length and breadth of the country really were given a detailed insight into the farming practices of two of the leading livestock farms in this area. “

“Despite the horrendous weather first thing this morning, today, here at the Expo itself, we have had an exceptionally successful event. We have had a very large crowd, and leading representatives from all sectors of the Beef Industry. I would like to congratulate York Auction Centre in securing the 2015 Beef Expo and wish them every success. ”

RESULTS

PLACE	Number	Exhibitor	Name
Class 1 - Native Heifer
1st	1	G R Fountaine	Cross Trees Sheila
3rd	2	S A Hollier	Long Ash Zunite
4th	4	S Temple	Bowland Charisma
2nd	5	Mr & Mrs G H Woollatt	Gupworth Mistress
Class 2 - Native Steer
2nd	6	M & C Keel	Shortie
1st	7	P Robson	Flash
Class 3 - Charolais x Steer
1st	9	A Scarborough	Charlie Boy
Class 5A - BB x Steer
5th	13	R A Elias	Black Hero
2nd	14	R A Elias	Rambo
4th	16	K D Harryman	Top Gun
1st	17	T Jones	Will.I.Am
	19	J L Marks	Okie Doky
3rd	56	D Miller	Black Jack
Class 5B - BB x steer
	10	G & J E Bell	Fergie
4th	11	G & J E Bell	Flash
1st	12	G Brooke	Too Hot to Handle
3rd	15	G R Fountaine	Blue Diamond
2nd	18	T A & L C Lyon & Son	Arnie
5th	21	J E L & C S Morgan	I am the Man
Class 6A- Limousin Steer
5th	23	G Brooke	Fiona's Boy
	26	K D Harryman	Real Deal
4th	27	Hyslop & Richardson	Wacko Jacko
2nd	30	M & C Keel	Coco
1st	34	G Rowlands	Gwylliad Coch
	48	Barker & Johnston	King Dick
3rd	60	N Slack	Stevie Gee
Class 6B - Limousin Steer
3rd	28	Ivanhoe Livestock	Boris
	29	M & C Keel	Yorkie
2nd	31	J E L & C S Morgan	Price is Right
5th	32	J M & S M Priestley	Alesso
1st	33	P Robson	Will I Am
4th	35	A Scarborough	Mr Foxey
	57	Mudd & Bentley	Plonker
Class 7 steer under £1400
5th	39	A Ewing	Black Jack
4th	40	D Hall	Sky
	41	S & N V Jowett & Family	Harry "S"
3rd	42	B & M Kingston	Splash of Ginge
	43	Low Middleton Livestock	Jimmy.com
1st	44	T A & L C Lyon & Son	Lunedale
	45	J Paterson & Son	That's My Boy
2nd	46	J M & S M Rowlands	Flash Man
Class 8 - Baby Steer
	49	N Chappelhow	Max a Million
	50	Fawcett Family	Billy
4th	51	K D Harryman	Impossible
2nd	52	T Jones	Eye Catcher
1st	55	T A & L C Lyon & Son	Fire Fly
	58	D Plested	Jack Flash
3rd	59	P Robson	Dynamo
	61	J W Wilkinson	itunes
Class 9 - Baby Heifer
	63	N Beardsley	Special Edition
2nd	64	T C Edwards & Sons	Miss Halfpenny
5th	67	Fawcett Family	Bonney
	69	K D Harryman	I am what I am
	71	S A Hollier	Long Ash Antara
	75	Kilnstown Farms	Lola
3rd	76	B & M Kingston	Annie Power
4th	80	G H & A H Roberts	Miss chievous
	83	N Slack	Philomena
1st	84	D Small	Khaleesi
Class 10 - Any other continental heifer
3rd	72	Ivanhoe Livestock	Yorkshire Rose
2nd	86	Miss C Dent	Cheryl
1st	87	J M & S M Rowlands	Star Dust
Class 11 - Charolais sired Heifer
4th	88	J H Craggs	Starmix
5th	89	R A Elias	Iceberg
3rd	90	A Ewing	Elgin Heiress
	91	K D Harryman	Cover Girl
2nd	92	Hyslop & Richardson	Golden Promise
	93	J R G Johnson	Summer
1st	94	J M & S M Priestley	Icona Pop
Class 12A - British Blue sired Heifer
3rd	96	A Bentham	Florence
2nd	97	T C Edwards & Sons	Miss Style
	99	M & C Keel	Holly
1st	101	J E L & C S Morgan	Bobby's Girl
5th	102	Mudd & Bentley	Midget Gem
4th	106	Turnbull Family	Blue Bu
Class 12 B - British Blue sired heifer
5th	100	J L Marks	Connie
3rd	103	J M & S M Priestley	Sexy Chick
4th	104	Rice Family	Disco Daisy
1st	105	Slack & Richardson	Cover Girl
2nd	109	A & E Vance	Betty Boop
Class 13A - Limousin sired Heifer
5th	62	R Anderson	Miss Mulberry
4th	77	Lawson & Wilkinson	Cherry Popper
	79	J L Marks	Jade
3rd	112	G Brooke	Too Cool to Fool
	118	K D Harryman	Twinkle
2nd	121	T Jones	Candy Crush
1st	139	D Small	Mya
	141	A & E Vance	Bonnie Betty
Class 13B - Limousin Sired Heifer
1st	73	G & E Jones	Fancy That
4th	123	Lawson & Wilkinson	I Candy
2nd	125	T A & L C Lyon & Son	Sensation
	126	T A & L C Lyon & Son	Pinto
3rd	130	J M & S M Priestley	Daddy's Girl
	131	J M & S M Priestley	Delilah
5th	132	J M & S M Priestley	Brontemoor iTunes
	133	Rice Family	Smart Act
Class 13C - Limousin Sired Heifer
1st	111	N Beardsley	Special One
4th	113	Messrs Dent	Rochelle
5th	114	Messrs Dent	Tutti Frutti
2nd	117	Fountaine & Bodily	Midnight Lady
	124	T A & L C Lyon & Son	Ira
	128	J E L & C S Morgan	Stenna
	129	Mudd & Bentley	Ginger Bit
3rd	135	A Scarborough	Lilly
Class 13D - Limousin sired Heifer
4th	116	G R Fountaine	Pink Gin
2nd	120	Hyslop & Richardson	Halley
3rd	122	B & M Kingston	Poppy
	127	J B Marwood & Son	Coedy Lady
5th	134	P Robson	Candy Girl
1st	138	N Slack	Watabootie
Class 14 - Heifer under £1400
	142	Barker & Johnston	Boom Boom Pow
5th	143	N Chappelhow	Miss Black Magic
	144	J H Craggs	Tutti Frutti
4th	145	T C Edwards & Sons	Miss Steal
1st	146	J & J Fenwick	Black B
	147	S & N V Jowett & Family	Chunky Monkey
2nd	148	G H & A H Roberts	No Angel
3rd	149	C & A Thompson
Class 15 Young Handler 12 to 16 Years
5th	151	Christopher Ewing	Black Jack
1st	152	Will Glover	Long Ash Zazzler
2nd	153	Llyr Jones	Eye Catcher
4th	154	Fiona Jowett	Harry "S"
3rd	157	Beth Wilkinson	Icandy
5th	158	Amy Wilson	Miss Black Magic
Class 16 Young Handler 17 to 21 years
3rd	160	Nicola Chappelhow	MaxaMillion
2nd	163	Cai Edwards	Miss Peugeot
1st	165	Ashleigh Fenwick	Boris
CHAMPIONSHIPS
Native Champion		G R Fountaine	Cross Trees Sheila
Native Reserve Champion		P Robson	Flash
Continental Champion Steer & Reserve Supreme Champion		T Jones	Will.I.Am
Continental Reserve Champion Steer		G Brooke	Too Hot to Handle
Continental Heifer Champion & Supreme Champion		N Slack	Watabootiee
Continental Reserve Champion		J M & S M Priestley	Icona Pop
Baby Beef Champion		D Small	Khaleesi
Reserve Baby Beef Champion		T A & L C Lyon & Son	Fire Fly

	Related Links
	Thousands of Young Farmers Attend Annual Convention 2014
	Royal Visits Announced for the 2014 Great Yorkshire Show
	Young Farmers Plan the Future at Annual Convention 2014
	Putting Dairy-Produced Beef Under the Spotlight

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