Supreme interbreed champion, Sandyford Clover 10 with Blaise Tomlinson, his family and show team
Both Clover and Rosina were awarded an identical number of points from the panel of six breed judges, after which it took several minutes of adjudication from the respective breed judges, Selwyn Donald, New Zealand and Hugh Neilson, Strathaven before the Ayrshire was declared the winner. “It was a very very close decision,” said Mr Donald. “The Ayrshire has power and capacity and the Holstein a fantastic udder as well as overall quality. The colour of the cows doesn’t matter, it’s the quality that counts. Unanimously, we’ve decided to go for this tremendous cow – the Ayrshire.”
Clover added to yet another success in her illustrious showring career which has included interbreed champion at The Royal, Royal Welsh and Great Yorkshire, as well as five times breed champion at the Livestock Show. “We’re thrilled to bits,” said her breeder and exhibitor, Blaise Tomlinson. “We brought her out of retirement four years ago and she collected this same interbreed award two years ago, so entering her for this show at this stage of her career was a big, big gamble. As to her future, well, never say never; you never know, you may see her again.”
A KC Roses Chatter Red daughter and out of a homebred dam from the Tomlinson’s 160 cow Ayrshire herd which runs alongside 160 Holsteins based at Charley Crossroads, Leicester, Clover 10 is classified a maximum Ex 97. A September calver, so far she has completed 12,000kgs in 305 days, and 105,000kgs in her lifetime.
Standing below her was Neatishall Decker Rosina from fellow Leicestershire breeders, Nick and Louise Sercombe, Knaptoft. A third calver by Far O La Debbi-Jo Decker, she is currently yielding 50kg daily. Rosina who was secured as an in milk heifer, was fresh from her success at the Lincolnshire where she took the reserve breed title.
INTERBREED MILK HEIFER CHAMPION: AYRSHIRE - 16 – Hunnington Fragy 16 – C & L Window
INTERBREED RESERVE MILK HEIFER CHAMPION: HOLSTEIN - 169 – Peachy Ava Tyrol – Peachy Holsteins
EXHIBITOR BRED CHAMPION MILK HEIFER: AYRSHIRE 16 – Hunnington Fragy 16 – C & L Window
EXHIBITOR BRED RESERVE CHAMPION MILK HEIFER: HOLSTEIN - 169 – Peachy Ava Tyrol – Peachy Holsteins
EXHIBITOR BRED CHAMPION: AYRSHIRE – 59 - Sandyford Clover 10 – E T Tomlinson
EXHIBITOR BRED RESERVE CHAMPION: JERSEY 144 – Bluegrass Excitations Cyclamen – Mr and Mrs B A Daw
SUPREME INTERBREED CHAMPION: - AYRSHIRE - 59 – Sandyford Clover 10 – E T Tomlinson
RESERVE INTERBREED CHAMPION: - HOLSTEIN - Neatishall Decker Rosina – NJ and LC Sercombe
INTERBREED GROUP OF FOUR CHAMPION: AYRSHIRE
INTERBREED GROUP OF FOUR RESERVE CHAMPION: HOLSTEIN
