Warwickshire YFC members were 17 points ahead of their fellow West Midlands Area county, Staffordshire YFC taking the top spot for Overall Team at the English Winter Fair YFC Stock and Carcase Judging Competition held on Sunday 18th November. The members, from the Hall Family and Jeye Family, fought off a very high standard of competition from over 130 young farmers’ members across 19 teams entered into this year’s English Winter Fair YFC Stock and Carcase Judging classes. The one-day competition was hailed a great success with members praising the venue, organisation and format of the competitions thanks to Staffordshire Young Farmers members and supporters who all give up their time to judge, steward and assist on the day. Staffordshire YFC County Organiser, Julia Taylor said “We had 19 teams entered from 13 counties across England and Wales this year. The popularity of our competitions is high amongst the members and they enjoy the quality stock and carcases available to judge as well as the facilities at the County Showground in Stafford.”
The English Winter Fair took place at the weekend, 17th – 18th November and the YFC classes were kindly sponsored by AHDB (Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board) with very generous prize monies on offer. Young Farmers were able to judge Live Lamb and Beef classes and Lamb and Pork Carcase Classes thanks to support from the show organiser, Staffordshire & Birmingham Agricultural Society along with AHDB.
In the Live Lambs class, judged in Bingley Hall, with the lambs kindly provided by Mrs Madders & Mr Johnson, the highest scoring Senior Competitor was Becky Smith of Worcestershire YFC with 97 points and in the Intermediate Section, it was Peter Cotton of Staffordshire YFC with 95 points. The highest scoring team in this class was awarded to Harry Watson and Becky Smith of Worcestershire YFC scoring a combined total of 188 points.
The Live Beef class was judged in the stalls, with some fine cattle provided by the exhibitors at the show. The highest scoring Senior Competitor was Matt Price of Shropshire YFC, scoring 97 points. In the Intermediate Section, Ella Harris of Radnor YFC came first with 81 points. As a team, Radnor YFC took first place in this class, with members James Nixon and Ella Harris scoring a combined total of 171 points.
The Carcase Classes were all judged in the excellent Carcase Hall facility with carcasses very kindly provided by Messrs Bradshaw Bros. In the Lamb Carcase class, the Overall Senior Competitor was won jointly by Georgia Thatcher of Worcestershire YFC and Katie James of Staffordshire YFC, both gaining a total of 93 points. The Overall Intermediate Competitor was also a joint win for Gemma Price of Radnor YFC and Martha Bland of Derbyshire YFC with 85 points. The Overall team in this section was won by the Radnor team, members Will Lewis and Gemma Price had a combined total of 176 points.
The final class of the day was the Pork Carcase Class. The Overall Senior Competitor was won by Fred Allen of Shropshire YFC with 96 points. The Overall Intermediate Competitor was Tom Garlick of Herefordshire YFC with 93 points. The Overall team in this final class was won by Fred Allen and Joe Brassington of Shropshire YFC with a combined total of 188 points.
The Michael Bradshaw Award for the Overall Stockjudging Team was awarded to home team Staffordshire YFC with Warwickshire YFC in second place and Brecknock YFC in third place. The Michael Bradshaw Award for the Overall Carcase Judging Team was awarded jointly to Radnor YFC and Warwickshire YFC with Becknock YFC in the runner up position.
After a full day of judging, The Birmingham Agricultural Exhibition Society Silver Challenge Cup, awarded for the Overall Team on the day went to Warwickshire YFC after they gained a whopping 677 points in all the classes. This same team won the award last year. They were followed by Staffordshire YFC in second place with 660 points and in third place, Radnor YFC with 654 points.
Stockjudging and Carcase judging competitions remain a very important and competitive sector in the Young Farmers Federations across the country, as this day has demonstrated so well. The facilities at the English Winter Fair are ideal for YFC to showcase this. Next year, the English Winter Fair committee will continue to host these competitions for YFC members and looks forward to welcoming the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs again, to take part in this very successful show, with their Live and Carcase Judging Competition Finals, which were also held again at the Show this year.
To view a full set of photos from the day, please click here
To view the full results from the day, please click here and for a list of Awards, please click here.
