Glamorgan YFC take top spot for the second year!
Glamorgan YFC members were ahead of Somerset YFC taking the Overall Team Cup again at the English Winter Fair YFC Stock and Carcase Judging Competition held on Sunday 20th November. Their members fought off a very high standard of competition from over 100 young farmers’ members across 16 teams entered into this year’s English Winter Fair YFC Stock and Carcase Judging classes. The one-day competition was hailed a great success following a great comeback year for YFC clubs across England and Wales after the pandemic. The competition organiser from Staffordshire YFC, Julia Taylor said “It has been such a positive day with members from across England and Wales travelling to Staffordshire and competing against fellow members in the Stock and Carcase Judging. YFC members really appreciate being able to hold this type of competition using the excellent facilities at the County Showground in Stafford and it is a pleasure to organise them on behalf of the Staffordshire and Birmingham Agricultural Society.”
The English Winter Fair took place at the weekend, 19th – 20th November and the YFC classes were kindly sponsored by Elanco Animal Health 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 Elanco Animal Health. Louise Radford of Elanco Animal Health said “Elanco AH Ltd, suppliers of leading brands such as CLiK & Zolvix are proud to be sponsoring the YFC Classes at this year’s English Winter Fair, working alongside Staffordshire YFC and the English Winter Fair Committee.”
Catherine Johnson of Elanco Animal Health alongside the English Winter Fair Committee Chairman, Robert Cartmail, presented the members with their prize cards in the main ring.
In the Live Lambs class, judged in Bingley Hall, with the lambs kindly provided by Toby Lawton, the highest scoring Senior Competitor was awarded Marita Warner-King of Gloucestershire YFC with 92 points. The Overall Intermediate Competitor was Isla Albutt also of Gloucestershire YFC with 90 points. The highest scoring team in this class was awarded to Marta and Isla for their combined total of 182 points.
The Live Beef class was judged in the stalls, with some fine cattle provided by the very supportive exhibitors at the show. The highest scoring Senior Competitor was Michael Burley of Glamorgan YFC with 76 points. In the Intermediate Section, Lottie Hill of Somerset YFC came first with 94 points. As a team, Somerset YFC took first place in this class, with members Dan Cox and Lottie Hill scoring a combined total of 169 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 Rebecca Jeyes of Warwickshire YFC with 90 points. The Overall Intermediate Competitor was Lauren David of Glamorgan YFC with 95 points. The Overall team in this section was won by the team from Glamorgan YFC, with members Rob David and Lauren David who achieved a combined total of 176 points.
The final class of the day was the Pork Carcase Class. The Overall Senior Competitor was won by Angharad Llewellyn of Worcestershire YFC with 91 points. The Overall Intermediate Competitor was Emily Bell of Somerset YFC with 93 points. The Overall Team in this final class was won by Angharad Llewellyn and Kitty Dingley of Worcestershire YFC with a combined total of 171 points.
The Michael Bradshaw Award for the Overall Stockjudging Team was awarded to Montgomery YFC with Somerset YFC in second place and Glamorgan YFC in third place. The Michael Bradshaw Award for the Overall Carcase Judging Team was awarded to Glamorgan YFC with Worcestershire YFC taking second place and third place awarded to Somerset YFC.
After a full day of judging, The Birmingham Agricultural Exhibition Society Silver Challenge Cup, awarded for the Overall Team on the day went to Glamorgan YFC after they gained a grand total of 653 points in all the classes. They were followed by Somerset YFC in second place with 649 points and in third place, Worcestershire YFC with 599 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.
