Somerset YFC members were 12 points ahead of Gloucestershire YFC taking the top spot for Overall Team at the English Winter Fair YFC Stock and Carcase Judging Competition held on Sunday 17th November. The members, fought off a very high standard of competition from over 140 young farmers’ members across 22 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 22 teams entered from 16 counties across England and Wales this year which is the highest we have seen for over ten years. The popularity of our competitions is strong 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, 16th – 17th 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 Beef 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 awarded jointly to Dyfan Breeze of Montgomery YFC and Elin Harvard of Brecknock YFC who both gained the maximum points of 100 in this class. The Overall Intermediate Competitor was Megan Phillips of Herefordshire YFC with 91 points. The highest scoring team in this class was awarded to another welsh team, Glamorgan YFC, with Michael Burley and Ethan Williams scoring a combined total of 176 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 Rob Powell of Brecknock YFC, scoring 89 points. In the Intermediate Section, Ellis Parry of Gwent YFC came first with 83 points. As a team, Gwent YFC took first place in this class, with members Jamie Davies and Ellis Parry scoring a combined total of 167 points.
The Carcase Classes were all judged in the excellent Carcase Hall facility with carcasses very kindly provided by Messrs Bradshaw Bros. In the Beef Carcase class, the Overall Senior Competitor was won jointly by three members, Charlotte Scott of Somerset YFC, Adam Ringrose of Leicestershire YFC and Marita Warner-King of Gloucestershire YFC who all gained a total of 94 points. The Overall Intermediate Competitor was Molly Phillips of Worcestershire YFC with 89 points. The Overall team in this section was won by the team from Gloucestershire YFC, with members Marita Warner-King and Rhondda Warner-King who achieved a combined total of 179 points.
The final class of the day was the Pork Carcase Class. The Overall Senior Competitor was won by Chris Potter of Shropshire YFC with 97 points. The Overall Intermediate Competitor was Thomas Swancott of Radnor YFC with 89 points. The Overall Team in this final class was won by Hywel Watson and Thomas Swancott of Radnor YFC with a combined total of 184 points.
The Michael Bradshaw Award for the Overall Stockjudging Team was awarded to Gwent YFC with Somerset YFC in second place and Brecknock YFC in third place. The Michael Bradshaw Award for the Overall Carcase Judging Team was awarded to Gloucestershire YFC with Warwickshire YFC taking second place and third place awarded jointly to Radnor YFC and Worcestershire 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 Somerset YFC after they gained a grand total of 643 points in all the classes. They were followed by Gloucestershire YFC in second place with 631 points and in third place, Brecknock YFC with 630 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 photos from the awards, please click here
To view a full list of the Awards, please click Here
To view a full copy of all the results, please click here
