It was another successful English Winter Fair, staged at the Staffordshire County Showground, last weekend, where the Wilkinson family from North Yorkshire took home both the championship and reserve honours in a busy beef cattle show ring.

Beth Wilkinson, from Leyburn, was awarded the Birmingham Post Trophy for the supreme with her 20-month-old Limousin cross heifer, named Maggie – landing her the grand prize of £1000 from event sponsor, Carter Jonas.

Maggie’s win completed a rare double after claiming first prize in the baby beef championship at last year’s English Winter Fair.

Judges Tecwyn Jones and Phil Parrott then tapped out Beth's brother, Luke Wilkinson as reserve overall with his British Blue cross heifer, Prime Suspect.

It was also a special day for Annan-based breeder, Kevin Watret who not only landed this year’s National British Blue Pedigree Calf Show with Solway View Ria – a November 2021-born British Blue heifer, but also the inter-breed honours.

His show stopper, a yearling heifer brought out by stockman, Ali Jackson, landed the senior inter-breed title at the Stars of the Future Show earlier in the month and is sired by Dodou De St Remacle. Her dam is Solway View Milly.

Ria’s field mate Solway View Secret stood reserve in the British Blue classes. This May-born heifer is by the 27,000gns Solway View Odin and out of Solway View Majestic.

Reserve inter-breed calf was the Aberdeen-Angus heifer, Morpheus Rosie, from Owen Tunney in Cheshire.

The Charolais calf champion from S and L Evans from Gower was their November 2021-born heifer, Breos Supermodel which is by Inverlochy Gurkha and out of Shebdon Irene. Reserve was Teme Titanium from SM Corbett and daughters, Powys with a January-born daughter of Barnsford Ferny.

In the Limousin calf section, L and P Hughes from Anglesey landed the supreme with the October 2021-born heifer, Pabo Seriousspice, which is by Pabo Oldspice, whilst D and E Davies, Cered stood reserve with the junior heifer, Blaencwm Sarah.

Mr Tunney’s Morpheus Aberdeen Angus herd from Cheshire landed both the champion and reserve honours within the any other breed calf section, with the top award going to the January-born heifer, Morpheus Rosie – a daughter of Cheerbrook Profit out of Morpheus Roxy.

The similarly bred November 2021-born bull calf, Morpheus Kentucky, stood reserve.

In the carcase section, judge Dave Morland – head butcher at Tebay Services – gave the champion cattle carcase prize to TG and EM Hart from Monmouth, for their Hereford which produced a 364kg carcase and graded R4H.

“It was hard to separate some of the entries as the standard was very high," said Mr Morland.

"As a butcher I’m always thinking about the end market for the product and that’s what farmers should be striving for so I was looking for carcases which would produce cuts that appeal to the consumer,” added Mr Morland.

The Royal Smithfield Club continued its association with the English Winter Fair by running a competition to find the best saddle of beef, which this year was won by Perrys of Eccleshall with a 24-month Limousin-sired heifer weighing in at 560kg liveweight from producer Steve Cartmell.

Reserve rib went to an entry from Messrs Coates and Wynne.

In the much-anticipated Duke of Norfolk Trophy for the best group of three pure-bred animals, six breeds went head-to-head.

In the end, it was a team of British Blues that landed the overall title and comprised of two bull calves, Maes Sancho and Maes Supernova from IP Jones together with Kevin Watret’s heifer Solwayview Secret.

Standing reserve on the day was a trio of Herefords.

Commenting on the success of this year’s much anticipated event, Richard Williams, chief executive of the Staffordshire and Birmingham Agricultural Society said: “This year’s event was a tremendous success, evidenced by the quality and increased number of entries across the board.

“We welcomed thousands of visitors across the weekend – even more than we saw in 2021 – and they experienced a diverse range of competitions, culminating in the crowning of the supreme champion.

"The fair remains a hugely popular event attracting exhibitors and visitors from across the UK.”