Archives: Reports

19th-20th November 2022

“Sees very large crowds with an excellent footfall and some superb Cattle, Sheep and Pigs on offer”

Mark Elliott

The English Winter Fair at Stafford Showground saw increased entries in virtually all sections.
There was an excellent atmosphere around the judging rings throughout Saturday and Sunday and the
Duke of Norfolk Perpetual Trophy together with young farmers associated judging activities only
added to the throng.
Cattle Section-Auctioneer-Mark Elliott
Champion honours in the live cattle section went to Maggie a superbly shaped Limousin Heifer bred
in North Yorkshire by the Wilkinson team which went on to be sold for £7,000 to a caterer in North
Yorkshire.
Long time supporter of the Winter Fair at Stafford Mr Antony Kitson of the Five Houses Farm Shop
and Restaurant at Crathorne near Yarm and in North Yorkshire travelled down to the event yet again
and purchased a superb lorry load of well-shaped steers and heifers including various section
champions.
Messrs Henshall Butchers of Glossop took a real shine to the Blue Heifer exhibited by Mr Richard Bartle
on behalf of the Dawes family and after spirited bidding purchased her at 405p/kg.
Black Magic a British Blue Cross Steer from the Leedham’s in Leicestershire caught the eye of several
purchasers including Mr Kitson and after spirited bidding achieved 395p/kg to travel north to the Five
Houses Farm Shop and Restaurant.
Long-time show exhibitors and supporters Trevor and Jonnie Lyons from Lincolnshire showed an
excellent string of cattle with Blossom, a British Blue Cross Heifer stealing the show in the cross bred
heifers and achieving a superb 500p/kg being purchased by the Hodges family of Aylesbury in
Buckinghamshire.
There were numerous superbly presented steers and heifers between 315-358p/kg with Phil and
Sharon Sellors achieving 358p/kg for their 605kg Pied Piper Limousin Cross Steer again going to Mr
Kitson.
Native Breeds
Native bred types sold extremely well with Yorkshire and Staffordshire purchasers bidding strongly,
the Livesey family received a superb 330p/kg for their reserve Hereford Champion Heifer at 525kg
which was purchased to go to Glossop by Messrs Henshaw Butchers. Again, in the natives, the Harrison
family of Northumberland saw their Champion Hereford Steer a recipient of the Heronfield Trophy
achieved 285p/kg to Yorkshire Butcher Mr Brindon Addy.

Lot 3 in the sale ‘Normanton 1 Victor’ from the Livesey family at Normanton le Heath in Leicestershire
caught the eye of local purchaser Mr Lee Machin of Manifold Valley Meats Ltd who went on to
purchase this homebred Hereford Steer weighing 620kg for 266p/kg for his local clients. The Denstone
Farm Shop team again supported the event purchasing a Hereford steer from the Hartright Family in
Oxfordshire at 254p/kg to be retailed in the farm shop at Denstone, near Uttoxeter and again the
purchasers bought lot 5 from Messrs Newtoncroft Farms in Leicestershire a 570kg Hereford Heifer at
256p/kg.
In the Baby Beef Section
There was an excellent show of both steer and heifers with several vendors sending forward cattle for
sale. The section topped at an amazing £4,750 for ‘Flash’, a really stylish 330kg Limousin Cross Heifer
exhibited by the Lloyd family of Herefordshire which had done really well throughout the weekend in
various of the show classes. Local exhibitors the Gratton family from Crich brought forward ‘Tigger’ a
Limousin Cross 310kg Steer which caught the eye of the Parkin family from Crowle in Yorkshire and
after spirited bidding this was purchased at £1,780.

Sheep Section-Auctioneer-Malcolm Gale
A great entry this year with 88 head forward, all which have been judged by Chris Wright of Boston,
Lincs. A full ring and a solid trade with top call of the day for the Champion Beltex Ewe Lambs consigned
by R Garth and S Priestley from Bentham realising £500 each (£11.09/kg), selling to Matt Morris from
Braunston. Reserve champion wether lambs also from Garth and Priestley, realised £250 each
(£5.00/kg) selling to C Cropper and J Mellin from Long Preston. The overall average for the sheep, with
all breeds included, returned at £3.15/kg (£134.18/head). A special mention should also be made of
the four lambs donated by exhibitors where the large proportion of the value was donated to the RABI
Charity.

Pig Section – Auctioneer – Oliver Hiles
69 Live pigs forward this year and although averaging at £1.54/kg (£125.45/pig) they were not as fast
a trade as in previous years. The champion pair consigned by W Berry from Yorkshire sold at
£280/head (£2.67/kg) to Manifold Valley Meats Ltd at Grindon with the reserve champion consigned
by M Horsley of Skirpenbeck being purchased by Morgan Butchers of Telford for £280/head
(£3.02/kg).

Carcass Hall – Auctioneer – Peter Oven
Poultry Carcasses
Despite the avian flu, there were 47 turkeys forward showing this year with the champion bird
consigned by R Beaman weighing 8.1 kilos and realising £175 (£21.60/kg) purchased by Parkin
Butchers of Howden. Overall, the 47 turkeys averaged £66.38/head (£9.00/kg).
Beef Carcasses
There were 7 beef carcasses forward this year with the champion being consigned by T G & E M Hart
& Son of Monmouth weighing 347kg and achieving £4.70/kg (£1,629.96) and purchased by Westwood
Ltd of Chase Terrace. Overall, the average for beef carcasses was £5.02/kg (£1,884.88/head).
In the Lamb Carcass Section
There were 56 carcasses forward with the champion which was consigned by D S & L E Wadland from
Daventry weighing 37.3kg realising £7.20/kg (£268.56) and selling to A Swales of York. Overall average
for the lamb carcasses returned at £6.35/kg (£164.54/head).
Pig Carcasses
There was an increase in the number of pig carcasses forward this year with 27 being offered, with
the champion consigned by R A O Johnson and E Hewitt selling at £3.20/kg (£273.60) to regular
supporter Nigel Brown of Ashbourne. Overall average for the pig carcasses was £192.05/kg
(147.18/head)