THE Northern Limousin Extravaganza, the show-only fixture for up-and-coming youngsters gaining their first experience in the exhibition arena and the opening day of Skipton Auction Mart’s high profile annual two-day breed showcase, saw just shy of 50 pedigree and cross-bred Limousin cattle led around the show ring, judged by 29-year-old Cai Edwards, who runs the Pencraig pedigree Limousin herd near Ruthin in North Wales. (Tues, May 9).

The supreme champion’s accolade went to Garrowby Farms, Bugthorpe, York, with Garrowby Tinkerbelle, also pedigree female and overall pedigree champion. Their May-born heifer was sired by Grahams Rooney, bought for 28,000gns in May, 2021, when standing champion at Carlisle.

Garrowby Toffee, another daughter of Grahams Rooney, took second place in the same class, also standing pedigree female reserve and overall pedigree reserve champion, the duo then winning the pairs class.

The Garrowby Farms team enjoyed a highly successful outing at the annual breed highlight when also taking the supreme championship at the following day’s main Limousin show and sale with their 2021 bull, Garrowby Sultan.

Back at the NLE, Willie Barron, Barrons pedigree herd, Burnhope, supreme champion in both 2019 and last year, had the only two 2023 entries – all the remainder were born in 2022. He was on the mark again when taking 1st place in the opening heifer show class with Barrons Tesla, a January daughter of the home-bred bull, Barrons Major.

Quality bulls from Tommy Sedgwick’s Gallaber herd, Burton-in-Lonsdale, were prominent among the prizes, standing 1st and 2nd in one class with April, 2022, entries, the victor, Gallaber Triumph, by the home-bred bull, Gallaber Leo, later awarded the pedigree male championship, the runner-up, Gallaber Target, a son of Procters Piere.

Tommy, a well-known fell runner in his younger years, winning at Kilnsey Show several times, also finished runner-up in the show class for younger bulls with Gallaber Tonto, a January, 2022, son of Broadhead Onzo.

The winners of this show class were Stephen Priestley and family, Brontemoor herd, again travelling down from Kirkambeck, Cumbria, with Brontemoor Tomohawk, also pedigree male reserve champion, a February 2022-born bull by the Irish-bred AI sire, Carnew Millreef.

First place in the class for older bulls went to James and Sarah Copper, Tomschoice herd, Dacre, Harrogate, with Tomschoice Taurus, a March, 2022, son of Scorboro Nero, senior male champion at following day’s main show and sale.

The standards were just as high amongst the commercials. Settle’s Jen Hyslop took the section championship and stood overall reserve champion with Tequila Rose, a March, 2022-born Limousin-sired heifer and daughter of Huntershall Nutcracker, bred in Wigton, Cumbria, by Stephen Nixon, out of a home-bred cow that stood commercial champion at the 2019 Great Yorkshire Show. Tequila Rose is set follow suit and take her place at this year’s Great Yorkshire.

Jen also won the commercial Limousin-sired bullock show class with Turbo Tam, a May-born son of Uptonely Livingthedream.

Commercial reserve went to Andrew Dickinson and Lisa Powdrill, Mackworth, Derbyshire, with Jennifer, a lovely May-born Limousin-sired heifer by Hightown Jacko.

This year’s NLE, again supported by the North East Limousin Breeders Club, was sponsored by Craven Farm Vets, PV Dobson, WBW Chartered Surveyors, I’Ansons, Scotmin Nutrition, NFU Skipton and Yorkshire Agricultural Society. Full results are at www.ccmauctions.com