It is safe to say that Westcountry exhibitors have been on tremendous form at this summer’s agricultural shows, not only those in the region but at events across the length and breadth of the country.

Whether it was in the cattle lines or pig pens, animals born and reared right here in the agricultural heartlands of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset put their best hooves forward against the nation’s best and, more often than not, came out on top.

Not ready to let go of the summer just yet, we’ve gone back through the archives and picked out a selection of this year’s most decorated exhibitors – and individual animals – who so proudly flew the flag for all that is great about Westcountry agriculture.

Jo and Tony Smith - Smithy Lacey

Limousin cow Smithy Lacey, handled by her owner Jo Smith alongside her heifer calf, Smithy Opal, handled by Cerys Osborne, after winning the supreme beef championship at Holsworthy Show
Limousin cow Smithy Lacey, handled by her owner Jo Smith alongside her heifer calf, Smithy Opal, handled by Cerys Osborne, after winning the supreme beef championship at Holsworthy Show

It was nothing short of phenomenal season for Jo and Tony Smith’s exquisite Limousin cow.

The super-stylish three-year-old, sired by Dinmore Goldcrest, ended her season of agricultural shows undefeated – notching up an astounding six supreme championship titles.

Homebred by the couple from Jacobstow in North Cornwall, Lacey got her campaign under way at the Royal Cornwall Show in June, where alongside her January 2018-born heifer calf Smithy Opal she stood reserve interbreed champion cow with natural born calf at foot.

This then sparked a string of one-day show successes, starting at Stithians when Lacey and Opal, a daughter of Lodge Hamlet, took the interbreed beef and overall supreme cattle championship honours.

In the weeks that followed, Lacey defended her supreme beef title at Launceston Show, having won the title as an in-calf heifer in 2017, took interbreed beef at Honiton Show, went interbreed beef and overall cattle champion at Camelford Show, interbreed continental and overall supreme beef at Okehampton Show and finally stood interbreed beef champion at Holsworthy Show.

Speaking about her success, a delighted Jo said: “We are absolutely delighted with her performance over the summer. The fact that she is homebred makes her success even more pleasing.”

Adrian and Richard Rundle

Adrian Rundle and his son Richard at the Liskeard Show with their supreme champion sheep, Treworthal Seamus 2
Adrian Rundle and his son Richard at the Liskeard Show with their supreme champion sheep, Treworthal Seamus 2

The father and son partnership, from Newquay, were regulars in supreme sheep championship line-ups at agricultural shows throughout the region and further afield this summer with their Treworthal Hampshire Downs.

At the region’s big three county shows, the family had an impressive strike rate and claimed a plethora of championship honours including reserve male and reserve interbreed champion ram lamb at Devon County, breed champion and part of the interbreed champion group of six at Royal Bath & West, plus male and female champion and breed and reserve breed champion at Royal Cornwall.

Moving onto the one-day shows, stock ram Treworthal Seamus 2 was supreme interbreed sheep champion at the Liskeard Show and reserve interbreed champion at Stithians Show two days later.

He then went on to stand male and supreme interbreed champion at Okehampton Show, as well as forming part of the family’s prize-winning interbreed group of three.

There was also success for the Treworthal flock out of the region. At the Royal Welsh Show they collected a wealth of prizes including reserve male champion ram lamb, female champion and reserve breed champion. Richard also came fourth in a 25-strong young handlers class.

Rounding off the family’s summer campaign was the Royal Berkshire Show, where their shearling ewe won the supreme interbreed sheep championship and group of three stood reserve interbreed champions.

The Davies family - Davlea Holsteins

Max Davies, centre, holds Davlea Bradnick Alicia after taking the supreme dairy championship at the Royal Welsh Show
Max Davies, centre, holds Davlea Bradnick Alicia after taking the supreme dairy championship at the Royal Welsh Show

Bryn, Ian and Max Davies of Davlea Holsteins, based in Ilminster, were catapulted into the spotlight at the Royal Welsh Show in July when their three-year-old second calver, Davlea Bradnick Alicia, claimed the interbreed dairy championship.

This homebred daughter of Regancrest Bradnick and out of Moorshard Windbrook Alicia EX92, with bloodlines going back to Shoremar Alicia, gave the family their first interbreed win at the hugely prestigious event in Llanelwedd.

Calved with her second in February and due again in January 2019, she is giving 43kg daily and classified VG89 – the highest score possible as a second calver.

If that wasn’t enough for the Davies’, who milk 150-head of Holsteins, Davlea Bradnick Alicia went on to make their dreams come true at last month’s UK Dairy Day – the biggest annual one-day event for the dairy industry held at the International Centre in Telford, Shropshire.

Paving her way to the supreme interbreed final after first winning her Holstein senior three-year-old in milk class and then standing breed champion, Bradnick Alicia beat off an extremely strong line-up to lift the overall top honour.

“We are totally in awe of this young cow and the dreams she has made come true for us,” the Davies family said at the time.

Named Holstein UK Premier Exhibitor and Holstein UK Premier Breeder at the Dairy Day UK event, the family also secured a number of top placings throughout the Holstein classes with their team of eight homebred cows.

Julian and Alice Newth

Julian and Alice Newth, centre, collecting the supreme pig championship prize at Dorset County Show for their Pietrain gilt, Prestcombe Paperasse 8
Julian and Alice Newth, centre, collecting the supreme pig championship prize at Dorset County Show for their Pietrain gilt, Prestcombe Paperasse 8

Breeders of pedigree British Saddleback, Landrace, Large White and Pietrain pigs, the formidable father and daughter duo once again proved their dominance in the show ring this summer.

Residing in the Somerset town of Shepton Mallet, the family didn’t hesitate in putting in the miles – attending events throughout the region and beyond with their top-class Prestcombe porcines.

Julian and Alice’s summer season began at the North Somerset Show where they won breed and interbreed titles for their British Saddleback and Pietrain boars.

This pattern of scooping championship accolades continued in earnest at Devon County, Royal Cornwall, Royal Three Counties, Royal Cheshire County Show and Great Yorkshire Show and Dorset County Show.

Particular highlights were taking supreme interbreed champion at the Great Yorkshire Show with British Saddleback, Prestcombe Belle 8, supreme interbreed pig and National Rare and Minority Breeds interbreed champion at Royal Three Counties with Landrace gilt Prestcombe Ally 6 and British Saddleback Prestcombe Belle 8 respectively and supreme interbreed champion at Dorset County with their Pietrain gilt, Prestcombe Paperasse 8.

David and Sue Knight - Doncombe Madhu

British Blonde heifer, Doncombe Madhu, at the Royal Three Counties Show
British Blonde heifer, Doncombe Madhu, at the Royal Three Counties Show

The British Blonde, bred and owned by David and Sue Knight of Doncombe Blondes, was a force to be reckoned with at the county shows, delivering a rich haul of accolades for the Oakham-based breeders.

The January 2016-born heifer, sired by the French bull Aramis and out of Doncombe Ishtar, got the ball rolling at the Devon County Show – standing female and breed champion, reserve interbreed champion continental and reserve supreme interbreed beef animal.

This winning streak was set to continue at the Royal Bath & West Show where Madhu was female and breed champion, exhibitor-bred beef interbreed champion, continental beef interbreed champion and supreme interbreed beef champion.

Judge Iain Green, from Morayshire, said Madhu had tremendous length with a good shoulder and locomotion. “She’s an outstanding example of the breed and just had a bit more power and length than the reserve champion.”

Moving onto the Royal Three Counties Show, where the British Blonde Society held their National Show, Madhu continued her rich vein of form when claiming the breed and supreme interbreed beef titles, along with the Champion of Champions prize – judged against both dairy and commercial beef cattle – and the show’s best overall livestock exhibit.

Madhu is currently in-calf to the family’s April 2016-born bull Doncombe Mulungu, who also had his fair share of success throughout the season, claiming male championship titles at Devon County, Royal Bath & West, Royal Three Counties and Royal Welsh. Mulungu, sired by Rodleigh Voyager, also stood reserve breed champion behind Madhu at Royal Bath & West and Royal Three Counties.