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December 2013: Foxhillfarm Impressive leads weaned calf trade at Carlisle

It was a successful trip to Carlisle for Foxhillfarm Pedigrees for our first sale of Limousins at the weaned calf sale after the Red Ladies Derby.

Top price for our consignment and top price in the weaned calf section was Foxhillfarm Impressive, having stood first and male champion in the pre-sale show he also stood second at the Scottish Winter Fair. He is a Hartlaw Excaliber son out of Bankdale Chanel, a Sarkley Volt daughter out of Bankdale Alice. He carries a beef value of +38 and sold for 7000gns to Eric and Elaine Norman, Carlisle for their Norman herd.

Foxhillfarm Impressive
Foxhillfarm Impressive

Then at 3200gns was Foxhillfarm Ipad, a Ionesco son out of the 35,000gns Bankdale Elizabeth. Elizabeth is a Vantastic daughter out of Alice and is a full sister to our successful show heifer Gracie. He carries a beef value of +42 and sold to R and M G Elliot, Longtown, Carlisle.

Foxhillfarm Impulsive our 3rd bull forward was full brother to Impressive and sold for 2900gns to G Dent, Cockfield, Bishop Auckland.

Leading trade for our heifers was 2500gns for Foxhillfarm Iris. She is a Guards Boomer daughter out of the 10,000gns Sarkley Fadajen, a Sarkley Thunderbolt daughter. Andrew Morton, Denny, Stirling, purchased her.

Then Foxhillfarm Isadora, a Wilodge Tonka daughter out of Chanel sold for 1800gns. With her full sister Foxhillfarm Isadore selling for 1500gns to Seagrave and Stevenson, West Auckland.

Giving us a helping hand at Carlisle was Andrew Hamill from the Huntley herd, Belfast. Only eight years old he has the making of a stockman of the future and definitely one to watch.

This keen and enthusiastic young breeder was over to take part in the first YLBC Young Handlers' Championship (Photograph by Robert Smith)
This keen and enthusiastic young breeder was over to take part in the first YLBC Young Handlers’ Championship (Photograph by Robert Smith)

We would like to wish all purchasers the very best with their animals.

December 2013:Smithfield championship success for Foxhill

Smithfield always holds great times for us and this year was yet another great show for us at the Peterborough showground as we clinched the steer championship with Harlem Shake, making it a record sixth year in a row we have won the steer championship at this event.

Harlem Shake (pictured at the Scottish Winter Fair).
Harlem Shake (pictured at the Scottish Winter Fair).

Then in the pedigree Limousin calf show we took the Limousin championship with Foxhillfarm Izzy, full sister to Foxhillfarm Gracie and then went on to go one place better by scooping the reserve interbreed championship with her.

Duke of Norfolk Trophy winners.
Duke of Norfolk Trophy winners.

She then teamed up with herd mates Foxhillfarm Impecabull and Foxhillfarm Ilsa to win the prestigious Duke of Norfolk Trophy for the best group of three pedigree calves.

Foxhillfarm Izzy
Foxhillfarm Izzy
Foxhillfarm Isla
Foxhillfarm Isla
Foxhillfarm Impecabull
Foxhillfarm Impecabull

December 2013: Charlotte triumphs at Royal Welsh Winter Fair

This week at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair Charlotte secured the overall handling championship after winning the junior class.

Showing the Limousin steer Harlem Shake they fought off stiff competition, especially in the championship to beat Lin Pidsley who is also Foxhill trained.

In the commercial judging our Limousin steer Harlem Shake stood top of the line. Sired by Cawfields Dazzler he weighed 686kg and stood reserve overall at the Scottish Winter Fair at the weekend.

November 2013: Pedigree and commercial success at Scottish Winter Fair

The Foxhill Livestock team made the second trip up to Scotland in as many weeks to exhibit both commercial and pedigree stock at this year’s Scottish Winter Fair.

Leading the way for us in the commercial section was our pure bred Limousin steer Harlem Shake. He won his Limousin sired class and then went on to take the steer championship and then reserve overall under judge Jimmy Mullholland.

Harlem Shake – reserve overall champion

On the day Harlem weighed 688kg steer and is by Cawfields Dazzler. He has previously stood steer champion at the Royal Welsh Show in the summer, as well as the Great Yorkshire and Royal Highland Show.

Then our other commercial entry, Daddy’s Big Bucks, won her heavy Limousin sired heifer class and then went on to stand reserve heavyweight heifer title behind the overall champion of the show.

In the purebred Limousin calf show we stood reserve overall with Foxhillfarm Izzy. This one is by the noted Vantastic and is out of Bankdale Alice, making her full sister to last year’s champion and multi award winning heifer Foxhillfarm Gracie.

Foxhillfarm Izzy – reserve overall Limousin

November 2013: Judging at English Winter Fair

Congratulations to all the exhibitors at the English Winter Fair at Birmingham, Mike had a great time judging and we’ll be looking forward to heading back there next year.

November 2013: Foxhillfarm Impecabull takes junior male title at Stars of the Future

Having made the decision to travel the many miles up to Stirling to exhibit at the Stars of the Future Calf Show, we were more than pleased to come home with the junior male Limousin title with Foxhillfarm Impecabull.

Foxhillfarm Impeccabull

This is one of the first bulls to be shown by Wilodge Vantastic out of our foundation female Bankdale Alice, making him full ET-sibling to our prolific show winner Foxhillfarm Gracie. Impecabull has already stood Limousin calf champion and supreme at the Cornwall Calf Show.

Standing second and third to Impecabull in the January-born bull calf class was Foxhillfarm Incredibull, a Guards Boomer son out of Bankdale Elizabeth, while third went to Foxhillfarm Ipad, an Ionesco son out of Elizabeth.  

In the January-born heifer class we were second and third with full sisters Foxhillfarm Ivy and Foxhillfarm Issy. Both these girls are Vantastic daughters out of Bankdale Alice, while in the junior heifer calf class we stood second and third again, this time with full sisters Foxhillfarm Iola and Foxhillfarm Isla, who are again by Vantastic out of Bankdale Alice.

November 2013: Daddy’s Big Bucks clinches Agri Expo 2013 title

We can’t quite believe it, but this year really is going from strength to strength and after a fantastic win at the Cornwall Calf Show last week, we were up in Carlisle with our two winter season commercial cattle, Daddy’s Big Bucks and Harlem Shake, who did us incredibly proud indeed.

Having won her heifer class before going on to be heifer champion, the July 2012-born Limousin cross heifer went on to take the overall section under judge Charlie Anderson. Weighing in on the day at 507kg, she is sired by the Saphir son Emslies Diehard and out of a Limousin cross British Blue. Purchased for 5400gns from Gary Raeburn at the Thainstone Spectacular Sale, this is her first show outing.

Our Limousin steer, Harlem Shake who has already picked up many tickets on the summer circuit also won his steer class. Weighing 683kg, he was purchased at Leyburn from O J Kendall.

October 2013: Winter show season starts with a bang for Foxhill

Just as we seem to have caught our breath after a rather hectic summer season, the winter show season is now upon us with our leading lads and ladies from the Limousin herd out in force at the Cornwall Calf Show, and boy did our team of four bulls and four heifers do us proud! 

Foxhillfarm Impeccabull kicked off the day by winning the January born bull class. This January-born son of Wilodge Vantastic out of Bankdale Alice is full brother to our noted show heifer Foxhillfarm Gracie, so will hopefully continue in his sisters footsteps. In the class he was closely followed by Foxhillfarm Incredibull, a Guards Boomer son out of Bankdale Elizabeth, while in third place in the class was Foxhillfarm Inthegold, another Alice son by Vantastic and then completing the class in fourth was Foxhillfarm Irishlad, which is the same way bred as Incredibull.

In the January-born heifer class Foxhillfarm Izzy was leading the way for us, another ET-bred animal the same way bred as Gracie, with her full ET-bred sister Foxhillfarm Ivy standing a close second. Next up in the March-born heifer class Foxhillfarm Isla was first – again by Vantastic out of Alice and then in second in this class was Foxhillfarm Iola, a full ET-bred sister.

We were then delighted to go one step further with Foxhillfarm Izzy who took the Limouisn breed championship with Foxhillfarm Impeccabull standing reserve. Izzy then went on to clinch the Continental breed championship.

Charlotte also won her section of the Young handlers (14-16yrs) and topped of an amazing day with the overall champion young handler with Foxhillfarm Impeccable. Next stop for us is Borderway Agri Expo – see you there! 

Charlotte after winning champion young handler at the Cornwall Calf Show

October 2013: Amazing time at HOYS

Here’s a few images from our amazing time at HOYS this week with Charlotte competing on Llanarth Old Fashion. 

 

October 2013: Eventful qualification time for Charlotte and Llanarth Old Fashion

Not only have we been pretty hectic with the cattle and sheep side of things, but Charlotte has also been busy with her horses and we’re delighted that her and Llanarth Old Fashion have qualified for HOYS this month in the Welsh Section D’s, having finished third on two occasions previously. They have also qualified for the semi Olympia finals in December, so we’re looking forward to an exciting time ahead for Old Fashion and Charlotte.

October 2013: Blue Texels join the Foxhill sheep enterprises

Having made the trip to Carlisle at the end of last month, we’re excited to announce the arrival of some new sheep to the livestock enterprises at Foxhill, as Charlotte has purchased the foundations for her Blue Texel flock. Our first purchase was the champion female and overall champion, an aged ewe from the Ivanhoe flock of Messrs Bailey. This one is by an imported sire and out of a home bred dam by the same sire.

Joining her was shearling ewe from Messrs Lyle. Viewforth Venice is an ET-bred daughter of a Millside tup out of a Miserden sired Shearstone ewe. Then from the same pen was a full ET-bred brother to the shearling ewe, Viewforth Vitorio. It may be a few years before we plan to show the Blue Texels, as Charlotte would like to flush the females and possibly purchase a few more. 

August 2013: A summer of success for Foxhillfarm Gracie

It’s been a phenomenal summer for our first pedigree Limousin heifer to be shown under the Foxhillfarm prefix as Gracie has travelled the length of the UK picking up championship results in England, Scotland and Wales….and at times it’s been rather emotional! Thank you to everyone for their kind words, support and help.

 

August 2013: Wayside U Bet takes Welshpool Texel championship

Having come through as winner of the novice tup lamb class, Charlotte’s Texel tup lamb went on to clinch the tup lamb, overall male and overall supreme championship at Welshpool today. Wayside U Bet is by Douganhill Mc Fly and is out of the 11,000gns Fairywater ewe purchased last year at Ballymena, which is by Strathbogie Python.

August 2013: Harlem Shake wins commercial title at Honiton Show

Our Limousin cross steer Harlem Shake has today won the commercial section at Honiton Show, as well as coming through as winner of the Young farmers section. Charlotte also cotinued her winning form in Young Handlers classes by taking the top sot with him.

July 2013: Gracie ends show season on an amazing Welsh high!

What a show season it’s been for Gracie and she’s ended her run this summer on an amazing high at the Royal Welsh Show. Having won her yearling heifer class under judge Harry Emslie, she then went on to take the female and overall breed championship, a massive success in itself with the Limousin entry being the strongest of all the beef breeds.

Later that day we went under interbreed judge Richard Hassle who gave her reserve interbreed champion behind a superb Charolais bull from Charlie Boden. On the second day of the show our girl was out again, this time taking the junior heifer interbreed title under judge John Astley, before being one half of the reserve interbreed pair for the Limousins, again behind the Charolais breed. Gracie has well and truly done us proud and we’ve had some amazing comments from breeders so we now look forward to seeing how she flushes and breeds for us in the future.

July 2013: Amazing Great Yorkshire Show for Foxhill

Well it’s been an amazing few days for sure and is without doubt up there with one of the greatest shows we’ve experienced so far showing cattle.

Our yearling heifer Gracie did us proud at this year’s Great Yorkshire Show by securing the female and breed championship under judge Bruce Goldie of the Goldies herd before going even better to be tapped out as interbreed beef champion at this year’s Great Yorkshire Show under judge Arwel Owen. On the second day of judging she also took the junior interbreed championship under Aled Edwards before being part of the winning interbreed group of four and the Continental Blythewood Pairs champions.

Gracie, who is by the noted Vantastic and out of Bankdale Alice, has been in excellent form this year and has travelled all over the south west of England then up to the Highland before coming here to Harrogate to take the top honours once again. We’re delighted with her success and really look forward to the Royal Welsh later in the month.

Then in the commercial ring, our Limousin cross steer Harlem Shake won his class and went on to tak the steer championship, while our Charolais cross heifer Off the Clock also won her class, completiting a fantastic show for us all.

June 2013: Gracie wins Limousin championship at Royal Highland

Foxhillfarm Gracie has made our journey north to the Royal Highland Show a very worthwhile one, as she won her class before clinching the junior female champion, overall female champion and the overall breed championship under judge Meirion Thomas of the Nebo herd.

Gracie has already won breed championships at Bath and West, Royal Cornwall and interbreed Continental at Three Counties Show.

We also won the steer championship in the commercials with our Limousin steer Harlem Shake. This pure bred Limousin has already won the steer championship at Beef Expo and the overall championship at Three Counties.

June 2013: Gracie does the tripple at Three Counties Show

Securing her third breed championship in as many shows and going one better to clinch the Continental interbreed championship was our yearling heifer Foxhillfarm Gracie. This Wilodge Vantastic heifer is out of our foundation female Bankdale Alice and has already taken the breed championships at Royal Cornwall and Bath and West Show earlier in the season as well as reserve in the Burke Pair Trophy. 

She was described by Grand Prix Limousin judge Chris Pennie as: “a very good heifer, one that is hard to fault as she’s a good mover with great presence and style.”

June 2013: Team Alford does the double at Royal Cornwall Show

Foxhill Livestock celebrated a great Royal Cornwall Show as our pedigree Limousin heifer Foxhillfarm Gracie continuing her winning form from Bath and West Show. Under judge Craig Ridley of the Haltcliffe herd, she won her heifer class, then went on to take the female and overall breed championship. She now heads to the Royal Three Counties Show and then straight up to the Royal Highland.

Foxhill Farm Gracie

Our Limousin steer Harlem Shake then went one better than his steer championship at Beef Expo, winning the steer section and overall commercial championship under judge Neil Lloyd. He will be joining Gracie when she hits the road to the Highland.

Harlem Shake

May 2013: Interbreed success at Bath and West for Foxhill Farm Gracie

Show season is well underway for the Foxhill Livestock team and today we’re celebrating at the Bath and West Show as our yearling Limousin heifer has won her class, taken the female championship and the breed championship under judge Paul Byas. She then went two stages further by securing the homebred interbreed championship before clinching the overall supreme interbreed beef championship of the show under judge Dan Bull of Croxton Park.

Born August 2011, we think a lot of this heifer and she is by the noted Wilodge Vantastic and is out of one of our foundation females Bankdale Alice. She carries on a great run of form from last year where she stood second in the baby heifer class at the Royal Welsh and pedigree Limousin champion at the Royal Highland Winter Fair.

Completing a fantastic show, Gracie paired up with Nick and Lisa Hill’s bull Culnagechan Giantscauseway to clinch the reserve honours in the Burke Trophy competition and then was part of the winning interbreed group championship. Charlotte also took Gracie in the young handlers competition and won the championship there as well. What a show it’s been!! 

May 2013: Harlem Shake wins steer championship at Beef Expo

This year’s Beef Expo at Malvern saw Foxhill Livestock on winning form taking champion steer with Harlem Shake. This 504kg January-born pure Limousin was on his first outing since we purchased him at Leyburn from breeder O J Kendall.

Harlem Shake – steer champion Beef Expo

Charlotte’s Charolais heifer Off The Clock stood second in her class, weighing 668kg she is by Falleninch Empire and was reserve heifer at Countryside Live last year.

May 2013: Young Farmers success at Devon County Show

Carrying on her winning form from Culm Valley Young Farmers Show last month, Charlotte won the Devon County Show Young Handlers Show with her homebred steer Poker Prince. This Limousin cross steer by Sablier is out of the multi championship winning Poker Face.

May 2013: Foxhill sale at Brecon sees £4500 for Big Bird

Our much anticipated dispersal of the Foxhill commercial cows and calves and pedigree Galloways at Brecon Livestock Market at the weekend saw a top price of £4500 for Big Bird, a six year old Limousin cross cow sold with her British Blue cross heifer at her foot, by Park Daimler. Big Bird was reserve at the Royal Welsh in 2010, first at the Scottish Winter Fair and supreme at the South West Winter Fair 2010. She was knocked down to an undisclosed phone bidder. 

Big Bird and her calf Blue Eyed Girl, £4500

At £3200 Craig Hendry, Auchinderran, Keith, secured the successful show female Smarty Pants, who he had originally bred. Smarty Pants was last year’s commercial champion from Devon County Show, Royal Cornwall Show and the Royal Highland Show and sold in calf to Sablier.

Our British Blue cross Lady Gaga with her Limousin cross calf at foot then sold for £2900 to her original breeder Trefor Jones. Lady Gaga was reserve supreme at Royal Smithfield 2009 and champion Blue sired heifer at the Scottish Winter Fair 2009.

One of Charlotte’s successful show calves Pokerdot then sold for £2500. This Limousin cross heifer was reserve calf at Agri-Expo and the Scottish Winter Fair in 2010, she sold with her heifer calf by Tehix to pedigree Limousin and show calf producer Dai Brute.

Next up and selling for £2400 was No Article, a British Blue cross heifer. She was first at Royal Cornwall, Devon County, Beef Expo and Three Counties in 2012 and sold on the phone to the same buyer of Big Bird.

Real Thing, a Limousin cross heifer in calf to Sablier was then knocked down for £2350 to Andrew and Becky Bishop. She was reserve champion heifer at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair, reserve supreme at the South West Winter Fair and a class winner at the East of England Smithfield Festival and the Scottish Winter Fair 2011.

Then at £2300 was Alijandro, the supreme at Agri Expo and the Scottish Winter Fair in 2010, she sold with a show potential bull calf at foot by Fieldsons Alfie to Messrs Beeman. The same buyer also paid £2050 for the Limousin cross heifer Miss Money Penny who was offered with her Tehix bull calf at foot, she was reserve at Royal Smithfield Christmas Fair and the Scottish Winter Fair in 2008.

Marina 63rd of Kilnstown and calf

The Galloway offering topped at £2900 for the 2006-born Marina 63rd of Linstown, a John Jo of Kilnstown daughter who sold with her January-born bull calf at foot by Quart of Kilnstown. Buying this outfit was Tim and Kitty Bodily who are establishing a Galloway herd. The calf, Bonzo, will also contest the winter native fatstock classes.

April 2013: Poker Prince wins supreme championship at Culm Valley Young Farmers Spring Show

The show season has kicked off in style for the Foxhill Livestock team as Charlotte celebrated a great win at the Culm Valley Young Farmers Spring Show held at Exeter Livestock Centre with Poker Prince, a homebred May 2012-born steer. 

This Limousin cross steer by Sablier is out of the multi championship winning Poker Face and he won the steer class, steer championship, overall beef championship and then went head to head with the dairy heifer, breeding pics, butchers pigs and breeding sheep champions to secure the overall supreme championship of the show. Charlotte and Poker Prince will now go forward to the Devon County Young Farmers classes at the Devon County Show next month.