CLONAGH REGAL FORTUNE WINS SIMMENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP AT 2024 ROYAL WELSH SHOW

by | Jul 30, 2024

  • Lynfield Precious N992 (P) places Overall Reserve
  • Hallway Herd wins Pairs Title

The January 2023 born heifer Clonagh Regal Fortune, owned jointly by Callum Croft of the Fforest herd, Gwalyrhwch Farm, Llanedi, Pontarddulais, Swansea, and Lizzie Harding of the Hallway herd, Cornerfields Farm, Uxbridge, Bucks, took the Overall Simmental Championship at the 2024 Royal Welsh Show, at Llanelwedd, Builth Wells on Monday 22nd July.

Overall Champion Clonagh Regal Fortune

Coming hot on the heels of the Simmental English National Show, the small breed section at the Royal Welsh was judged by Steve Gummow of the noted Killiworgie herd at Higher Killiworgie Farm, Newquay, Cornwall.

Bred by Garret Behan, Ballyfin, Portlaoise, Clonagh regal Fortune is by the herd’s 22,000gns stock bull Manor Park Hansome, and is out of Clonagh Fame And Fortune.  In the summer of last year Callum Croft judged the South east Herd Competition in the Republic of Ireland and it was there that he first saw Clonagh Regal Fortune.  Commenting he said: “Regal Fortune just really stood out as a calf in the field and I like the breeding behind her with her pedigree featuring the noted Clonagh Edel which goes back to one of the herd’s foundation females.  She came for sale in the Clonagh online sale held in January this year and I was delighted to buy her for €4400.”

Of his Champion the judge Steve Gummow said:  “This was a stylish young heifer that moved very well, was good on her plates, and had plenty of breed character with a lovely head.”

2024 RWAS Simmental judge, Steve Gummow of the Killiworgie herd, Cornwall

Through this summer Clonagh Regal Fortune has been shown at the Great Yorkshire where she stood second to the Reserve Female Champion, and also at the Royal Highland where she was fourth in a strong class.

The Championship is the second Overall Simmental title at the Royal Welsh in three years for Callum Croft with him having won it in 2022 with the 17-month-old heifer Gwilli Melody 2.

Taking the Reserve Championship was the heterozygous polled heifer Lynfield Precious N992 (P) from establishing breeders George Scrivens and Holly Grant, and their Tapster herd at High Field Farm, Shrewley, Warwickshire.  October 2022 born Lynfield Precious N992 (P) was purchased privately in the Spring from her breeder M/S AE & C Bishop, Church Farm, Wokingham, Berkshire and is due to calf in January to Ranfurly Confederate.  She is by the noted AI sire Sterling Gino 15, and is out of the Darsham Playboy (P) daughter Lynfield Precious H628 (P).

Reserve Overall Lynfield Precious N992

Lynfield Precious N992 (P) was Simmental Champion at this year’s Stafford County Show, and stood third in her class to the Overall Simmental Champion at the Great Yorkshire Show.    Early hopes and plans are for her to be shown again next year with calf at foot.

Overall Champions Clonagh Regal Fortune and Lynfield Precious N992 (P). From left to right: Meirion Jones, Welsh Simmental Club Chairman; Steve Gummow, judge; Lizzie Harding; Callum Croft; and George Scrivens.

 

Pair Hallway Diamonds Precious & Hallway Diamonds Pearl

 

2024 Royal Welsh Show Simmental Champions

Overall Champion:        Clonagh Regal Fortune
Overall Reserve:           Lynfield Precious N992 (P)
Pairs:                             Hallway Diamonds Precious & Hallway Diamonds Pearl