Hexham and Northern Marts held their annual Young Farmers’ Club Calf Wintering Competition this weekend with a stunning display of 20 calves.

But it was a red Limousin cross bred heifer, exhibited by Adam Haughton, of Haltwhistle Young Farmers, and bred by Benedict Bates of Nilston Rigg, Langley, that secured the top spot, crowned the overall champion of the two-day event.

Adam was rewarded for his calving success with a silver trophy from show sponsor David Carr Senior, a renowned local farmer, haulier and benefactor of the event.

And the celebrations did not stop there, with the overall champion also scooping up the top price of £1,850, selling to Messrs Edwards Bros Betws Gwefil Goch, Corwen, Wales.

Master judge Jonathan Lyon, well-known Lincolnshire based cattle showman and landscaper, awarded second prize to a sleek black Limousin cross heifer from Jack Moralee, also a Haltwhistle Young Farmer, that had been purchased from Messrs Lee, Agars Hill, Whitfield.

With a female majority in both the show and the sale, it was a thoroughly well regarded decision to award the Dalkin trophy, for best turned out calf, and the John Gibb trophy, for best calf of the opposite sex, to a black Limousin cross bullock from Bewn Cowton, Butsfield YFC, County Durham, purchased from Gordon and Julie Sedgewick, Ricknall Grange, Newton Aycliffe.

Achieving the highest average profit margin, the inter-club competition was won by Haltwhistle’s Adam Haughton, Will Storey and Kate Ogle with £970, £670 and £460 respectively.