Cut above the rest (From Bromsgrove Advertiser)

Cut above the rest

11:33pm Friday 22nd June 2012 in Local

LOCAL teenager James May had every reason to let his hair down at the annual agricultural extravaganza, the Three Counties Show, at the weekend but ended up with a lot less hair than he arrived with.

That’s because 17-year-old James from Tardebigge pulled off a major surprise at the show when his entry in the British Blue cattle classes was judged the breed’s champion, and at the subsequent Stockmen’s Dinner - at the showground in Malvern - his first win initiation saw him finish up shaven headed thanks to his fellow stockmen.

James, who currently spends three days a week at Walford Agricultural College in Shropshire and two or more days on the family’s 1,200 acres at Sheltwood Farm, said he couldn’t believe he’d achieved such success at the show.

“It’s incredible. I’m really delighted as it is so unexpected,” said James, who entered and showed 23-month-old female Bringlee Fancy Me.

His father, William, said: “This is beyond our wildest dreams. Since the demise of the Royal Show this is now one of the major farming events of the year and to win here is a great credit to him and the effort he has put in.

“James has always been involved with the animals on the farm since an early age. Having shown a real keen interest we encouraged him along and he first entered one of his animals into a livestock show when he was only 13.

The family farm has mixed stock with around 150 Holstein cattle, a small milking herd and 500 breeding ewes.