A Limousin-cross steer, Hanky Panky, exhibited by Michael and Melanie Alford, Foxford Farm, Blackborough, Cullompton, Devon, was awarded the Overall Supreme Championship at the 2009 AgriLive Smithfield Christmas Fair held, for the first time, at Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth.

It was a day to remember for the Alfords, regular and successful exhibitors at the UK’s primestock events, as they also picked up the Overall Reserve Supreme title, only the second time this one-two has been achieved in Smithfield’s long history.

It was also another spectacular day for the Limousin breed with Limousin sired cattle racking up eight of the ten cattle section championships and thirteen titles in all. The 2009 Overall title concluded a hat-trick of titles with Limousin-sired animals having taken home the Supreme Championship at each of the last three Smithfield events.

The Alfords’ Supreme Champion, Hanky Panky, came from the Heavyweight Steer class and graced the scales at 592kg - representing an excellent 1.55kg daily liveweight gain for this 382 day old beast.

Judge Mr Neil Caul, said of his Champion: “This steer was almost perfection with a fantastic top-line and a tremendous spring of rib. He was well fleshed, finely balanced, very level and with little waste.”

At the post-show auction, conducted by Paul Gentry of Newark Market, Hanky Panky was eventually knocked down for £5,000 to Stillmans Butchers.

Bred by Andrew Anderson, Smallburn Farms, Rothes, Hanky Panky was sired by Bailea Oberon, a Marron son who is out of a Greensons Gigolo-sired dam. He was purchased at the Thainstone Spectacular for £4,000 where he had stood Champion. The Alfords have enjoyed a hot run of fatstock form in 2009 having taken the Baby Beef Championships at both the English and Welsh Winter Fairs, and the Reserve Supreme Championship and Pairs titles at the Scottish Winter Fair. Hanky Panky himself had warmed up for Smithfield by winning the Reserve Intermediate Steer title at the Scottish Winter Fair.

The coveted King’s Cup for the best homebred animal saw a one-two for the Limousin breed. Champion was the Best Lightweight Steer winner, Kaiser Chief, from last year’s Smithfield Supreme winners, Alister & Liz Vance, Bridgehouse Farm, Whithorn, Newton Stewart.

For the Alfords it was the first time in the 200 year history of Smithfield that both top awards had gone to the same exhibitor. In fact, the Alfords cleaned up, as their daughter Charlotte also won the Suckled Calf Championship!