No Lighty No Likey, probably England's top beef steer, took another giant stride forward by winning the Supreme Primestock Championship at Beef South West on Thursday.
Ninety cattle went before the judge at this major livestock event at Westpoint, near Exeter, but the 21-month-old Limousin, from Michael and Melanie Alford's celebrated herd at Cullompton in Mid Devon, swept all before him.
His win confirmed his position in the beef showing arena, and his place as a front runner for the Royal Smithfield Show at Peterborough at the end of this month.
"He has never been beaten by another steer at all 13 shows that he's been entered into," said Mr Alford. "And he has only been beaten by heifers twice for supreme championships."
The Alford showing team, which includes 13-year-old daughter Charlotte, will be taking No Lighty No Likey, which they bought in the Spring at Brecon Sales in Wales, on the Christmas primestock showing circuit to shows in Birmingham and Builth Wells before travelling on to Peterborough on November 30.
Winning at Smithfield would be a crowning accolade. Crowds lined the showing ring four deep for the Supreme Championship and there was loud applause when the judge, Frederick Fairburn, from Yorkshire, selected Lewis Cook's home-bred 14 month-old Limousin steer Bordeaux as reserve champion. Mr Cook, from Ivybridge was delighted with the win.
