The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-12-12 00:00:00

THE SMITHFIELD CLUB SHOW

On Monday the annual show of the Smithfield
Club was opened for the week in the Agricultural
Hall, Islington. The exhibits had been arriving
during the week previously, the entries having been
very good. Compared with the previous year they
were: Cattle, 1884, 261; 1885, 293. Sheep, 1884,
207; 1885, 191. Pigs, 1884, 67; 1885, 60. Total,
1884, 535 1885, 544. In point of numbers, there-
fore, this year's show beat that of last year by a few
entries, but far more gratifying was it to find that the
quality and condition of all the classes were as high
as ever, perhaps even higher. That once pre-eminent
and still greatly fancied' breed, the aristocratic little
Devon, was in splendid form, the sompetition being
so close that many beasts of admired excellence were
perforce undistinguished, while the judges, among
whom Mr. Samuel P. Newbery, of Plympton-St.-
Mary, stands as the great authority for this race
of cattle, joined in commending as a
,whole -
class the young steers with which the catalogue
opens. Breeders, such as Mr. T. H. Risdon, of
Taunton, and Mr. William Smith, of Whimple,
are beaten, as exhibitors, with their own weapons,
they having enabled enthusiastic and enterprising
amateurs to gain distinction where they themselves
have failed to reach so high a mark. The Queen
takes two first prizes in the Devon division, one with
a steer just under four years, and the other with a
heifer bred on the Flemish Farm, this latter being
the reserve number for the breeder's silver cup. Her
Majesty wins also the second prize in the class of
young Devon steers, Mr. Samuel Kidner, of Milver-
ton, Somerset, being first, and Sir William Williams,
of Barnstaple, third. Mr. W. Smith's nearest ap-
proach to a prize is made in this same class, where his
shapely little beast gains high commendation and the
reserve. Sharers of the general commendation
bestowed by the judges are Mr. John Walter, of Bear-
wood, Mr. J. Blundell Maple, of Childwick Bury,
St. Albans, and Mr. W. Bolles Fryer, of Lytchett
Minster, Poole. In the next class of Devon steers,
above two and not exceeding three years, Major.
General Sir Redvers Buller, V.C., of Downes, Credi-
ton, takes the lead, with the silver cup, he being also
winner of the first prize in the small class of cows.
Next to General Buller in the second class of steers,
comes Mr. Samuel Brown Harding, and the third
prize is taken by Mr. E. Thresher Giles, with a beast
from Mr. Risdor.'s herd. Mr. John Walter's steor iii
this class was highly commended, and placed as the
reserve number to a fourth prize, bestowed on a fine
specimen, of which Sir John Ileathcoat Heath-
coat-Amory, Bart., is breeder and exhibitor.
Commendation is bestowed on one of the two
beasts shown by Mr. Blundell Maple, in compe-
tition with a remarkably fine lot. This exhibitor
helps to support the Devon contingent with as many
as five pure-bred beasts, two of which are highly and
one simply commended. His steer in the oldest of
the classes, that in which the Queen takes first prize,
the Prince of Wales second, and Sir Henry Peek,
Bart., third, was given the reserve number, having
made a good fight for substantial honours. Encoun-
tering the like formidable rivalry in the heifer class,
Mr. Maple shares high commendation with Sir
Redvers Buller, on whose beast the reserve msmber
was placed. This being one of the classes in which
her Majesty wins the first prize, the competition was
keen, atr. John Walter coming second, after prib-
longed deliberation of the jddgest, •Mt.. John
Bradbeer, of, Taunton, third, and Mr. T. H.
Risdon, fourth, leaving the Prince of Wales, Mr.
Bolles Fryer, and Mr. A. C. Skinner to content
themselves with the commendation, which is withheld
from Mr. G. H. Pinckard, Mr. John Overman, and
Mr. William Smith. The last of the five Devon
classes, to wit, the tows that have calved, included
only three entries, the awards being given, in order
following, to Sir Redvers Buller, Mr. William Perry,
and Mr. Bolles Fryer. As a whole, the 39 Devons
exhibit quality of the rarest order of merit, being,
especially in such instances as are afforded by Mr.
Maple's selections from the herds of Mr. Risdon, Sir
William Williams, and Mr. W. Smith, exempt from
the failing, frequent with Devon cattle, of a diminu-
tion at the flank, as compared with the generally good
forequarters.
It is in the Hereford breed that were marked some
curious contrarieties of judgment between Birming-
ham and London. The first prize in the class of
young steers is given, at Islington, together with the
reserve number for the breed cup, to Mr. George
Child's grand beast, which was second at Bingley
Hall; whence the first prize Hereford steer has
travelled south to be lowered a step. In fact, the
judgments between Mr. Child's and Mr. J. H. Hall's
beasts are simply reversed. The Court of Noke
breeder and exhibitor has another and somewhat
younger beast in the class, which has been accorded
high commendation, with the reserve number to Mr.
Robert Wortley's silver cup steer in the next
class, Mr. Rees Keene taking third prize, to
Mr Hall's second, in the two year olds. The second
and third in the under-three year old class, where
Mr. Wortley stands first, both go to Mr. Lewis Loyd.
Mr. Rees Keene's beast, which stood third at Bir-
mingham, is here highly commended and holds the
reserve number, which is no great difference. In the
next class there is nothing to court remark. The

"I
"C
cried,
al resl

r
O bE
Non;
hetig
In
vori
tiPs
In
face

tl6*.
th4t

1111

h.•
the ,

told
bee,
etici
tp,_,