MEMBERS of the Worcestershire Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs are celebrating success in a national competition.

Local members picked up several prizes in the live and carcase show organised by the National Federation of Young Farmers' Club in London.

A Worcestershire team picked up third prize in the sheep competition, held at the Royal Smithfield Show.

There was also success for team members Hannah Talbot, from Cutnall Green YFC, who came second in the junior sheep contest and Andrew Green, from Ombersley YFC, who picked up seventh place in the senior sheep competition.

A total of 145 YFC members from across England and Wales competed in the contest, sponsored by tyre distributor ATS Euromaster. Junior and senior members competed individually and as teams, judging both live and carcase classes for either beef or sheep.

In the live beef category, competitors judged a ring of four Hereford cattle and a ring of four Limousin cattle.

The sheep competitors judged a ring of four Texel sheep and a ring of four Exmoor sheep. All competitors had to place both rings and present their reasons to a judge for one ring.

In the carcase category competitors judged either two groups of lamb carcases or two groups of beef carcases. They had to place both groups in order of merit, then classify one group according to the Meat and Livestock Commission's (MLC's) Carcase Classification Scheme and present their reasons to a judge for the other ring.

ATS Euromaster's commercial group product manager Frank Rennie attended the show with colleague Stuart Oulton and even had a go at the live and carcase judging himself.

"It was wonderful to see so many YFC members taking part in what was obviously a very challenging competition," said Mr Rennie.

"Not only had the members learnt the ability to pick out the best stock - skills essential in livestock farming - they had developed the confidence and skills necessary to present their reasons to the judges. It was an impressive showcase of talent and ATS Euromaster was very proud to sponsor the event."

Sarah Meredith, from Hereford YFC, picked up first prize in the junior beef category and Kelly Bladder, from Pencombe YFC, gained third prize in the senior beef category. Sarah and Kelly also picked up first prize in the team beef competition for Herefordshire and, along with Jonathan Rogers, from Ledbury YFC and Michael Lewis, from Orleton YFC gained third prize in the overall team awards.

A very public demonstration

The team also had the chance to show some Londoners their skills.

One night, while strolling through Piccadilly Circus, a young man noticed the team's impressive fleeces.

During the following conversation, he asked them what stockjudging was.

Ian Wormington, from Bromsgrove YFC, and Tom Birks, from Tenbury Wells YFC, proceeded to explain - but, sometimes its just easier to demonstrate.

So the young man got his girlfriend to kneel down on all fours and Ian gave a full set of reasons to everyone strolling past.

Do you know your cachinnate from your logorrhoea?

FIVE teams took part in the county round of Call My Bluff at Shires Farm, Hawford.

The competition, based on the BBC TV programme, had members scratching their heads as to the true meanings some pretty unusual words.

The words included:

Borborygmus

A rumbling noise made by fluid and gas in the intestines.

Cachinnate

Laugh loudly and in an unrestrained way.

Callipygian

Having well-shaped buttocks.

Logorrhoea

A tendency to be talkative.

Quadragenerian

A person who is between 40 and 49 years old.

The competition proved that YFC members are excellent at bending the truth with many of them managing to bluff their opponents.

The winners were:

1st: Crowle YFC

Joint 2nd:

Cutnall Green YFC and Wythall YFC

4th: Inkberrow YFC

5th: Bromsgrove YFC

Crowle YFC will now be asked to represent Worcestershire in the area final to be held in April 2005.