A FARMER from the Crediton area achieved notable success at the recent Devon County Show.

John May of Priorton Barton, East Village, was showing his Devon Cattle and his Bull Dira Halcyon EX93 was Breed Champion, Reserve Native Interbreed Champion and also took the Reserve Interbreed Pairs (when paired with the Female Devon Champion).

The seven-years-old bull, which has been a Stock Sire at Priorton since the age of two, was also winner of the North Devon v South Devon Breed Challenge.

A thrilled John explained: “We took a large team of Devon Cattle to the Devon County Show comprising of nine adult cattle and two calves.

“We took the overall breed championship with our bull, four first prizes and four second prizes.”

He added: “Showing is a lot of work as you can imagine with myself and my wife Sue showing in the ring and ably helped by Sue’s daughter, Louise who received the accolade of Champion Stock Person at the Devon County Show for the second year running.”

John is the third generation to farm at Priorton Barton, East Village, following on from his late father William (Bill) May and grandfather Clifford May.

Pedigree Devon cattle have been reared at Priorton for 100 years and the family have seen the export of their Devon’s genetics worldwide including Australia, New Zealand and Brazil.

Latterly pedigree Devon heifers were exported to Southern Ireland to establish the first herd of Devon Cattle there.