HEREFORDSHIRE’S Merry Millers have little to beef about this Christmas.

Together with his family, the irrepressible Ian Pugh, widely known for his tireless fundraising for charity, has swept the board in the Christmas livestock markets.

Ian and his wife Eira, of Three Ashes near Ross-on-Wye, had great success at the annual Ross Christmas Fatstock Show before scooping champion and reserve champion in successive years at Monmouth, a feat never achieved before.

At Ross, as well as winning champion in show, they also won the Smallholder’s Class Cup awarded to those farming less than 100 acres. First and third prizes in the best heifer class went to the Pughs as well as first prize in the over 650kg steer class, second prize in the same class and the overall trophy for most points awarded over all classes.

Champion beast, named ‘Mary Miller’, a stunning Limousin cross heifer at 496kgs realised a total of £2,405. The calf was bought out of Knighton Market from D J Lloyd and Co from Cefn Barach, Trefeglwys, Powys back in May this year.

The calf was out of a Limousin cross British Blue cow and sired by pedigree Limousin bull, Guy.

Mary Miller was purchased by Tim Hanks of Cornwalls family butchers of Ross-on-Wye.