Cornwall Simmental Club 2005 Report

CORNWALL SIMMENTAL CLUB

2005 REPORT
by Penny Lally

Another fun packed year has passed with a few but keen members of the Cornish club. In January we had our annual dinner, which as always was well attended and a great evening.

In April we were given an interesting and informative talk by Genus on Embryo transfer work.

In May came the Devon County show. Viv Hall & Penny Lally represented the Cornish club. Viv’s bull, Chegwidden Newman, won Male Champion and Penny Lally’s Chyanhal Romeo took the Champion Junior Interbreed.

Then in June the Royal Cornwall (a forgotten ROYAL!) came round in glorious weather with over 120,000 people through the gates in the three days. It is without doubt one of the best agricultural shows in the country and competitors come from far and wide, including Boddington Estates with a lorry load of fine cattle, one of them being Sterling Dolore’s Petra who went on to be Breed Champion.

A delighted Kevin Hawke took Male Champion with Cargibbit Knockout. David and Christine Mills who love the Royal Cornwall so much they brought their adopted son Gavin with his two beautiful girls to see what it is all about! The Mills’ heifer Wishful Whisper and Penny Lally’s bull Chyanhal Romeo won the young Interbreed pairs again, which was a proud moment. Romeo also won the Interbreed bull class. Our Club stand was run by Heather Parr who looked after all our visitors very well. This is where we spend a large proportion of our funds, but it is well worth it as it is a meeting place for members and friends.

In July we visited the Gummows’ Killiworgie farm to see their super cattle and enjoyed a huge feast afterwards. There was such a friendly atmosphere at Killiworgie (South Fork as it is known!) that we asked if we could hold our A.G.M. there, any heated discussions could be cooled off in the swimming pool!

In August we set off by coach to Somerset and Roy Loud’s Taurus herd. The weather was beautiful and we were taken around Roy’s commercial and pedigree herd. They all looked extremely well and a credit to Roy. We were treated to a superb lunch in the garden and then set off homeward via Jack & Marge Ellicott’s farm. This proved to be further than we thought and our extremely good tempered coach driver navigated the Devon lanes with good humour! Jack’s cattle looked wonderful and he proudly showed off his show bull Roadhill Razamataz before we had tea at their sweet cottage, after which we set off westward again.

At the end of September came the highlight of the year, our visit to East Anglia. Plan A was to visit the Clements, Filbys, Hurns and John Key (unfortunately our visit to Darsham was cancelled due to the sad death of Albert Clements). We were to fly from Newquay to Stansted, meeting Roy Loud and David Edwards (who drove up), picking up hire cars at 10 am then driving to John Keys.

This is what happened…..

THE CORNISH CLUB ON TOUR

The Cornish club decided
to East Anglia they’d go
the weather should be temperate
too early for the snow

Things did not go accordingly
and plans that seemed OK
turned into a nightmare
on a memorable first day

We got up very early
and set off for our flight
(taking rescue remedy
to counteract our fright!)
As we sat in the departure lounge
looking forward to our stay
an announcement rang out clearly
there’d be no flight for us today!!
Our plane was stuck at Bournmouth
due to the fog it could not land.
What were we now to do
on this epic trip we’d planned

After much deliberation
we hired a mini bus
and, when we should have been at Stanstead
we set off, the twelve of us.
For seven miserable hours
we squashed into our truck
wondering what we’d done
to deserve this kind of luck.
We blamed it all on J.R.
the St.Coloumb chippy King
he fell out with his vicar
“praise the Lord” he’d better sing.

We had to cancel our arrangements
with John Key to see his herd
(amusing Roy and David when
we told what had occurred)

At last we reached our hire cars
and drove off towards the east
arriving, tired, at Cromer
to a great hotel at least.

Next day was with the Filbys’
inspirational and fun
with Shorthorns and Black Simmentals
and just what can be done
with a huge amount of energy
and a sharp commercial mind
it’s amazing from a farm
what business you can find.

We asked our hosts to dinner
that night at our hotel
terrific food and a pianist
some did not like so well!

On Sunday bright and early
to the Twyford herd we sped
through the Norfolk countryside
with a pleasant day ahead.

But, whilst we were drinking coffee
a problem came to mind
our paperwork and tickets
were at the hotel, left behind!!
Phillida said she‘d fetch them
while we all toured the farm,
avoiding one more crisis
we managed to keep calm.

Their cattle looked extremely well
the bulls impressive too
we also saw their Angus herd,
then had lunch, superb beef stew

Chasing round the countryside
in Tony’s shooting truck
we had a lot of laughs
and a ‘flat’, our sort of luck!

We bade farewell and set off
for Stanstead, to fly home
we’d had a marvellous time
not once a single moan,
great company,good cattle,
fantastic hosts and friends
- we will return East Anglia,
and here this story ends.

Penny Lally Chairman.

TRIBUTE TO DAVID GAUNT
An elegant man in a pin stripe suit
handsome with silvery hair
Polite and respected by those that he knew
A kind man who really did care
Passionate for the future of the Simmental breed
a ‘Networker’ who reigned supreme
persuading sponsors to give up their cash
in pursuit of the Simmental dream
A man who was busy and always involved
Always thinking ahead of the rest
He loved art and his garden, his church and his work
But his family he loved the best
And now he is free from his illness and pain
So much missed by his family and friends
Re-organising angels by now I’ve no doubt!
Our fond memory of him never ends

By Penny Lally

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