2005 REPORT
BY JACK WILKINS - CHAIRMAN

We started the year with our Annual Dinner in January, which was held at Arties Mill in Brigg, North Lincolnshire.  We had a very good attendance and an excellent meal.  Our guest was Council member Judy Borlase, who gave an enlightening speech on her views of the Society, her hopes for the future of the breed and on the future of Beef Production.  Judy answered many questions and was presented with a bouquet of flowers on behalf of the club.

Our Annual General Meeting took place on 16 March; all officers and committee were re-elected, with the addition of Alex Spillman, Neil Balderston and Dave Lamming. Our long serving Secretary Brian Lundy took much persuading to carry on with his excellent work for the club. All members were very pleased with Brian’s decision to continue and we owe him a big thank you for his services.

Our herd competition was judged by Ron Hodgkinson in April before cattle were turned out.  Ron and his wife spent several days going round and inspecting the herds, partly going under his own steam and partly taken round by several members.  We thank Ron for his work and look forward to hearing the results of the various classes, when Ron announces them at a supper in November.

Our summer programme started off with a very well attended evening visit to Charles Dobson‘s large commercial herd at South Elkington, Near Louth, Lincolnshire.  We were shown cows and calves at grass in several lots, calving cows inside and an outstanding large bunch of bull beef almost ready for the butcher.  It was pleasing to see Mr Dobson had purchased a Simmental bull at the Carlisle Spring sale. We were also shown a large composting operation being carried out on the farm in conjunction with a local council. We finished off the evening with a short journey to Louth for a fish & chip supper.

On 22 May we travelled down to Hertfordshire for a joint visit with the North East Club to the Sacombe herd of the Borlase family, again a very good turn out.  We saw some very good cattle which are run on very commercial lines.  We were taken round on tractors and trailers with Bridget giving us a commentary, she is very knowledgeable on her cattle and their pedigrees.  We were shown a large new cattle building, it is very pleasing to see confidence in the future of beef production.  The visit was rounded off with an excellent meal provided by Judy.  We thank you very much for having us and wish the Borlase family all the best with their new retail meat business, Bridget B’s Traditional Beef.
At the Lincolnshire Show the ladies of the club once again did us proud by providing and serving first class refreshments which were enjoyed by club members, society members and friends.

The Eastern Club’s breeder’s class for dam and offspring was judged by Bob Lunness who also judged the Simmental classes at the show.  The winner of first prize and large Swiss cow bell was Mike Brears with Beaghall June and calf.  The second prize went to Pat Thurlston with a member of his Lotti family, Pat also took the small Swiss cow bell, and in third place was Brian Lundy with the Empress cow and calf. 

I hope we can attract other Simmental Exhibitors to enter our breeders class in future shows.  We thank the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society for their help in putting this class on at the show.  Club members supported many shows and collected a number of prizes.

Members also supported Society shows and sales.  The club hopes to play its part in the 2008 World Congress when we are joining with the North East Club to put on a show of cattle at Thirsk market.  We hope to have Fiona Sloan as our guest at the next Annual dinner.  We hope for a better future for the Society and in conclusion I thank the Society staff for their help and advice, and all members who have helped during the year.

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