2006 REPORT
by Brian Lundy

As usual the year starts with our Annual Dinner in January at Arties Mill, Brigg, N. Lincolnshire. It was a great success, being very well attended and the management put on an excellent meal in the carvery. Our guest on the evening was the Society Vice President and his wife, Mr. & Mrs. Dan Evans, after the dinner he gave an address to the club.

It was very sad and came as a great shock to many that during the year we lost our club member Peter Hill and our dinner had the theme, ‘A Tribute to Peter’ a missing friend. Our year has not been the same without him. At the dinner I asked Dan why they will not bring back some recognition of merit for outstanding cows within the breed, he indicated because of cost, on that I could disagree, the cost could be almost nil in this age of computers.

On March 22nd, we held our AGM, all office holders and committee were re-elected and we give thanks for their time and effort put in to run the club. Special thanks go to Jack (Wilkins), our club World Congress representative and club Chairman for his attendance at the meetings.

Fiona Sloan our Breed Promotion and Development Manager arrived in Lincolnshire from Scotland to address a stockman’s club at Skegness, we took advantage of her visit for her to do an article in the June issue of the Breeder and Feeder on the farm of Peter and Andrew Middleton at Dalby Grange, Spilsby, Lincs. They are doing an excellent job with a large herd of Simmental X Lincoln Red cattle; the full report was in the Breeder & Feeder.

In the evening Fiona addressed our club and gave a very upbeat view into the direction of the way we should be going with the breed and there were signs of progress being made. We thank Fiona for coming to this side of the country, and as she said, she saw some excellent cattle.

It was sad that during the year Jack was taken ill and was advised on health grounds to give up his position as Chairman, which he reluctantly had to do. It has been a pleasure working with Jack who carried out his duties to the utmost satisfaction and we thank him most sincerely for all his efforts and wish him a speedy recovery. Our Vice-Chairman Pat Thurston has taken over the position.

Our summer programme has not been as active this year for various reasons, mainly pressure of work and being in an arable area, it was difficult to find a compatible time to all for a herd competition. Also time was taken up by Jack and myself attending meetings with regard to a sale venue in England, after the fiasco with Newark Market a very successful sale took place at Thirsk Market, our club joined with the North East club in support of the sale.

A good show of nice animals were put forward and good prices were made by both club members, our Chairman J. Wilkins took the top price of 1500gns for a 2002 born cow Ulceby Nellie with a bull calf at foot Ulceby Stanley, I & M Steel (Blakewell), M. Brears (Beaghall), A & P Spilman (Friesthorpe), D & J Pick (Scarthingwell) and B & A Wise (Swaleside) herds were all represented, with all the stock selling well, all in all a very good sale.

The summer show season was supported by several of our members at Newark and Notts, Lincolnshire and Driffield shows although numbers were down quite considerably, I think may be due to Herd Health considerations? Driffield became a nightmare to me with one of my animals running up the bypass for about three miles.

Lincolnshire Show

Our Eastern Club sponsored ‘Breeders Class’ (Cow & Calf) we feel does not get the serious consideration and support that it deserves, it is open to all competitors and is the only class scored on a points basis that judges how they are breeding rather than just beauty. It is all ready beginning to identify good cow families within herds.

Winners this year
1st M. Brears & Son with Beaghall June with calf Beaghall Truman
(33 points) (45 points) = 78 points
2nd M. Brears & Son with Beaghall Trixie Belle 8 with calf Beaghall Saturn
(34 points) (43 points) = 77 points
3rd A Hurn & Partners with Twyford Phillida with calf Twyford Tobias
(36 points) (39 points) = 75 points

We thank the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society for their support in helping to put this class on and for them taking it seriously with the stewards. We as usual after the Judging is completed, put on what is now a traditional buffet and with no exception, the club ladies once again did us proud and thanks go to them, for it is enjoyed by club members, Society members, competitors and friends.

Our club joined with the North East club on a visit to Mr. D.C. Burkill at Sykes Farm, Driffield, where his son David gave us a very interesting insight to his Beechtree herd where there, we saw some very good cattle, the weather was good and we enjoyed their hospitality with a B.B.Q, it was a really good social afternoon.

At the sales, things seem to have taken a turn for the better, in particular for the females, let’s hope we are on our way up again, it should be encouraging to Fiona. So, all the best for the future to the Society, the Breed and all members.

<<back