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by Ron Loftus
It has been a busy year again for the North West club,
our new year started in February with the AGM held again
at Borderway Mart, Carlisle. The Chairman, Alan Tallentire
stepped down as Chairman after 2 years in the seat, thanks
again Allan. John Holliday was then elected as Chairman.
Andrew Vaughan was elected to the committee and no sooner
made it to the position of Vice-Chairman! John Wigham also
came onto the Club committee. I agreed to do the secretaries
job again! Brian Wise drove over to attend our AGM to show
his support and also gave a short report on Council activities.
We all then had a meal at the end of the meeting.
Soon
after the AGM John Trafford stepped down off the committee,
the position was filled, at the next committee meeting,
by myself.
Next on the calendar were the February Perth
bull sales, the last time at Perth! Splashing the cash
again were Bill and Christine Heaps buying Allercott Victoria
for 4500gns, who has done very well for them in the show
season, getting Breed Champion at Londridge show and Interbreed
Champion at Westmorland show. Our vice-Chairman also made
his presence known at Perth by buying Ballinalare Farm
Victorious for 5800gns.
Carlisle April sale was a success
with the good bulls making good money, the sale average
was up £1456 on the year! Champion bull, Hockenhull
Wilfred sold to a new Northwest member, Paul Rennison for
5500gns, that’s the best price for Carlisle sale
in recent times, and put the average price at £3636.
Two other bulls made 4500gns they were Grangewood Valentino
and Hockenhull Ventura. The female cattle were good trade
averaging £1786; Top price here was judges’ favourite
Midhope Temptation at 3800gns.
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| Stockjudging at John & Janet
Addisons Keld Farm |
This year’s stock
judging evening was held by kind permission of Johnny and
Janet Addison and family, the Master Judge for the evening
was Allan Tallentire, he placed the well run herd of pedigree
cattle very well. In the open section, over 30, Rob Addison
won. First prize in the under 30’s was John Wigham
Jr. Unfortunately none of the young members were able to
compete at the stock judging at the last Royal show.
The
show season was slightly affected by the weather this year,
Cumberland show was cancelled early that morning due to
the river banks about to run over! Unlucky for Bill and
Christine Heaps who made the 100 mile ride to find the
show cancelled and had to turn round and come back home!
This is where this
year’s show stand was due to be
held.
This year’s Society goblets were won by Allan
Tallentire at Appleby Show with his bull Swingletree Willie.
Gt. Eccleston, Chipping and Garstang shows were all won
by Popes Princess Victoria from Jimmy and Vicki Woods,
well done to them on another successful season. The Royal
Lancashire Show this year, was cancelled due to lack of
a site, it has since been cancelled for good, due to lack
of funds, shame that 2 Royal shows ended in 2009.
Our farm
walk this year was held by kind permission of Hugo Arnold
and family, 23 of our members had a wonderful day having
a presale preview, all the cattle looked wonderful, and
we were all looked after nicely. It was no surprise to
see all those good cattle making a brilliant average price;
it was a great tribute to years of breeding quality cattle.
Top bid from a northwest member was Margaret Addison buying
Hockenhull Juliet 5th for 6000gns. Also spending again
was Bill and Christine Heaps, buying an embryo calf of
Hockenhull Girlie 13th by Glenturk Rolex for 5000gns, with
its recip mother Hockenhull Natalie 26th.
On the 30th October,
Carlisle held their now annual Borderway Agri Expo. This
is mainly a commercial and fatstock show, but our absence
has been noticed over the last few years. So the club organised
a stand at the show to increase the profile of the breed.
There was great interest in the breed and had lots of visitors
to the stand. The stand had a mixture of mainly Simmental
cross cattle, some cows with calves and some commercially
intensive finished bulls and 2 pedigree bulls.
The autumn
sales were soon upon us once more; Perth at Stirling had
a good first sale, with a good average and clearance. The
Carlisle sale was another success, Overall Champion was
Blackpool Wyatt from David Loftus, selling for 3400gns.
Top price of the day was Midhope Winston selling for 5500gns.
Top price for a northwest member went to R. Carter with
Gerrard Winner selling for 4500gns.
So after now 3 years
of wet weather in the North West, let’s hope 2010
brings better weather! Also let’s hope the continued
interest and enthusiasm for Simmental cattle gains even
more momentum for this next decade!
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