Following the October
2004 Scottish Club AGM and the Perth Bull Sales, the Scottish Club
has had a very busy year promoting the Simmental Breed under our
new Chairman Peter Close, Fishwick Mains, Berwick upon Tweed and
Vice Chairman Dorothy Moffat from Innerwick, Dunbar.
The year started with an informal Stockjudging and Cattle Dressing
Day for our Young Members at Innerwick on 21st November. March
was the next time we all met at Foot O’Green Farm, by kind
permission of Jim and Hilary Strathern. On both occasions we had
a great turnout of Young Members and following the scoring from
the Stockjudging and Reason Giving the following people represented
the Scottish Club at The Royal Show: Caroline and Gillian Greenhill,
James Mill, John Patterson, Donald Lyle and Ross King. Sponsorship,
always greatly appreciated by the Club was from Merial.
The February Bull Sales at Perth were judged this year by Mike
Yeandle who put forward Adrian Ivory’s Junior Champion Strathisla
Popeye, shown by Colin Fordyce, as the Supreme Champion.
The Club
had our Social Buffet at the Ramada Jarvis, Perth, with entertainment
by Comedian/Auctioneer Mr Alec Fleming. Monies raised from the
Raffle and Auction were donated again to Cancer Research and The
British Heart Foundation.
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Judge Neil Sutherland, Howslack, Biggar,
enjoyed a good day out judging the Scottish Simmental Club’s
annual show and sale of breeding cattle at Perth.
The best pen of four heifers over two-years-old was won by
Messrs Short, Balquhadly, Brechin; the award for the pen of
four heifers under two years was presented to Messrs MacGregor,
Kirton of Mailler, Perth; and the trophy for single heifer
with calf at foot was won by Messrs Maxwell, Halket Leathes,
Castle Douglas. Pictured from left to right are the judge, Neil
Sutherland; Ian Maxwell, Russell Drumond, from sponsors Pfizers,
Bill Short, and Dorothy Moffat, Vice Chairman of the Simmental
club. |
Beginning of May saw us again at UA Perth for the yearly Multibreed
Sale. This time the Champion being Tillymaud Pretender and Reserve
Champion Starline Playboy.
The 6th May was the Commercial Sale and Cross Simmental Sale sponsored
by PFIZER. This was judged by Neil Sutherland, Biggar. The best
pen of 4 heifers over two years old was won by Messrs Short, Brechin,
under two years old Messrs McGregor, Perth, and for single heifer
with calf at foot by Messrs Maxwell, Castle Douglas.
The Scottish Simmental Club Trip to Southern Ireland was kindly
arranged by Dorothy Moffat. Forty seven of us met at the Holiday
Inn, Dublin Airport on the evening of 19th May. The following herds
were visited over the next few days, during which time we stayed
at The Bloomfield House Hotel, Mullingar; David & Gillian Wall
(Curraheen Simmentals), John Connaughton (Ballybane Simmentals),
David & Miriam Brickley (Anatrim Herd) and Gerard & Angela
Brickley (Celtic Herd). As we visited each farm, the quality of
Simmentals were a credit to each family and the hospitality shown
to us was second to none. We also visited the Progressive Genetics
at Enfield, Co. Meath where we were given a most informative talk
by Michael Bilely, two of the bulls we were shown were Hillcrest
King and Hillcrest Naughty.
On the Saturday afternoon the bus took us to The Curragh Racecourse
where some members won or lost their money! A number went on to
visit the Irish National Stud, Japanese Gardens, Saint Fiachra’s
Garden and then back to The Curragh.
In the evening our hosts of the last few days, along with some
Irish Council Members, joined us for our evening meal. A very good
time was had by all.
The Royal Highland was in June. The Simmental Stand was a great
success, hosting many people from all over the UK and further afield.
It acts as a meeting place for people you may only see from year
to year and also to chat and put the world to rights! The
Show was judged by Mr A. Richardson, N. Ireland, who put forward
as Supreme Champion, A. R. Clements & Partners’ Cow – Darsham
Kit Kat. Reserve – Sir Denis Mountain’s Senior
Bull - Starline Marquiss.
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Anne MacPherson accepting the John Miller
Trophy from Show Chairman John Young. |
The John Miller Trophy was presented to Anne MacPherson (Blackford)
as the Best Simmental Stocksperson by The Royal Highland Show Chairman,
John Young. Douglas Smith (Boswell Herd) was presented with the
Corskie Trophy sponsored by W.J. & J. Green for the Scottish
Club’s Young Stocksperson of the Year. This was a new Trophy.
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This is the first year of the “Corski
Trophy” sponsored by W J & J Green - being presented
to Douglas Smith, Boswell Herd for the best young stocksperson
of the year. |
The Club’s Summer Shows Competitions, 20 in total, sponsored
by WCF, Merial, McCaskie Farm Supplies, Dennis Brinicombe Group,
Carrs Billington Feeds, Galloway & Macleod and Agri-Lloyd. Many
herds entered and at the AGM a total of £980.00 was awarded
to the prize winners. The overall winner with the most number of
points receiving the McCaskie Trophy was N. McGeoch (Hazelden Ltd)
with Ringmaster. Minerals plus feed were also taken to the farms
of the Show Champions and Reserve Champions by the appropriate
sponsors. Thanks to all.
In August we had our first Scottish Simmental
Club Herd Competition, judged by Mrs Caroline Goldsbrough (Copper
Mill Simmentals). Twelve herds entered the Competition. This took
seven days to complete, in which time Caroline & husband Peter
travelled 1,194 miles. After much deliberation the announcement
and presentation of Trophy and Salvers to the entrants and winners
was made at our AGM.
The
overall winner to receive the Peter & Caroline Goldsbrough
Trophy - G & M Smith (Drumsleed Herd).
The Small Herd winner – JA & K
Dwyer (Falondene)
The Medium Herd - J Dykes (Mendick)
The
Large Herd - G & M Smith (Drumsleed).
On 7th August the Club took part in the Beef Open Day at Woodend
Farm, West Lothian.
On 17th September we had our own Open Day at Pitmudie Farm, Brechin
in the morning and in the afternoon at Drumsleed Farm. This has
also been reported by Fiona Sloan in the Breeder & Feeder and
really makes for good reading!
We are now into the Autumn / Winter days and can now reflect over
the past year of the places we have been and the people we have
met.
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