North Eastern Limousin Cattle Breeders Club
2009 Club Report
The 2008 year finished well with Millington Choice topping the Red Ladies Sale at Carlisle for John Weatherill of Millington Grange Estate. Millington Dazzler also topped the heifer calf section. The top price bull calf came from JM & SP Cooper with Tomschoice Debonair. A great sale for members of the North East Club.
January started well for the North East Club with an excellent talk by Tom Stevenson from Natural Stockcare. Tom’s talk on natural feed supplements and tonics was very detailed and interesting. It also gave members an insight into research and testing of these products before they hit the market. All went away with some ‘food for thought’ – not to mention the odd sample.
The annual interbreed quiz took place in February and our Limousin team once again showed their academic knowledge by coming joint winners with the Charolais team. Having won regularly over the last few years, the team graciously conceded to the Charolais team, who will now host the 2010 quiz. Members were also shown a live CCTV cow cam demonstration of an inexpensive way of watching cows due to calve from the comfort of an arm chair.
The evening talks programme continued in March with a stimulating presentation on grassland management by Dr Liz Genever from EBLEX,. Here members were given some ideas on how to maximise their grazing regimes to improve yield and profitability.
The Club’s annual sale took place in April at Leyburn with some good prices being achieved. Top bull price was the Champion Towdypotts Crisp from J&M Suddes with Oddacres Checkmate from AJ Mason coming close behind. Top price female went to Newstart Aveline with her bull calf at foot Seamer Errol from W Burn.
May saw the Northern Limousin Extravaganza at Skipton Auction where Mr Mac Murphy judged a tremendous show of pedigree and Limousin-sired commercial cattle, with the eventual Show Championship going to Millington Davina – a full sister to Millington Choice. The pedigree Male Champion went to Reagarth Dom from Christine Thompson, a January born bull by Rombalds Rapier. In the commercial section the Champion and Reserve Champion Overall was Ruth Stevenson’s Skididdledaddle, a black heifer by Gunnerfleet Volvo. The Reserve Commercial came from Ian Townson with Big Dave, a bullock sired by Broomfield Regency. This proved an excellent day for young cattle to gain experience in a confined arena and we look forward to welcoming new exhibitors in the future.
The Great Yorkshire Show in July saw fewer numbers forward but still a good standard of Limousin cattle. The Champion was Greenhill Viper from Cormack- McDowell Partners, with Reserve going to Millington Davina from John Weatherill. Millington Davina also took the Junior Championship with Christine Williams taking Reserve with Wilodge Diamante. Our thanks here also go to Phyllis Orton and her team of helpers who put on great hospitality for the Society over the 3 days. One of the highlights was a cook-your-own barbecue on the Tuesday evening, which this year sold nearly 100 tickets, with a further highlight being the home-baked cakes donated by members of the North East Club.
July events continued with a visit to the Barrons Herd of Willie Barron at Burhope, County Durham. While the weather was not as warm as it could have been for July, the welcome received certainly was. Over 40 members were shown the Barrons Herd and some tremendous cattle including calves by Sarkley Volvo, an Ionesco son, Teddy and Barrons Apollo and cows by Waindale Prime. Stock viewing was followed by some stock judging and a splendid buffet. A big thanks to Willie and all the helpers!
Unfortunately in August Mr Cock-up brought his wife and family to stay and to the inept organisation of the then Chairman (who wrote this) the Herd Competition and another herd visit had to be cancelled. Many apologies to the Club.
September regained momentum with a terrific herd visit to the Brontemoor herd of the Priestley Family. After viewing this large, long-standing herd with some tremendous cattle including heifers by Procters Subaru and Sultan with great calves at foot by Dunbeg Andrew, the 50 or so members were treated to an equally impressive buffet lunch. Our thanks to all at the Brontemoor Herd.
The Club’s AGM took place in October where Iain Kerr talked to the group and outlined some key achievements of BLCS in 2009 and its aims for 2010.
As Chairman during the past three years, my thanks go out to all in the committee and I hope the North East Club can move on with some new faces being added. I wish John Swales and James Cooper all the best for 2010 as joint Chairmen. The final event in the year was the Clubs Dinner which was very well attended (even without herd results) and had something of a party feel, with music and entertainment from “Singing Farmer” Ken Jackson.
Andrew Mason
