GARNEDD WINS NORTH WEST MIDLANDS & NORTH WALES LIMOUSIN PEDIGREE HERD COMPETITION
- Messrs Jones go forward to National Final
Details of the winning herds in the regional finals of the 2011 National Limousin Pedigree Herd Competition have now been announced by the British Limousin Cattle Society (BLCS). The National Limousin Pedigree Herd Competition is a one-off unique event and is being held as part of the British Limousin Cattle Society’s 40th Anniversary promotional programme. Supported and sponsored by Pfizer Animal Health, this new event is an extension of the coveted annual herd competitions held annually within the nine Limousin regions around the United Kingdom.
The regional competitions, open to all pedigree Limousin herds in the respective areas, saw the appointed judge in each region put forward an overall winning herd. With regional judging completed through August, the nine winning herds now go head-to-head in a National Final judge-off to determine the 2011 National Limousin Pedigree Herd Overall Champion. Currently moving around the UK and judging the National Final is noted breeder, and current Hon BLCS President, Mr Sam Coleman of Glarryford, Ballymena, N. Ireland.
Commenting on the task at hand Mr Coleman said: “It is a great honour to be judging such a prestigious event and it is clear that the level of competition is of the very highest order. What I am looking for is a combination of such things as the overall presentation of the herd, the up-and-coming youngstock, the breeding policy, sires used, the breeding females, herd health, and herd successes. Herd size won’t be the overriding determinant.”
Emerging as winner from the North West Midlands & North Wales region was the Garnedd prefix of Messrs KI & E & HI Jones, Bryn Ddraenen, Pagog, Betws Y Coed, Conwy. Acting as judge was John Phillips of Cwmfelin-Mynach, Whitland, Carms who commented: “The uniformity of the herd is superb with excellent quality calves, strong naturally-reared heifers and a great line-up of young bulls ready for the autumn and spring sales. The stock bull Attirant is throwing very good calves and this is a herd that is really going forward.”
The Garnedd Herd is run by Ken & Ellen Jones along with their son Haefin and was established in 1998 with the purchase privately of four females from the Edenprefix of Andy Holliday, Penrith, with a further 6 from the Winnington Herd of JS Vance, Minsterley, Shrops joining them soon afterwards. The Garnedd Herd currently numbers 40 pedigree Limousin females who run alongside a 60-strong commercial herd. Stores are sold at the local Llanwrst Market as well as show potential cattle at Ruthin in February. In terms of commercial cattle, the Jones’ most notable achievement to date was breeding the Supreme Champion at the English Winter Fair in 2010 for the Lyon Family with their 18-month-old Limousin crossbred steer, Meat Loaf, who later sold at the post-show auction for £6,500.
In pedigree circles, the Jones Family have secured both a Junior & Senior Bull Championship at Carlisle in May 2006 and October 2010 with the 8,000gns Garnedd Arbennig and the 12,000gns Garnedd Eifion respectively.
This is the second year running that Messrs Jones have won the regional club’s Herd Competition in the Large Herd category. A very successful Open Day was also held at the farm in August with over 500 people attending. Later this autumn the Welsh Farming Programme Cefn Gwlad presented by Dai Jones for S4C will be visiting and featuring the Garnedd Herd.
When the final judging is completed, the Overall Winner of the 2011 National Limousin Pedigree Herd Competition will be announced, by Mr Coleman, at a dinner being hosted by the British Limousin Cattle Society and Pfizer Animal Health in Carlisle on Friday 14th October. The dinner, at the Shepherd’sInn, Borderway Mart, is being held on the evening prior to the Society’s 2011 October Bull Sale at Carlisle.
THE NINE REGIONAL FINALS WINNERS ARE:
East Midlands RM Hazard & Sons, Mereside Herd
Judge: Richard Bartle, The Cottages,Upper Dinmore, Dinmore,Hereford
Scotland Mr J Nimmo, Maraiscote Herd
Judge: Brian Jones, Bailea, Sennybridge, Brecon, Powys
NW Midlands & N Wales Messrs KI & E & HI Jones, Garnedd Herd
Judge: John Phillips, Esgerddeugoed, Cwmfelin-Mynach, Whitland, Carmarthenshire
S Wales & Mid West ED Griffiths & Co, Mynach Herd
Judge: William Cowx, Hudscales, Hesket New Market,Wigton,Cumbria
South East Buriton Estates Ltd, Miscombe Herd
Judge: Jim Bloom, Scorborough, Driffield,East Yorks
South West Messrs EW Quick & Sons, Loosebeare Herd
Judge: Martin Bull, Warminster, Wiltshire
Northern Ireland WJ & J McKay, Ampertaine Herd
Judge: John McInerney, Clonmoney West,NewmarketOn Fergus, Co Clare
North West Messrs Ridley, Haltcliffe Herd
Judge: Derek Hume, Randalstown, Co. Antrim, N.Ireland
North East Messrs JM & SP Cooper, Tomschoice Herd
Judge: Gary Swindlehurst, Procters Farm,Woodhouse Lane, Slaidburn, Nr. Clitheroe, Lancs
