The Club’s AGM was held in February at the Castle Hotel, Bletchley where we had a change in our chairman from Meirion Thomas to Neil Vance and with two new committee members, Glyn Vaughan and Paul Tippetts . Richard Saunders represented the Society to answer a multitude of questions from the members.
At the Carlisle February Sale, Glyn Vaughan’s bull Dolcorsllwyn Fabio broke the world record for a bull sold at auction when selling for 120,000gns! This backed John Phillips’ judgement when he placed him first in the best young bull born in 2010 in the Club’s Herd Competition.
After a very wet summer, the Club’s Open Day, which was to be held at the Garyvaughan herd by kind permission of Mr Colin Lewis, was sadly cancelled. This was a great shame as we were all looking forward to seeing Plumtree Deus progeny.
Mid-August, the Mayfields Herd held a stock judging competition, Just over 100 members and friends attended and had a very enjoyable afternoon. The weather stayed dry for a change with members travelling as far as the Llyn peninsula.
The weather yet again played havoc with this year’s Club weekend away to Lanarkshire and Cumbria. The Gritstone Herd stood in at the last moment to host us on the Friday afternoon; this visit was very different to just viewing cattle as we also had a very interesting afternoon seeing the brood mares and their 2012 foals – all very impressive.
On the Saturday we travelled up to Lanarkshire where we visited the Kype and Maraiscote Herds respectively. The hospitality and the cattle at both herds was brilliant. The Sunday morning herd visit was cancelled due to the weather so the decision was made to go to Hayes Garden Centre at Ambelside, with Chairman Neil Vance taking the coach on a somewhat scenic route up single track roads with sheer drops on either side and in thick fog. At one point the coach driver did say he was down to his last gear and we still had another 300 yards to go to the summit. Next year I think we should go to a Greek Island!
The annual dinner and dance was held at the White Waters in Llangollen; 80 members and guests attended to hear the results of this year’s herd competition from judge David Kelly.
The Club held two sales in the spring: one in Ruthin and the other in Welshpool. There was a good clearance rate at both sales with more bulls needed to be put forward at Ruthin. The autumn sale in Welshpool was held in conjunction with a store cattle sale which attracted more people around the sale ring giving a better atmosphere; a good clearance rate of bulls was achieved.
There was further success at BLCS Collective Sales at Carlisle in May and October. In May, standing as Champion was Garnedd Ffrancon from Ken, Heifn & Elen Jones. By a quirk of fate, Garnedd Ffrancon occupied the same sale pen that Dolcorsllwyn Fabio had occupied when winning the Championship in February before selling for a world record price! Purchasing the Champion bull at 10,000gns was Rees Brothers, Penanty, Brynberian, Crymych, Dyfed. Also at 10,000gns from the same vendor was the August 2010 born Garnedd Ferrari.
Then in the October Carlisle Bull Sale, the Jones Family’s Garnedd went under the hammer for 12,000gns to RS & BA Harker, Overthwaite Farm, Holme, Carnforth, Lancs. By the senior herd sire, Attirant, and out of the Broomfield Regentcey-sired Garnedd Uchelgeisiol who also carries Broadmeadows Cannon on the maternal side.
The English Winter Fair held at Bingley Hall, Staffordshire on17th-18th November saw Limousin stock dominate the proceedings to secure the Overall Supreme, Baby Beef, and Pedigree Championships. Mr GP Brooke, Barley Farm, Alfrick, Worcs took the Overall Supreme Championship with his red Limousin-cross heifer, Roxy Rose. The Champion later sold for a cracking £7,300.
TC Edwards & Son, comprising father Trebor and sons Gwyn and Erfyl, took the Reserve Overall title with their Limousin crossbred heifer, Bang Tidy, who had come through the Homebred & Fed section. August 2011-born, she is sired by Waindale Ufo and is out of a Limousin-cross dam. In the post-show auction, she went under the hammer for £3,000 to Judge Jim Mulholland.
Baby Beef Champion was Phil & Sharon Sellers’ Sexy N I Know It. Purchased by the Thorpe Tilney, Lincolnshire-based couple from John Richardson, Ghyll House, she is one of the first calves sired by Culnagechan Egbert and is out of a Limousin-cross cow. The 365kg heifer had previously stood second in her class to the eventual Champion at Countryside Live.
In the Carcase Competition which aims at a maximum deadweight carcase of 380kg, Bryan & Carole Wilson, Haughton, Staffs won the Reserve Championship award with a home-bred 307kg Limousin-cross sired by Haughton Arkle and grading -U3, under judge and butcher Mr Nigel Coles, Rugeley, Staffs. The carcase later made £4.50/kg (£1,381 gross).
In the East of England Smithfield Festival National Festival Of Meat Beef Ribs Competition, the winner was a Limousin-cross heifer from SJ Hodges, Aylesbury. This one came from a June 2011-born heifer which weighed 416.1kg dead. In Reserve spot was Ian Wildgoose, Derbyshire, with another Limousin-cross heifer. This came from an April 2011-born heifer.
Membership of the North West Midlands & North Wales Limousin Club is still on the rise with over 100 members now paid up. Please support your Club as the committee puts a lot of time and effort into organising events. Best wishes to all in 2013.
