We began in November with our AGM when I took over from Vicky as Secretary, with Colin and Bill carrying on as Chairman and Treasurer. My first year as secretary has been very interesting and has gone by really quickly!
In January, the South West Limousin Club took part in the Interbreed Quiz, which was held at the Oake Manor with the Limousin team coming second!
The South Western Limousin Club held its Spring Show and Sale on 14th April at Holsworthy Market, with entries from noted breeders in the South West and Brecon, Powys. Thanks to our judge Geoffrey Williams from West Cornwall. The Overall Champion and Best Male was Loosebeare Docker, owned by the Quick Family. Born June 2008 and sired by Haltcliffe Anzac and out of dam Loosebeare Ureka. Overall Reserve Champion went to Rosecroft Cassie, from David & Anne Wheeler, a heifer born in January 2007 sired by Grahams Unbeatable, and shown alongside her January born calf Rosecroft Felicity, sired by Wilodge Vantastic.
The Limousins did extremely well at the Shows. With everyone’s hard work at the Devon County, we won the Silver Medal and the Collins Centenary Perpetual Shield for the Best Promotional Stand in the Cattle Breed Area.
Congratulations to David & Anne Wheeler who swept the board at the three shows winning Female Champion and Breed Champion with Brickhill Carol at the Devon County and Bath and West and then the Royal Cornwall Shows!
Nick and Lisa Hill did well at the Devon County, winning the Champion Male with Guards Deputy Dog, and going on to the Bath and West to take the title there. Jack Neale & Family won the Champion Male at Royal Cornwall Show.
At the Devon County Show we presented a cheque jointly with the South West Angus Club to the Air Ambulance. This being money raised at the Auction and Draw held in the previous November.
This year’s Summer Sensational Show and Sale, at Bristol Sales Centre, took place on 13th July, which was met with a very high entry. The Show was kindly judged by Mr Bill Harper. Male and Supreme Champion went to Burition Estates with Miscombe Drover. Congratulations to Vicky and Matt for taking the Reserve Champion Male, with Columbpark Endeavor. The Sale also included a good consignment of females from JH Neale & Son which sold extremely well. There were more than ten vendors from outside the South West Limousin Club who entered in the Show this year, from the South East, South Wales and Mid West regions.
In August, we held the Pedigree Herd Competition , when Mr Meirion Thomas of the Nebo Herd from North Wales, came down and kindly judged eighteen Pedigree Herds in the region. Meiron and his wife, Edna, kindly came down for a second visit on Sunday 26th September to present the prizes. We began with our AGM at the Waie Inn, Zeal Monachorium, Crediton. We then followed with a delicious 3 course lunch, after which Meiron presented the prizes as follows:
Small Herd
1st Columbpark Herd Vicky Maynard & Matt Smith (Tanhill Trophy)
2nd Rosecroft Herd David & Anne Wheeler
3rd Exmoor Herd Mr WH White
Medium Herd
1st Chytodden Herd Mr & Mrs GW Hollow (Holcombe Cup)
2nd Trevassack Herd Messrs RA & RS Bassett
3rd Tamarvalley Herd Mr B Harper
Large Herd
1st Loosebeare Herd Messrs EW Quick & Sons (Goosehill Trophy)
2nd Killerton Herd Mr & Mrs PW & SM Greed
3rd Nealford Herd Mr & Mrs JH Neale & Sons
Stockbull with Progeny
1st Rainbow Simon Loosebeare Herd (Bapton Trophy)
2nd Ironstone Duncan Nealford Herd
3rd Nealford Commando Trevassack Herd
3rd Normande Bismark Sloughpool Herd
Bull born in 2009
1st Loosebeare Exmoor Messrs EW Quick & Sons (Shapcott Cup)
2nd Killerton Eagle Mr & Mrs PW & SM Greed
3rd Exmoor Executive Mr WH White
3rd Stourhead Everett H & J Parker
Heifer born in 2009
1st Chytodden Elite Mr & Mrs GW Hollow (Wakeham Cup)
2nd Columbpark Elderbery Vicky Maynard & Matt Smith
3rd Loosebeare Emma Messrs EW Quick & Sons
Bull Calf born in 2010
1st Nealford Fred Mr & Mrs JH Neale & Sons (Wayside Trophy)
2nd Sloughpool Fixer Messrs CR & MM Gollop & Sons
3rd Trevassack Flynn Messrs RA & RS Bassett
Heifer Calf born in 2010
1st Loosebeare Fussy Messrs EW Quick & Sons
2nd Chytodden Fortune Mr & Mrs GW Hollow
3rd NealfordFiojo Mr & Mrs JH Neale & Sons
3rd Moonleaze Fiona Mr & Mrs JJ & BD Comer
Best New Entrant
1st Tamarvalley Herd Mr B Harper
All cups and certificates were presented and we asked Meirion if he would present a cup for us, to the person gaining most points at our local shows in the Westcountry. This being throughout the season and the animal being bred by the exhibitor, which went to our Chairman, Colin! Seventy of us then loaded onto tractors and trailors kindly supplied by the Quick Family to take us to the Loosebeare Manor to visit their Pedigree Cattle. We were greeted at the farm by a wonderful line-up of bulls all tied outside enjoying the sunshine. Mark kindly showed us the bulls marked for Beef South West and the Society Sales.
We then all reloaded and rode around the farm seeing some wonderful cattle. Mr Bill Quick and his family gave everyone a thoroughly enjoyable day.
The Limousins had great success at Beef South West on Wednesday 29th September at Exeter Market. Jim Bloom & Richard Saunders from the Society kindly came down to the South West for the event. This is very much appreciated in such a livestock area and shows the importance of this event to all breeders and livestock producers in the Southwest. Special Guest at Beef South West was Adam Henson from Countryfile. Congratulations to the Quicks for winning the Champion in the South West Yearling Bull Competition.
Presented by Igenity David & Anne Wheeler won the Tenderness Award with Rosecroft Emperor. Hair samples had been taken prior to the competition, analysed for the presence of the tenderness gene and the results fed back for this and other economically important traits. Rosecroft Emperor, who scored higher than any other native or continental sire and was also above average for Red Meat Yield and Ribeye Area.
In early October, the Southwest Club joined the Southeast Club on their visit to Lackham College. Our many thanks to the Southeast for inviting us to join them on their visit.
At our committee meeting in October, Colin stepped down as Chairman after three years. And we thank Colin for all the hard work he has done for the Club, Colin remains on our Committee and is our Council Representative. We welcome our new Chairman Geoff Hollow. Geoff and Carolyn have the Chytodden Herd at St Ives, Cornwall.
And finally, the South West Club would like to thank all members for their hard work and participation at all Events throughout the year, and would like to wish everyone a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2011.
Diane Richards, Secretary
