Edition 3 - 2023 - Border & Lakeland
A Small group of Cow enthusiasts led by our Vice Chairman Glyn Lucas made the 600-mile road trip to Inverness returning via Aberdeen & Dundee.
We left Carlisle at 8.00am on Sunday Morning and travelled north, calling for Lunch at the House of Bruar before visiting the Dalwhinnie Whisky Distillery just off the A9 in the Highlands. We were given an informative tour of the Distillery learning that it is the Highest in Scotland and also has the reputation for being the coldest, following the tour we sampled a few drams before heading up to our overnight accommodation at Inverness. We ate out in the city and several the group met up with Stephen Innes and Dennis O’Neill for a few drinks!
Monday morning soon came around and we travelled to the Innes Drumduan Farm to view the Newmeadow Herd, currently they have 1000 cows milking 3X through their rotary parlour supplying milk to Grahams Dairies, (processing Factory at Nairn). The Innes family have been great supporters of our club sales and it was really good to be looking around the cows with Len Wilson picking out Stowbeck Cows he had sold and Alan Cannon pointing out the Espland Cows & heifers as well.
We were treated to a special viewing of an outstanding milking heifer – Wolfa Chief Sue which had been purchased privately recently from Sue & Richard Armstrong. This heifer will be one to watch out for at the shows this summer. With Mr & Mrs Innes senior joining us, Stephen, Mo and their family gave us a great visit and super hospitality (coffee, cakes and more whisky).
We left Nairn and followed the coast road across to Aberdeen, seeing some of Scotland’s finest land on our travels, we stopped off at Marshall Trailers Farm Shop near Aberdeen for Lunch, but hadn’t planned for it to be packed out due to the Bank Holiday. We arrived at the Colquhoun families Denoldrum Farm at Inverbrevie a little later than planned and here we saw the 800 Cow Brevie Holstein herd. Gregor told us that their farm was the most Northerly Muller Tesco Farm. Their cows are mostly Robot Milked but some still go through a milking parlour, the 12th robot was expected to be commissioned the week after our visit. This was a very impressive unit with outstanding attention to detail, the farm had a number of renewable energy projects and lots of cutting-edge technology in place. The Youngstock on the unit impressed everybody on the visit, with fantastic growth rates being achieved and calving heifers into the herd below 24 months old.
The group then eventually made their way back to Carlisle, many thanks to the Innes and Colquhoun families for letting us visit and their hospitality, big thanks also to Reays Coaches for their fantastic service (especially our celebrity lookalike diver) and lastly to our secretary Stacey for setting it all up.
The future is in good hands, when Alistair Laird, Blythbridge, took time out of his busy schedule to cast his eyes on the entrants Border & Lakeland Holstein club members had put forward. Wow, the HYB class never fails but to impress and it was the hardest class to judge (Alistair’s’ exact words). Jonathan Marrs took top spot for his calf - Wolfa Tropic Rose. A big well done and congratulations to everyone who entered. It was hair line marks which split you all.
Alistair’s pick of animal to take home was Stowbeck Alongside Alice. Alistair said, “she is a tremendous stamp of the Holstein breed the type I love to see, she trumped the Intermediate Heifer class”.
There were two new herds tussling for prizes in this years’ competition. Congratulations to Messrs Awde Broadmeadows and Brian and Gill Donald, Ling Lane who competently held their own within stiff competition. The Linglane Herd came out overall Small Herd winners, with the Broadmeadows herd collecting Best Newcomer.
2015 Premier herd winners, Wormanby Farms, had a good representation in most classes, with the Arnhilda family coming out top in the Dam & Daughter class.
The biggest accolade went to the Stowbeck Herd, ran by Len Wilson & Chris Wilson, who were victors overall and will represent the club in the next round of the Premier Herd Competition. This is the second year they have taken the top prize, a credit to consistent breeding and management.
A big thank you to our sponsors, Charlie Craddock & Finance for Farms, for providing the prize money. Once again thank you to Alistair Laird for accepting to judge this years’ competition.
RESULTS:
Class One Large Herd
- Stowbeck Herd Skirwith Hall Farms Ltd
- Ingleden Herd Messrs Williamson
- Broadmeadow Herd Broadmeadow Farm Ltd
Class Two Small Herd
- Linglane Herd B & G C Donald
- Hailstone /Lightening Herd Messrs Wilson
OVERALL HERD: Stowbeck Holsteins
Best New Entrant: Broadmeadow Farm Ltd
Class Three Progeny
- Walnutlawn Sidekick Wormanby Farm Ltd
- Walnutlawn Sidekick Skirwith Hall Ltd
- Delaberge Pepper Broadmeadow Farms Ltd
Class Four Senior Cow (9 Forward)
- Wormanby Octane Arnhilda (Wormanby Farm Ltd)
- Stowbeck Control Trix (Skirwith Hall Farms Ltd)
- Heathersgill Scenario Squaw (Mr T Graham & Son)
Class Five Intermediate Cow (7 forward)
- Wormanby Victor Anita (Wormanby Farm Ltd)
- Ingleden Fitz Papoose (Messrs Williamson)
- Broadmeadows Brennan Syrup (Broadmeadow Farms Ltd)
Class Six Junior Cow (12 forward)
- Hailstone Lighthouse Sheila (M & D Wilson)
- Arnot Jans Rhapsody (Crossfell Farm Ltd)
- Wormanby Kingdoc Hatsumer (Wormanby Farm Ltd)
Class Seven Senior Heifer (5 forward)
- Newtonmoss Crown Royal Carice (Messrs Fisher)
- Heathersgill Excal Asherlyn (Mr T Graham & Son)
- Linglane Country Marilyn ( B & G C Donald)
Class Eight Intermediate Heifer (11 forward)
- Stowbeck Alongside Alice (Skirwith Hall Farms Ltd)
- Wormanby Crushtime Hatsumer (Wormanby Farm Ltd)
- Ingleden Kingboy Hyacinth (Messrs Williamson)
Class Nine Junior Heifer (4 forward)
- Broadmeadow Homeground Beryl (Broadmeadow Farms Ltd)
- Stowbeck Barolo Lill (Skirwith Hall Farms Ltd)
- Crossfell Boom Diamond (Crossfell Farms Ltd)
Class Ten Dam & Daughter (6 forward)
- Arnhilda Family (Wormanby Farm Ltd)
- Lulu Family (Skirwith Hall Farms Ltd)
- Daintylass (Mr T Graham & Son)
Class Eleven Group of Heifers (4 forward)
- Broadmeadows Herd (Broadmeadow Farms Ltd)
- Newtonmoss Herd (Messrs Fisher)
- Hailstone / Lightening Herd (M & D Wilson, Jack Wilson)
Class Twelve Unserved Heifer to be shown by HYB member (12 forward)
- Wolfa Tropic Rose, Jonathan Marrs
- Woodcatt CrushabulL Rapture, Sam Donald
- Lightening Golden Master Impala, Jack Wilson
- Hay Alum Fame Red, Ollie Hay
