Herd Competition 2009

The Border British Blue Club staged their Inaugural Herd Competition in July 2009. The competition was open to all fully paid up members of the Border British Blue Club who farm within the region. The herds were split into two categories (small and large herds). Large herd being one that registers more than 10 calves a year and small herd being a herd that registers less than 10 calves a year into the British Blue herd book.

The champion herd being presented with their BFA. Pictured is Nevil Raine (Bluegrass Herd), Steve Pattinson (Chairman) and Andrew Clark of Agri-Lloyd.

The club would like to thank the sponsors of this event, Enesco (Border Fine Arts), Agri Lloyd and David Allen & Co.

The Judge Graham Brindley (Bringlee Herd) had the very difficult task of judging the herds. Graham commented that it was so interesting to see so many herds enter the Border Club’s first herd competition. Judged in July it was exhilarating to see so many herds entering and farmed in different conditions.

The small herd was won by Neil and Irene Armstrong (Goodyhills). It was a herd of quality females suckling their calves and running with the herd stock bull.

The winner of the large herd was the Raine family (Bluegrass), which was a herd of quality show animals with various ET calves. This herd went on to win the Overall Herd Competition. Neville received a Border Fine Art figurine and 2.5 litres of Beef Breeder product.

The prize giving took place on Sunday 23rd August at Buckabank by kind permission of the Brough family. This was due to be the first Cumbrian Interbreed Olympics but again biblical amounts of rain meant that the event had to be undercover and all outside events cancelled.

However, over 70 turned up on the day and all enjoyed their day. We had a stock judging competition which was won by Richard Ridley and 12 year old Master Greenbank and YFC invented games, which proved to be great fun, including a bike that had everyone baffled except Mark Hartley who managed to peddle for a short distance!

A fantastic BBQ started the day with Brough catering at the helm, and the days refreshments were served by our very own Mr Amos Wheatley tending his Woolpacker mobile bar for light and understated celebrations.

Thank you to all those who brought along an accompaniment for the BBQ and raffle prizes.

The Border Club would like to thank everyone who helped make the Herd Competition a great success.

Class prize winners were as follows: -

BEST COW to receive an engraved British Blue Cow & Calf Border Fine Art & 2.5L of Agri-Lloyd Beef Breeder:
1st Bluegrass Centrefold ET (CR Raine & Son); 2nd Solway View Black Beauty ET (Kevin Watret); 3rd Carrock Bubbles ET (SJ & RR Brough).

BEST BULL to receive an engraved British Blue Bull Border Fine Art & 2.5L of Agri-Lloyd Beef Breeder:
1st Goodyhills Dominic (Neil & Irene Armstrong); 2nd Gregmaur Wyllie (Steve & Claire Pattinson); 3rd Greystone Cyrano (Neil & Irene Armstrong).

Most Promosing Heifer under 12 months to receive 1L of Agri-Lloyd Liquithrive:
1st Kelowna Duce (Steve & Claire Pattinson); 2nd Solway View Energy ET (Kevin Watret); 3rd Croft Ends Delila ET (JE Bellas & Son).

Most Promosing Bull under 12 months to receive 1L of Agri-Lloyd Liquithrive:
1st Clonberton Ceaser ET (JE Bellas & Son); 2nd Bluegrass Darkstar ET (CR Raine & son); 3rd Tweeddale Discovery ET (Redhead & Watson).

BEST SMALL HERD to receive 1L of Agri-Lloyd Liquithrive:
1st Goodyhills Herd (Neil & Irene Armstrong); 2nd Carrock Herd (Brough); 3rd Kelowna (Steve & Claire Pattinson).

BEST LARGE HERD to receive 1L of Agri-Lloyd Liquithrive:
1st Bluegrass Herd (CR Raine & Son); 2nd Solway View (Kevin Watret); 3rd Sharplaw (Mick Gamble & Sarah Rigg).

OVERALL BEST HERD to receive an engraved British Blue Family Border Fine Art and 2.5L of Agri-Lloyd Beef Breeder:
Bluegrass (CR Raine & Son).

Claire Pattinson
(Secretary)

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