Annual General Meeting

Monday 30 January 2012 within the Auctioneer Suite, Rosehill, Carlisle

Border British Blue Club – Chairman’s Report 2011

Yet another bumper year for the Border British Blue Club, not even the weather could dampen the spirit, it just had a damn good attempt to dilute it!

The year began at the end of January with the AGM, 71 members present enjoyed a Roast Beef dinner before SP handed the meeting over to Ian Pritchard, SAC who gave a very interesting talk on BVD and Johnnes disease.

The Border Club staged their Twelfth annual open calf show on Wednesday 23rd February at Borderway Mart, Carlisle when nearly all entries were forward for the Judge Paul Walker, who commented “the standard of calves was very high - showing great promise for the future of the breed.”

The club would like to thank the sponsor of this event, Embryonics for the prize money.

The male and overall championship was awarded to Carrick Primestock with Lyonpark Fortitude, while Steve & Claire Pattinson took the reserve male championship with Kelowna Ferdinand.

The female and reserve overall championship was awarded to Blair & Shona Comrie, with Stonebyres Fifi ET.

At Borderway Mart, Carlisle on Monday 4th April 2011, we held our annual show and sale of primestock in conjunction with Harrison and Hetherington’s weekly primestock sale.

A great show of British Blue cattle came forward to be judged by Mr Owain Llyr. A tremendous show of 9 cows sold to average 209p £1683.13.

Breeders enjoyed a bumper days trading at the Border Club’s Twenty-first Annual Spring Show & Sale at Carlisle on Saturday 21 May. Top call of the day was 14,000gns and a further three bulls broke the five figure barrier.

There was exceptionally strong demand for the intermediate bulls which was reflected in the average of £4,703.21, with a strong commercial trade throughout the day and buyers keenly bidding on animals which met their criteria. There were a good number of females offered for sale with maiden heifers averaging £2,695.00. The show and sale was kindly sponsored by Galloway & MacLeod, Cogent and Norbrook Pharmaceuticals (Prize Money), British Blue Cattle Society and Border Club (Advertising).

The judge, Alistair Smart, Shiel Farm, Aberdeenshire had the unenviable task of judging the 24 classes and championships the day prior to the sale. Alistair made some sound judgements as most of the top priced animals had been placed in their classes.

Top price of the day 14,000gns went to the Intermediate Male Champion, Overall Male Champion and Supreme Champion. It was Northern Ireland breeder, Sam Milliken of Co.Londonderry, who had the honour of receiving top accolades for his sole entry, Faughanvale Ernie ET. Tamhorn Fearless ET, a junior entry from Danny and Jane Wyllie from Staffordshire took the next leading price at 13,000gns.

In May we headed down the road twice, first to visit Adam Neachel’s Cromwell herd, then later down to deepest darkest Wales for the Society AGM and to visit Rhys Millichap’s Rhymil herd. It was a pleasure to see both passion and stockmanship in balance at both venues and in each field we entered. The many club members that drove down were very impressed with both young breeders.

At this years local summer shows the club members did the breed proud once again, taking numerous interbreed and Champion of Champion titles. Some also ventured further. At the Highland Show Kevin Watret took the Championship for an unequalled consecutive 4th year, this time with Solway View Firecracker. An almost clean sweep was achieved as he also took Premier Breeder and Exhibitor awards.

He almost matched this fete at the Great Yorkshire, but for the trip down to the Royal Welsh it was the turn of Jonathon Watson to shine with Tweedale Ebony and take the Champion Bull rosette back to Berwick.

Judge Ted Haste had the tough but much sought after honour of facing 3 days of severe and fierce hospitality as each member tried in vein to outdo all others. Fantastic show of cattle in very differing systems throughout the undulating Border terrain was finally enough to tear Ted away from the barrage of tea and scones.

Everyone received a mention at the Awards dinner, with the Brough family’s Carrock herd taking a leap forward to clinch the small herd category, and best large and overall Champion was the Tweeddale herd from Jonathon and Jane Watson.

The Club staged their Twenty-second Annual Autumn Show & Sale at Carlisle in October, and offered for sale a good show of British Blue Cattle but buyers were very quality selective when bidding for their purchases. With a lead call of 8,000gns and a further 9 bids of 4,100gns and above, the overall average for bulls was £3605.92, with nearly an 80% clearance.

The show and sale was kindly sponsored by NWF Agriculture & Agri-Lloyd.
The judge, Brian Griffiths had the difficult task of judging the show. The Male & Supreme Championship was awarded to Border Club enthusiast Kevin Watret with the 2 year old, well muscled bull Solway View Extreme ET who was knocked down for 7,000gns..

Our year drew to a close with the fantastic Agri Expo on the 28th October. The Border Club team once again worked tirelessly in the build up to the event to source 6 pens of pedigree and commercial cattle that best promoted the breed strengths and perfectly complemented a ‘new look’ society presence. Many thanks to all who supplied cattle and worked together to make our breed stand the talking point once again.

The Border Club staged their fourth annual open calf show at the Agri-Expo when there was a catalogued entry of 66 calves. The club would like to thank the sponsor of this event, Norbreck Genetics who supplied the prize money while the club provided the rosettes and home baked cake on the stand (Richard Brough).

The Judge, Tommy Fitzgerald, (Heatherview Herd) travelled from Eire to judge the fantastic selection of calves. Exhibitors travelled the length and breadth of the country to support this event and the quality of calves on show was tremendous.

The overall championship was awarded to AE Neachell & Son with Cromwell Gia a January 2011 exceptionally well grown daughter of Bringlee Carlos who took the David Dickinson memorial trophy. The reserve overall championship went to Mick Gamble & Sarah Rigg with Sharplaw Gamble a 6 month old black & white, well grown young bull.

The BK Memorial Trophy for the reserve overall champion animal was presented to Mick & Sarah. They were also presented with the Bellas trophy for the best animal opposite sex to the champion. The young handler class was won by Josh Bellas leading Croftends G Force ET. Elaine & Mark Hartley awarded Josh with the Pendle plaque.

I have now been Club Chairman for 4 years, but it feels like 5. I have enjoyed every minute meeting many life long friends through the journey. I may spend weeks with flat ears, but I know I am in a very fortunate position, surrounded by a very strong and loyal hard working team. I would like to thank you all for the help, advice and constant motivation. It could not be done without you.
And the most important thing I have learned since accepting the position;
Experience is something you gain just after you need it.

Steve Pattinson
Chairman