Springfield Farm Walk

The farm walk on the 29th August 2004 at the home of Allan and Deirdre Wilkinson’s Springfield herd and at Keith and Linda Wilkinson’s commercial herd was enjoyed by North West club members and our friends from the Borders and Wales clubs who accepted the invitation to join us.

Around 70 belgian blue enthusiasts, greeted by a bright and sunny day and with a stiff breeze blowing in from the Fylde coast, were provided with a glorious setting.

After welcome refreshments for members, some of whom had travelled many miles, the first stop was in the fields accommodating the commercial cattle of Linda and Keith and what a magnificent sight they were. The cows with calves at foot were very impressive and looked in sparkling form after all the mixed weather we have been suffering over the summer.

With the senior stock bull resting, the young bull Springfield Urchin was running with the cows and looking every inch up to his job. Many of the suckler cows were originally from Limousin stock and after running with the belgian blue bulls had produced calves of the highest quality. Some of the stock viewed were to be sold at the Society’s next Chelford Sale on the 4th September and would undoubtedly be sought after and much admired.

A group of admiring visitors

Keith Wilkinson introduces some of his suckler cows

Springfield Urchin

Next it was onto the pedigree Springfield herd of Deirdre and Allan and very thoughtfully transport between the fields had been provided by tractors and trailers, a great boon to the ‘seniors’ and great enjoyment for the ‘juniors’!

Before us lay field after field of quality belgian blues, young bulls, heifers and cows with calves of the finest breeding. What a pleasure it was to meet with their highly regarded cow Springfield Pepsi mother of many prize winning progeny and of course their renowned cow Ovatie van de Wolvendreef who time after time, and with a variety of bulls, has produced stock that have gone on to grace many a fine herd. Both cows were out in the field with their fellow herd members enjoying, along with us, the fine afternoon sunshine.

‘All aboard’ one of the very welcome tractor & trailers

Springfield youngsters

One of the ‘new arrivals’

Eventually it was time to return to the farm and after viewing the ‘new arrivals’, who are sure to be stars of the future, enjoy a barbeque and take part in three competitions which were to amuse and test our skills.

One to guess the weight of a heifer, one to guess the price a heifer would make at the Chelford sale and one to judge four heifers. The four heifers were then judged professionally and six competitors agreed with the judge surely something that must be rare on the show circuit! (If you took part in the competitions the results are given below).

The day can be summed up as:-

Bracing weather
Brilliant organization
British cattle with quality throughout
Convivial company
In fact BBBC at their best.

Deirdre (on the left) keeps an eye on the chefs

Some of the irrepressible youngsters having fun

Many thanks from all of us to the Wilkinson families.

Competition results:
Guess the weight?

The actual weight was 492kg, congratulations to the winner: E. Parkinson of Dunsop Bridge

Guess the price?

The heifer was knocked down at £850, Congratulations to the winner: Mr. G. McGregor of Roweltown

The judge’s decision placed the heifers as follows:

1st Heifer Y

2nd Heifer X

3rd Heifer B

4th Heifer A

Congratulations to the winners:
Wayne Frith of Ashbourne
Isabella Hartley of Nelson
E. Parkinson of Dunsop Bridge
Geoff Walker of Dunsop Bridge
John Parkinson of Dunsop Bridge
Keith Belfield of Sheen

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