The 2010 Council

Paul Jeenes is the 2010 Society President having already been on council for three years. Paul produces 200 Aberdeen-Angus sired cattle a year, as well as runs 80 pedigree cows plus followers, with about 20 bulls being sold off the farm each year. Paul is chairman (and along with four other farmers) is part owner of Farm Mark Ltd, a supply chain group managing 5500 Angus sired cattle a year produced by a network of finishers for Dovecote Park/Waitrose. With his commercial business background, Paul is incredibly passionate about protecting the breed’s brand quality and will do all he can to continue to drive the Aberdeen-Angus breed forward.

Albert De Cogan is currently the Society’s senior vice president and was last year’s Irish Aberdeen-Angus Association’s President. He has been on council for the last five years and currently sits on the Finance, Breed Promotion, Youth Development, Technical and Heath Committees. He runs 135 acres back home in Ireland, which is home to the successful Mogeely pedigree herd of 50 cows as well as a few pedigree Herefords. A noted exhibitor at the shows, he has won three All Ireland championships back to back from 2007 through to 2009 and expertly judged the 2010 February Bull Sales in Stirling.

This is the second time Angus Stovold has served on Council, having been on previously between 2001 and 2004. He joined Council again this year as Junior Vice President. He currently sits on all committees and chairs the Health Committee. Angus runs a third generation Aberdeen-Angus herd farming 1200 acres of pigs, sheep, arable and 150 pedigree cows. He sells high health status bulls across the UK. He is a regular at many shows across England and has picked up countless championships along the way. He has also won the Bank of Scotland suckler herd of the year Award.

Finaly Munro runs a commercial and pedigree Aberdeen-Angus enterprise on his 700-acre farm, consisting of 100 crossbred and cows and 50 pedigree cows under the Balaldie prefix. In 2004 he was given the tile of Aberdeen-Angus Suckler Herd of the Year. He also won the junior champion bull championship at the New York State Fair, USA, in 2002. Finlay currently sits on the Health and Technical Committees.

This is Hamish Sclater’s second term on council having first been on in 2003. He currently sits on the Breed Promotion committee as well as technical. He runs a 400 acre arable farm growing wheat, malting barley and milling oats, as well as runs 50 pedigree Aberdeen-Angus cows calving at two years of age.His biggest achievement in the breed was winning four championships and one reserve at the 2007 Black Beauty Bonanza and within three months he sold these young bulls for £20,000 and £14,000.

This is Russell Taylor’s first term on Council and is currently chairman of the Breed Promotion Committee for the second year running. He also sits on the Finance committee. Russell owns 750 acres of cereals and grass, 800 acres of potatoes and runs 70 pedigree Aberdeen-Angus cattle under the Moncur prefix. Russell has taken the male championship at the 2007 Royal Highland Show and has bred the 2008 overall champion and reserve at the same show. He has judged the interbreed championship at the Highland and Great Yorkshire Show.

This is James Playfair-Hannay’s third term on Council and he currently chairs the Technical committee and sits on the Youth Development committee. He is a partner in a family farming business running 200 suckler cows, of which 100 are pedigree Aberdeen-Angus, 60 are pedigree Beef Shorthorn and the rest are commercials. He also contract farms 1800acres, 130 commercials sucklers and 1000 ewes. A past president of the Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society, James is also a regular face at shows and at Society Sales with one of his show ring highlights including taking the male championship at the Royal Highland Show.

This is Ian Watson’s second year on Council and he currently sits on the Breed Promotion and Health committees. His main business is an agricultural merchant, but also owns the 30-cow Kersquarter herd.

This is the second time John Elliot has been on council, having first served a stint from 2001 to 2006 which included a year as president. John runs 770 acres in the Scottish Borders, which is home to the famous 170-cow Rawburn pedigree herd. The Rawburn prefix is responsible for many great bulls all having a tremendous effect on breeder’s herds throughout the UK – you don’t have to look far to find a Rawburn-bred animal in a Perth sale catalogue. John currently sits on the Technical and Breed Promotion committees.

Nigel Hammill has already served nine years on council including a year as society President. He runs 120 acres of grassland and keeps 120 pedigree NC Cheviots and 16 (formerly 120) pedigree Aberdeen-Angus for showing. He also advises overseas breeders on buying Aberdeen-Angus stock. Nigel is also particularly proud of his involvement in re-opening exports of Aberdeen-angus cattle to Europe in 2006. Nigel currently sits on the Technical committee.

Bryan Ronan currently chairs the Finance committee on Council and is serving his second term on council having been on previously between 2205 and 2007 during which time he was chair of Breed Promotion and was responsible for kick starting the launch of The Angus – the Society’s commercial publication. He runs 20 pedigree cows on an extensive grazing policy. A regular on the show circuit, Bryan has won championships at the Royal Show, Great Yorkshire, Westmorland and the Royal Welsh.

Henry Rowntree farms 160 pedigree Aberdeen-Angus cows on 440 acres in Lancashire. Progeny from this herd are sold for breeding or finishing. This is Henry’s third year on council and he currently sits on the Technical and Breed Promotion committees.

This is Mike Spooner’s second year of his first term on Council and he currently sits on the Breed Promotion committee. He started with pedigree Aberdeen-Angus in 1986 and supports many shows across the south east of England and has been secretary of the South East England AA Club for the last 18 years.

This is Mark Pilcher’s third year of his first term on Council and currently chairs the Youth Development Programme committee and is also a member of the Health committee. He runs the 25-cow pedigree Gear herd on 150 acres. Mark has taken the supreme championship at the Bristol Sales in 2006 as well as the reserve championship at the Society sale in Carlisle 2009.

This is Edward Jones’ first year on council and he currently sits on the Health committee. He runs 40 head of pedigree Aberdeen-Angus on 25 acres under the Rull prefix. A regular at many shows, he has taken championships at the Royal Show and Royal Welsh in 2007 and the senior male championship at the Perth Bull Sales in the same year. He also took the National Calf Championship at the 2009 National Show at Newbury.

Albert De Cogan is currently the Society’s senior vice president and was last year’s Irish Aberdeen-Angus Association’s President. He has been on council for the last five years and currently sits on the Finance, Breed Promotion, Youth Development, Technical and Heath Committees. He runs 135 acres back home in Ireland, which is home to the successful Mogeely pedigree herd of 50 cows as well as a few pedigree Herefords. A noted exhibitor at the shows, he has won three All Ireland championships back to back from 2007 through to 2009 and expertly judged the 2010 February Bull Sales in Stirling.

This is Alwyn ArmourÕs second term on Council having been on before in 2005 through to 2007. Alwyn runs a small pedigree beef operation of 15 cows plus followers on 40 acres, He shows his herd and has had previous success at the Perth Bull sales where he was junior and supreme overall champion at the October 2003 sales. He currently sits on the Health and Breed Promotion committees.

This is John Tait’s first term on Council representing the Irish Aberdeen-Angus Association and currently sits on the Finance committee. He runs 200 acres of forestry, grass and crops, as well as 20 pedigree Aberdeen-Angus cows selling all male progeny for breeding. Those heifers not retained for breeding are sold through a frozen boxed beef scheme. He has been successful on the Irish show circuit taking the Junior All Ireland title in 2008 and the All Ireland Calf Championship in 2008, as well as the Winter National Calf Show Championship and the Beef Expo Calf Championship that same year.

William McLaren was the 2009 Society President having already served a term on Council between 1999 and 2001. William runs 350 acres which is home to the 30-cow Netherton herd and 30 commercial recipient females whereby an extensive embryo transfer programme is carried out. As last year’s President, William led the British delegation at the World Forum in Canada. He has judged at a host of shows and sales including the Perth Bull Sales, the Royal Highland Show and Farmfair in Canada. He has also won many championships at shows and sales and bred the first bull to break the 30,000gns barrier for 30 years. He has also broken countless female records as part of the herd’s successful matron sales.