With a total prize find of £5000 and 12 classes on offer for all breeds, the event is likely to attract some quality pedigree calves from across Scotland. Judge for the Aberdeen-Angus section is Richard Thomson, Laggan Bridge, while the interbreed judging honours falls to H&H auctioneer David Thomlinson.

Entry forms are available from Forfar Market by contacting 01307 462651. Class details for bull and heifer calves are as follows:

Born 1^st August 2009 – 15^th September 2009

Born 16^th September 2009 – 31^st October 2009

Born 1^st November 2009  – 31^st December 2009

Born 1^st January 2010 – 28^th February 2010

Born 1^st March 2010 – 31^st March 2010

Born 1^st April 2010 onwards

‘It’s all about young people’

The brief that was given to me when I took over the Coordinator of the YDP was to move the programme forward. I looked at several different youth groups, both farming and on a wider scale, and one of the main activities that people enjoyed most was a weekend of fun and education bringing like minded people together. After looking at the 2009 YDP final held at the National Calf Show it became clear to me that the whole thing felt like a bit of an anti climax. I found myself asking the question: “why couldn’t the final be put together with a weekend event for all and further the fun factor of the YDP?”

In 2009 the top 24 participants were invited to Beef Expo at Carlisle where they were given already clipped and dressed calves to show in the ring. While there was plenty for parents to look at at the show, it did seem a bit of a shame for the participants to wait all day for their 20 mins in the ring. In theory they should have learnt lots of skills at the workshops throughout the year to be able to at dress the animals themselves and the older ones should be able to turn them out completely so this is what they will have to do in 2010!

So this brings us onto the new initiative:  The Weekend Event. This will take place at Rugby Market at Stoneleigh Park and will be open to anyone who has attended a workshop. Stoneleigh Park was decided upon as there is everything we need in one area, hotels, function rooms, penning facilities and an activities ground. It also is close to airports etc for ease of travelling. The itinerary will be as follows:

Friday 1^st Oct: Quiz night in Stoneleigh Lodge

Saturday 2^nd Oct morning: Seminars and workshops (UK sires, Photography, Mole Valley Feed Specialists, EBLEX) everything you may need to be an all round good stockman.

Saturday afternoon: Stockjudging competition for everyone and Finalists to prepare their cattle

3.30pm: FINAL (Judge this year will be Ian Campbell of noted Charolais and Limousin fame who is stockman for Danny Swarij)

7pm: Presentation Dinner

Sunday 3^rd Oct morning: Activities including Archery etc

After looking at the Canadian Junior Showdown, I felt that it would be good to introduce some competitions for all participants so we have added photography, poetry and Art so hopefully there will be something to appeal to everyone. This is the first time we have tried this event so the ideas have been simple to start, but we hope that we can use some other ideas that I learnt from Canada in the future events.

So this is the idea: to make this a really fab event that other breeds will be envious of and lots of youngsters would want to get involved in, all good PR for the breed. The first event of any kind is always a daunting venture and I’m sure it will take time for people to get used to change, but I do hope that participants and breeders will support this move. This initiative is already being subsidised by the Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society as sponsorship for a first time event was hard to find, it is hoped that we can carry out some fundraising activities to help fund next year’s event. It will however need a lot of support from breeders too especially as I need to find 24 calves and lots of equipment. We are also pleased that Farmer Guardian has agreed to send a photographer and reporter so we should get maximum publicity.

I have very fond memories of attending both National and Regional Young Farmers weekends and I hope the youngsters will take home some great memories form this event. The workshops are great fun but it hoped that this will bring fun and friendship on a BIGGER scale.

If you would like some more info or feel you might be able to help out in anyway please contact Gayle on gayle@bersey.fslife.co.uk

• Varis herd of Alastair Grant
• Lingleston herd of Lauranne Grant
• Wedderlie herd of Messrs J and J Campbell
• Nether Johnston herd of Messrs N and C Campbell
• Kitewood herd of Val Huggins
• Ladywell herd of James Drummond
• Promise herd of George pirie
• Fordel herd of Dinar Estate Management
• St Fort herd of Andrew Mylius
• Eastlands herd of Messrs M K and G Sprowl
• Threeburnford herd of Angus and Patricia Glennie

To view the on line catalogue click here

For more details contact Pat on (00353) 872669256

Breeder Number – 6155

Edenbridge breed champion Nightingale Panmure from Andrew Brown

Taking the reserve male championship and reserve overall rosette was the second prize senior bull Muirhall Total Deal from Shadwell Estates, Norfolk.

Reserve champion Muirhall Total Deal from Shadwell Estates

The female championship was led by Andrew Brown’s two year old heifer Hawstead Lodge Buttercup, who was also tapped out as reserve female interbreed champion under judge and auctioneer Paul Gentry from Newark livestock Market.

Reserve female interbreed champion Hawstead Lodge Buttercup from Andrew Brown

Reserve in the Angus female championship went to the Bishop family with their cow Warrenho Rachel.

Duncanziemere Jaguar J306 - reserve male champion at the National Show, Kelso

This January 2009 born bull was Male and Overall Champion at the Scottish National Calf Show at the Winter Fair in 2009 and also won his class at Ayr Show 2010. He was reserve male Champion at the Aberdeen Angus National Show, Kelso 2010.

Jaguar’s Breedplan figures are +32 for Terminal Index which is in the top 10% and +42 for Self Replacing Index which is also in the top 10%.

His dam, Duncanziemere Jody D147, was Breed Champion at both Ayr and the Royal Highland Show in 2006, while her full brother was Royal Highland Show Champion 2004 and went on to win Overall Champion Perth October 2004 and sold for 7000gns.

Another full brother was 2nd at Perth in February 2007 and sold for 10000gns. Two full sisters sold at the Best of Blacks sale for 12000gns and 5000gns.

The sire is a Canadian embryo, Aln Governor D833 and is sired by the famous Hoff Limited Edition who has sired many top priced cattle in this country.

The annual showcase event for the UK beef industry, organised by the National Beef Association, is growing in stature every year and now requires more exhibition space to accommodate an expanding range of livestock demonstrations, educational/advisory exhibits, seminars and trade stands.

“Newark is an excellent venue in the centre of England and close to the AI which is one of the main arterial routes in the country,” said NBA director, Kim Haywood.

“The showground is already home to the Newark and Notts Show each May and the Lamma machinery show in January and offers a first-class range of facilities for a major specialist event such as Beef Expo which attracts thousands of beef farmers, meat processors, butchers and other industry professionals from throughout the UK and Ireland each year, as well as visitors from overseas.”

The organisation of the event will be in the hands of a local committee chaired by Mrs Rachel Gascoine, who is a director of both Newark Livestock Market Ltd and a family farming business with extensive beef interests in both Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire.

“We are delighted to have the opportunity of hosting this important event for the beef industry at Newark and look forward to welcoming visitors from all over the country, and further afield, to Nottinghamshire,” said Ms Gascoine.

“Beef Expo is going from strength to strength each year and is firmly established as the flagship event for the beef industry in the UK, involving all sectors of the supply chain from primary producer to supermarket and butcher.”

Features of Beef Expo will include the National Spring Spectacular Show of haltered suckled calves and store cattle, breed society exhibits, stockjudging competitions, machinery demonstrations, seminars and trade stands.

On the day before, Wednesday, May 25, there will be visits to two beef farms in the Notts area, and also the first part of the National Spring Spectacular which will include a show and sale of unhaltered prime cattle at Newark Livestock Market, in conjunction with the market’s weekly sale of prime stock which is the biggest in the country. This will be followed by the annual dinner in the Dome at Kelham Hall on the outskirts of Newark which can accommodate up to 500 guests.

The NBA’s corporate development consultant, Euan Emslie, who has organised the last nine Beef Expo’s, has been appointed organiser for the 2011 event.

Beef Expo is held at a different venue each year and in recent years has been held at Hexham (2010), Malvern (2009), Perth (2008), Skipton (2007), Carlisle (2006), Builth Wells (2005), Edinburgh (2004), Aberdeen (2003) and Wooler (2002)

Further information and sponsorship and trade stand enquiries to the event organiser, Euan Emslie, on Tel: 01430 441870. Fax: 01430 448432. Mobile: 07718 908523. Email: euan@appliedremedies.co.uk Website: www.beefexpo.co.uk, or Helen Dobson, NBA Office, Tel: 01434 601005, Email: helen@nationalbeefassociation.com

Moira Abereen-Angus champion Black Beauty 2 with handler Jack Smyth and club committee member Ivan Forsythe

The young Angus enthusiasts then took the reserve in the breed section with their steer Black Buddy. This one is by Lisduff Dickie and was bred by Noel Hook. He stood reserve to Black Beauty at Lurgan as well.

Angus reserve champion Black Buddy, bred by Noel Hook and exhibited by Sarah and Sam Matchett

In the overall heavy weight heifer classes, Black Beauty stood second to the overall champion. Both exhibits were in the capable hands of YDP member Jack Smyth who was showing for the Matchett’s while they were away in Dorset at a wedding.

Their champion on the day was the May 2004-born cow Tofts Prona D680. By Blelack Lord Hildalgo A234, she is out of Tofts Prona X4 who is full sister to the dam of Tofts Prondor, one of the bulls who were part of the recent order of 100,000 straws of semen to Brazil. Prona will next be shown at Moreton in the Marsh and Newbury Show.

Taking the reserve female and reserve champion rosettes was Melview Georgie J017. By Nightingale kruncher D210, she is out of the Rawburn Transformer daughter Tegsnose Geraldine C095.

Standing reserve to her in the breed class and making it an except copy of Blakesley was Aynho Estona H459, the January 2008 born heifer from Alex McLaren and Sons.

The Aberdeen-Angus group of four took the best native group in the interbreed competition and stood fourth overall.

Class results:

Calf born after 1^st September 2009

Warrenho Ralph K318

Heifer born on or after 1^st January 2009

1^st Glympton Duchess Eileen J376

2^nd Warrenho Juliet Erica J273

3^rd Kingwood Wisteria J065

4^th Winslow Whimsy J130

5^th Aynho Proud Greta J535

Heifer born on or after 1^st January 2008 & before 1^st January 2009

1^st Aynho Estona H459

2^nd Glympton Duchess Eileen H321

3^rd Warrenho Cherry Blossom H250

4^th Adstock Flowergirl H111

Cow in milk or in calf born before 1^st January 2008

1^st Warrenho Rachel F191

Bull born on or after 1^st January 2009

1^st Blacktank Billy J004

2^nd Winslow Lord Harry J131

3^rd Glympton Tain J375

4^th Glympton Rothes J382

5^th Aynho Romeo Eric J543

6^th Aynho Rosewood J588

Bull born before 1^st January 2009

1^st Russell Falstaff G020