It was suggested that perhaps a more central location in this area would encourage more participants to get involved, the North East of England is a big Limousin area and I think we are just getting through to the young people how much they can learn and how much fun we have in the Angus breed.

Bryan Ronan and Carole Stephens had been persuaded to hold the workshop at their home alongside the well known Jerusalem herd in Colby, Cumbria. The herd is synonymous with winning major shows and I was pretty interested to have a look around myself. Trainers for the day came from a mixture of breed backgrounds but came together to make a really good team. Mark Phillips is well known in the Limousin breed and has turned out many champions and top price cattle at shows and sales throughout the country and also has done a bit with the Limousin Young Breeders Club, I must be careful not to make him sound old as I’m not sure he likes that!

Joining Mark was well known Angus breeder Adrian Johnson. Adrian’s Yearsley herd has been seen in the headlines a lot over the years and he was previously very involved with the YDP although it was my first time working with him. The third member of the dream team was Duncan McLaren, from the Netherton dynasty in Perthshire, he has worked throughout the country with many breeds and is back with Angus now in North Yorkshire with the Saville herd. The day started for the trainers with a breakfast meeting to discuss a plan of action, the dry Northern sense of humour takes a bit of getting used to, but I could tell it was going to be a good day.

A total of 13 participants joined us at Jerusalem and the day started with Mark and Adrian running through selection and feeding of show cattle and the initial halter breaking. We then went onto the practical side of things which didn’t quite get off to the best start with one young bull managing to step part way out of the clipping crate and then get in a panic when the rest of his body got stuck.

That is the first time it has happened at a workshop I’ve been too and it certainly wasn’t due to the bull being badly behaved, it does however go to show the risks involved with cattle and equipment.  After the initial bit of excitement the workshop got underway again with Mark doing a clipping demo. Adrian and Mark talked through the concept of clipping, where to take hair off and where to leave it and the most important lesson that all animals are different so one clipping plan doesn’t fit all animals.

The participants were then split into groups and while one group washed with Adrian the other group had the opportunity to do some clipping themselves. It was a really cold day at the farm and they all needed to work hard at the washing to keep warm. It did make me laugh to hear Adrian telling them all that they needed to scrub the animals in little circles like they were scrubbing the floor. When the girls looked at him I think he realised that in 2011 we all use mops. Yet again the pressure washer was replaced with good old buckets and hard work. Mark helped everyone to have a go at clipping and I’m not sure whether Bryan and Carole meant for the YDP to clip the show team, but throughout the whole day they remained calm and serene and I’ll wait and see whether they have the YDP back. For those that have never clipped before it can always seem quite daunting, particularly when clipping the head, people are always afraid of hurting them. We can usually persuade everyone to have a go although apparently my camera can be quite annoying when you’re trying to concentrate.

After the washing came the blowing and all the cattle were dried and the finishing touches were made to the clipping. We had a big discussion on clipping ears, I’ve seen it done elsewhere and it improved it but not sure it did here.

We sat down to a much needed hot cup of tea and some wonderful hospitality which Carole had worked hard to get ready, oh and not forgetting a big thank you for the fairy cakes that came from a kind benefactor. The afternoon sessions got underway and this time the youngsters were split into three groups. The first session was halter making with Duncan, he does have tremendous patience for all these participants, some of them having seen it done many a time and still don’t get the hang of it and then there’s the not quite so young ones trying their hand at it too.

The second group did dressing with Mark where the poor two year old show heifer was covered in foam by everyone and had her tail brushed and fluffed several times. Mark took everyone through different ways of dressing different coats and different products that could be used. The third activity was all about tying the quick release knot and changing halters which Adrian took charge of, I tried my best to do the non slip knot that I’d learnt at the Borders but think I ended up just annoying the trainer by trying to do it or suggesting different things. The groups got to swop around and everyone had a go at the old favourite of hands on experience.

The activities finished with the ring craft, Mark and Adrian gave some really good tips on where to stand and walk etc and it’s always good to see people taking on board what’s said. People seem to come into their own when given the halter and it’s great to see the cattle respond to it too.

Another very successful workshop with many thanks to Bryan Ronan, Carol Stephens, Mark Phillips, Adrian Johnson and Duncan McLaren and very special thanks to Mary Hammett who lent me her coat.

So that’s it, the 2011 workshops are all done now and it certainly has been a roller coaster of a ride this year. The YDP (and myself) very much appreciate those people who give up their time to come and train, the very generous people who lend us venues and work so hard to get cattle for us to work with. There are also a tremendous amount of people who give their help and support to us in many other ways. Hospitality has been tremendous wherever we’ve been this year and I hope they’ll all have us back in 2012. With 190 enthusiastic participants entered in the programme this year the YDP is going from strength to strength and I think that our Society that has nurtured this programme  making a tremendous commitment to the future of the agricultural industry and our breed.

Class results:

Heifer calf born on or after 1st December 2009
1st- BS Ronan, Jerusalem Duchess 166
2nd- Mr & Mrs Brian McClintock, Craigie Jodie Jessica

Heifer born on or after 1st January 2009
1st) N Ainsworth, Rawburn Duchess Prairielane
2nd) Mr & Mrs Brian McClintock, Deveron Felicity
3rd) Mr Tom Rennie, Mosston Muir Edwina
4th) R J Acton, Housemeans Energy
5th) Miss J Swires, Yearsley Delia
6th) BS Ronan, Jerusalem Duchess 149

Heifer born on or after 1st January 2008 before 1st January 2009
1st) BS Ronan, Jerusalem Duchess 135
2nd) Miss J Swires, Cragg Melrose Belle

Cow in milk or in calf born before 1st January 2008
1st Mr & Mrs Brian McClintock, Duncanzieme Proud Illena

Cow in milk or in calf born before 1st January 2007
1st) Mr Tom Rennie, Mosston Muir Elsie
2nd) Mr & Mrs Brian McClintock, Craigie Jody

Bull calf born on or after 1st December 2009
1st) BS Ronan, Jerusalem Picasso
2nd) Mr Tom Rennie, Mosston Muir Ellis

Bull born on or after 1st January 2009
1st) R J Acton, Housesteads Eagle
2nd) Mr Tom Rennie, Mosston Muir Elgin
3rd) BS Ronan, Jerusalem Fibonacci

Bull born before 1st January 2009, after 1st January 2008
1st) Mr Tom Rennie, Mosston Muir Innis
2nd) BS Ronan, Jerusalem Wagner

Best pair of animals owned by the exhibitor and already exhibited in the above classes
1st) BS Ronan
2nd) Mr Tom Rennie
3rd) BS Ronan
4th) BS Ronan

Also in the winning ways were the PENWAC stand. Providing excellent hospitality and infomat ion on the breed helped them into the shortlist for the best stand on the showfield. So a big well done to Mary, Joyce and the rest of the team!

2nd Angus Stovold with Rosemead Ekim (by Ellin Erroneous)

3rd Mike and Jennie Spooner with Kingwood Wihelmina (by Netherton Figo)

4th Colin Hutchings with Kingsbrompton (by Curzon Endeavour)

5th John Gilmour with Belhaven Eston Anne (by Riverbend Powerline)

6th JCM Denning with Kingsbrompton Jacata Erica (by Curzon Endeavour)

The female and overall champion was Jerusalem Diana G118, who is out of Skaill Diana and by Jerusalem Faraday. she was also female champion at the Royal Show this year.

The male champion and the reserve overall was Jerusalem Lord Halle H136, who is by Blackmsith out of Jerusalem Lady Heather.

Pictures will follow shortly………..