We’ve had another busy week in the last seven days, culminating in a great day at the 2017 Black Beauty Bonanza today in Thainstone, which featured a record 37 exhibitors. Here is the weekly news round-up, including an update on events at Thainstone.
2017 Black Beauty Bonanza:
We’ve been coming to you live from the ring at Thainstone throughout the course of today with updates from all classes at this year’s Black Beauty Bonanza. With an impressive number of entries forward from the 37 exhibitors, the show of cattle on display has been of a very high standard as always. The day’s judge was Alistair Cormack who boasts an impressive track record in the pedigree cattle industry, while the young handlers judges were Marjory and Ian Davidson of the recently dispersed Kincardine Castle Aberdeen-Angus Herd. Speaking of the event, Alistair Cormack said:
‘’I’d like to thank the North East club for a great day and putting on an excellent event. My job was made easier by the quality of cattle on show, from the young classes right through to the older ones the standard was exceptional. It’s great to see such a strong display of our breed characteristics, in general the cattle on show had good heads, were good on their legs and had great mobility. The stockmanship on the day was second to none, and the North East club put on an excellent show as always.’’
Marjory and Ian Davidson who judged the young handlers also sang the praises of a great day:
‘’We’ve had a very good day of judging where the youngsters have excelled themselves. There was literally a point between the seniors, and the youngsters were so keen and enthusiastic, we clearly have some excellent youngsters coming through. It’s been a great show, with a difficult yet enjoyable day of judging with a superb standard of cattle.’’
Some of the key results from the day are:
Yearling bull champion – lot 122 Cardona Edwin S001 (ET) from Mr R Galloway.
Yearling bull reserve champion – lot 116 Logie Explosive S658 from AJR Farms.
Bull calf champion – Lot 85 Balavil House Postman T722 from Hannah Heerema.
Bull calf reserve champion – lot 104 Cairnton Blackbeard T420 from K & M Howie.
Heifer calf champion – lot 31 Deveron Felicity T580 from Hamish Sclater.
Heifer calf reserve champion – lot 1 Retties Ruisseau T391 (ET) from R & C Rettie.
Yearling heifer champion – lot 44 Cardenwell Miss Blossom S087 from Graham Willox.
Yearling heifer reserve champion – lot 49 Tonley Princess S273 from Neil and Mark Wattie.
Head over to our Facebook page to have a look at videos from each of the classes: https://www.facebook.com/aberdeenanguscattlesociety/. You can also view the full results here.
Other Show and Sale news:
The North East of England and Stars of the Future calf shows took place in the last week as part of a busy calf show schedule at this period. The overall and heifer calf champion at the North East of England was Liley Ellen Erica T250 of Marsdens Farms Ltd. This heifer calf was born in January 2017 out of Rawburn Ellen Erica H800 by Rawburn Elysium F547. The overall and heifer reserve went to Retties Ruisseau T391. Also born in January 2017, this heifer of Messrs R&C Rettie is by Rettis JFK M195 out of Belhaven Ruisseau H062.
At the Stars of the Future calf show on Saturday 11th November at United Auctions in Stirling, top honours on the day as senior champion went to Stephanie Dick’s Crew Lady Jasmine S247, by Netherton Fabulous Cruz Y300. The day’s junior champion was Mark Wattie’s Tonley Equidora T362, by Weeton Evolution R447. Senior and junior reserves respectively were Mark Wattie’s Tonley Emmerson S336 and Hannah Heerema’s Balavilhouse Banksy T727.
Across the Irish Sea, the Leinster Provincial Trophy was presented to Tomriland Enigma S293 of Dermot Lynch and Josephine Byrne. This February 2016 born bull is out of Fordel Esmercia H395 and sired by the stock bull, Mogeely Lord Hugh M204 who is a son of the former All-Ireland Aberdeen-Angus champion, Wedderlie Blackbox J935. It’s been a great year for the Tomriland Herd who, amongst other successes, secured a 1st prize win in the small section of the 2017 Connaught/Leinster Aberdeen-Angus club herds competition.
The Irish Aberdeen-Angus Premier Autumn sale witnessed a steady trade for both bulls and heifers at Carrick-on-Shannon over last weekend. Both the top price and overall clearance were up on last year’s event, and leading the trade in the sales ring, was Mogeely Black Catch S475 from Albert & Jennifer DeCogan, Killamuckey, Castlemartyr, Co. Cork who sold for the day’s best price of €5,000. You can view the full sale report at: http://irishaberdeenangus.com/news/top-price-of-5000-at-irish-premier-autumn-sale/
Youth Development Programme:
Bright young farmer Andrew Hamill from Northern Ireland was the winner of the junior section at this year’s Youth Development Programme final, and we got the chance to speak to Andrew to delve a bit deeper and find out more about the boy from Belfast. If you missed it the first time round, click the link to learn more about Andrew’s background, experience, ambitions for the future and other interests: http://www.aberdeen-angus.co.uk/news/andrew-hamill-junior-champion-at-the-2017-youth-development-programme/
Other news:
We caught up with Martin McCornick to learn a bit more about his and his family’s operation at Boreland Farm Farm in South West Scotland after some recent show and sale successes. We spoke to Martin about the background to the herd and his reaction to well-deserved success at the Carlisle and Stirling Bull Sales and the Borderway Agri Expo in Carlisle. You can read this very interesting and insightful piece at: http://www.aberdeen-angus.co.uk/news/the-mccornick-family-an-insight-into-the-operation-at-boreland-farm/
Today was the deadline for submitting booking forms for advertising in our landmark 100th edition of the Review, and we’d like to say thank you to everyone who has submitted their forms to secure their space. If you missed the deadline and would still like to advertise then fear not, we will still be happy to accommodate anyone who wishes to book some last minute space. Feel free to get in touch with the guys at Denvir directly to book your space via [email protected] or call 01786 435185.
Aberdeen-Angus merchandise for Christmas! We know it’s still November, but we’re sure a lot of you will be preparing for Christmas. If so, why not head over to the merchandise section on our website, where you’ll find plenty of lovely gift ideas.
We wish you all a lovely weekend!