Scottish Club

The Scottish Club’s year got off to a great start with another successful social at the Stirling Golf Club on the weekend of the February Stirling Bull sales. Many members and friends enjoyed a very chatty evening.

The Club was presented with a trophy for the winner of the herd competition by Charles and Sally Horrell (judges of the competition in 2021), so this was presented to 2021 winners Major John and Catriona Gibb. The winner of the sweepstake, for the average price of the bulls sold was Grant Stephen (Glendual Herd), with more than £400 raised for RHET, the Club’s charity this year.

To commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the Coates’s Herd Book the Club had a special class at the Royal Highland Show where the highest placed Club member in each class competed, and what an impressive sight it created.

The winner were new members Alistair Clark and Sons with Duncanziemere Rob Roy bred from one of their foundation cows. On the Saturday the Club held its show barbeque and while numbers were down, everyone had a most enjoyable night.

The Club’s summer trip was to Jim Frame’s Galla herd and Carey Coombs’ Dunsyre herd. Nearly 70 members met up at Little Galla where Margaret had organised a novel competition, guess the age of a vintage Fordson tractor. Liz Lang and Julie Anderson had the correct answer of 1941.

Visitors then went round to the yard to see two young bulls for sale and a pen of in- calf heifers, which had been brought in for us to view.

On a farm tour in trailers visitors then viewed heifers running with a young bull that would later be for sale, the stock cows running with two young Caramba bulls and last, but not least the two-year old heifers with calves and running with the bull. These young heifers showed how well heifers can do calving so young.

The day then moved on to Weston farm where lunch was on offer which was thoroughly enjoyed by all. As Carey was having the first of his dispersal sales Raymond Kennedy was on hand to give everyone a catalogue.

Once again, visitors toured the farm on trailers and went to see the autumn calving cows that will be for sale next spring. These cows and heifers were just starting to calve. Moving back to the farm, next to be viewed were two fields of cows with calves and in-calf heifers. These were looking really well and everyone had plenty of time to mark their choices for the sale. The heifer stirks had been brought inside for ease of viewing and were split into sire groups, which made it interesting. Everyone had a good look at the cattle and wished Hilary and Carey all the best for their sale.

The Club’s annual weekend away was to Northern Ireland when the members of the Club had a very busy time. During the four days a total of 12 herds were seen, with a lot of the country covered. This trip was extremely enjoyable with those attending being impressed with cattle that they saw in every herd, while coming home several pounds heavier as the hospitality was tremendous everywhere. The club would like to thank the following people for allowing us to visit their herds. Glenarm Estates, Glenarm, David Alexander and Family, Craigfaddock, William and Jill McAllister, Burnside, Tom and Kate Madden, Ballyvaddy, James Porter, Uppermill, Richard Henning, Mullaglass, Dr Fitzgerald, Cherryvalley, Duncan McDowell with the McKeown Family, Castlemount, Tom McGuigan and Sons, Cooper, Alfie Shaw and Family, Glebefarm, JP and John Paul Mcfadden, Linhill, Sean and Brenda Kerr, Lisnamanny, and James Nelson, Glenbrae.

As usual the Club held its annual prizegiving and social the night before the October Bull Sale. There was a large gathering of members and friends to hear the results. The club also ran a competition to guess the average weight of the bulls for sale. The average was 829kg and the winners were only 1kg out and they were Robert Grierson and Lady Sally Nairn

The club presented the awards for the winners of the Longtown Prize which is sponsored by John Thomson of C&D Marts, Longtown. £50 is given to champion animals at selected shows.

Fife: Balnabroich Farms with Balnabroich Pandora Stirling: Mary Cormack with Lowther Lily W10 Turriff: R and K Williams with Dunsyre Iona 31 Dumfries: D and M Wyllie with Burrlie Roxy Rae Orkney County: Laga Farms with Lagas Rupert Grantown: Grant Stephen with Glendual Gorgeous Rose.

The Club’s herd competition was judged this year by Major Gibb ably assisted by Catriona. Before announcing the results, he gave his thoughts on the herds that he had seen, and the breed in general.

Champion herd; J W Biggar Chapelton Small herd 1st Headlind 2nd 3rd Medium Herd 1st 2nd 3rd Strathendrick Blackjack

Muiresk Eastmill Harrietsfield

Large Herd 1st 2nd 3rd Chapelton Fearn Skaillhouse Allan Jackson Robert Taylor R and K Williams

S G Mair and Sons Doldy Farms John Anderson

J W Biggar J Scott and Partners C Macadie and Son

Cow with calf at foot Champion: J W Biggar, Chapelton Sister 5120 Small herd Medium herd Large herd Headlind Balnespick Chapelton

Stock Bull Champion; Podehole Rock Nebula, C Macadie and Son Small herd Medium herd Large herd Strathendrick Westerulston Skaillhouse Heifer born in 2020 with a calf Champion; Chapelton Ruthie 6818, J W Biggar Small herd Medium herd Strathendrick Muiresk Large herd Chapelton

Heifer born in 2020 in calf Champion; Redstones Crocus, C Fletcher and J Kay Small herd Medium herd Large herd

Redstones Harrietsfield Glenrinnes

Heifer born in 2021 Champion: Fearn Juliet R1384, J Scott and Partners Small herd Medium herd Large herd

Strathendrick Muiresk Fearn

Bull born 2021 Champion; Fearn Rhuairidh, J Scott and Partners Small herd Medium herd Strathellie Eastmill Large herd Fearn

Heifer calf born in 2022 Champion: Muiresk Ruby Shakira, S G Mair and Sons Small herd Medium herd Blackthorn Muiresk Large herd Westbroad

Bull calf born in 2022 Champion: Drumsleed Scallywag, G and M Smith Small herd Medium herd Drumsleed Muiresk Large herd Chapelton

Established for over a decade, traditionally-bred Beef Shorthorns incorporating some very successful North American genetics. Bulls sold to 12,000gns and heifers to 6,500gns.

Photos: World Conference Tour 2022, visit to Shawhill Shorthorns.

Thomson, Roddick & Laurie

CATTLE SOLD AT:

––––––––––––––––––––––––Stirling and Skipton and at the Annual Longtown Pedigree Sale Monday 28th August 2023

John & Matthew Thomson Newlands, Eaglesfield, Dumfriesshire, DG11 3AA. & John Dick Tel: 01461 500769 & 07900 181635

Email: info@shawhillshorthorns.co.uk www.shawhillshorthorns.co.uk