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• Fife based breeder Gordon Clark lifts coveted title, and places third in the world, with his 2015 born
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Simmental bull • Wroxall bull takes the Reserve
The Simmental bull, Lisglass Goldstar, owned by Mr Gordon Clark, Cupar, Fife was crowned as the ‘Simmental Champion of Europe’, before being placed in the highly credible bronze position in the Overall ‘Simmental Champion of the World’ 2020 competition. This annual online event, organised by the Texas, USA based ‘Simmental Breeder’, featured Simmental breeders and entries from countries across all five continents going head to head in both male and female sections in the respective continents before moving on to the Overall World Finals.
Judging took place through November and December 2020 with the judging panel comprising of: Heitor Lutti Pinheiro Machado (Brazil); Andrew Masterson (South Africa); Garrett Behan (Ireland); and Garth Rancier (Canada).
Lisglass Goldstar 15 was awarded the ‘Simmental Champion of Europe’ title with Irish bred bull Coose Gambler, owned by the long established Wroxall herd of CH Evans & Son, Abbey Farm, Wroxall, Warwickshire, lifting the Reserve Champion prize. In the judge off for the Overall ‘Simmental Champion of the World’ title, Lisglass Goldstar took the bronze position being placed behind entries from South Africa and Canada respectively.
The November 2015 born Lisglass Goldstar 15, bred by JL & CJ Weatherup, Ballyclare, Co Antrim, is by Dermotstown Delboy EX 92, and is out of Lisglass Bramble EX 90. He was purchased by Gordon Clark for his 25 head Broombrae pedigree herd at Stirling in 2017.
Earlier this year, Lisglass Goldstar 15 took Reserve Overall Male Champion in the British Simmental Cattle Society’s 2020 Virtual Show, which saw just under 750 entries in all, and after having placed first in a class of 57 working bulls from around the UK. As well as winning show prizes, Lisglass Goldstar 15 is producing some first-class progeny. At the recent 2020 October Stirling Simmental bull sale, and from the first calves at auction by Lisglass Goldstar, Broombrae Kojac 19 made 10,000gns when selling to the Keeldrum herd of Mr David Lowry, Newsteadings Farm, Lanark.
Commenting, Gordon Clark said: “It’s obviously been a very unusual year but these online events have been both a bit of fun and very competitive with some terrific entries forward. It’s a very nice accolade for Lisglass Goldstar to be crowned ‘Simmental Champion of Europe’. Mr Clark has entry forward by Lisglass Goldstar aimed at the February 2021 Stirling Sale and is delighted with how the bull is breeding: “The bull’s breeding very consistently and producing fleshy calves with plenty of length that I think are modern types and suited to both the pedigree breeder and commercial producer.”
Lisglass Goldstar
Coose Gambler
Kilbride Farm Iris 17F
British Simmental genetics were also well to the fore in the female sections of the online competition. Taking the bronze medal position in the Miss Europe Simmental section was Kilbride Farm Iris 17F from WH Robson & Sons, Ballyclare, N Ireland. This 2014 born cow is by Crugmelyn Brenin 10 and is out of Kilbride Farm Iris 9A.
As well as recognition in the ‘Simmental Champion of the World’ competition, the 2020 year has seen a significant international interest in British Simmental genetics. Exports of breeding females and bulls have been made to the breed’s homeland countries of Switzerland and Austria. Further exports have seen young bulls going to Italy with semen collections thereafter aimed at the USA and China. Simmental embryos have been exported to Australia, whilst UK based AI companies have reported upon the ‘significant and growing demand’ for British Simmental semen in Asian markets.
Auroch Eve
DOUBLE ROYAL HIGHLAND SHOW WINNER, AUROCH EVE, CROWNED SIMMENTAL CHAMPION OF THE DECADE!
The double Royal Highland Show Supreme Champion from 2015 & 2016, Auroch Eve, exhibited by Michael Barlow, Four Oaks, Nr Leyland, Lancashire, was crowned the Royal Highland Simmental Champion of the Decade following a virtual competition run by the Scottish Farmer newspaper.
After a public vote the champions from 2010 to 2020 were narrowed down to a short list of three which was: the 2014 Champion, Dirnanean Bradley shown by Iain and Jimmy Green of the Corskie herd, near Fochabers; the 2016 winner, Michael Barlow’s Auroch Eve, an Irish-bred cow from his Lancashire herd; and Stewarton, Ayrshire-based David Craig’s home-bred heifer, Kennox Tara’s Gem the contender from 2017.
Ruling his eye over the final three was Norman Robson, Ballyclare, Co Antrim who gave the nod to Auroch Eve, with Dirnanean Bradley in Reserve. Commenting, Mr Robson said: “Thank you to the Scottish Farmer for asking me to do the final selection of the Champion of the Decade. It is a privilege to do so in a year that has been so tough for so many people. It was a very difficult call between two cattle that demonstrated the true dual-purpose nature of the Simmental breed. A senior bull, standing square on his legs with length, muscle and masculinity, and a junior cow with beef characteristics, femininity and style. There was a hair’s breadth between them, but the cow which won in 2016 just had that edge. She looks feminine and productive with a great outlook.”
Auroch Eve was purchased in the Republic of Ireland from David Wall’s herd when she was three hours old and arrived in the UK at 21 days of age! Primarily purchased for her breeding and to bring fresh bloodlines into the herd, she has gone on to have a stellar show career and capped to date by doing the double of Supreme Champion Simmental at the Highland in both 2015 & 2016. In 2016 she was shown with her Dinton Nautical sired bull calf at foot, Denizes Hamish, who himself has gone on to be the herd’s stock bull and who went on to win the Reserve Male Champion at the Royal Highland and the Championship at the 2016 Stars of the Future amongst a host of titles.
Eve’s other show successes have included: Junior Champion at the 2013 Stars of the Future; Junior Champion at both the English National Show and the Royal Norfolk in 2014; Junior Female at both the Great Yorkshire Show and the Royal Welsh Show; and Champion at the Scottish National held at the Black Isle Show in 2016. Before the Covid-19 situation struck, the intention had been to head back to Ingliston for another crack at the 2020 title. A productive female, Auroch Eve has had fourteen calves registered to her to date and of course including Denizes Hamish.
MIDHOPE HEAVENLY LIGHT WINS FARMERS GUARDIAN ONLINE 2020 SUMMER SHOW
Following a fantastic entry into the 2020 Farmers Guardian online summer shows competition, Simmentals were once again to the fore in the Championship prizes. Taking the top prize in the keenly contested beef category was Midhope Heavenly Light the February 2016 born Simmental cow with calf at foot from WJ Hollingsworth, Midhope Hall Farm, Sheffield.
This category was judged by Boomer Birch, beef programme manager at Cogent, and owner of the Sky High Hereford herd. He said the cow was everything he would look for in a breeding female. “She is moderately framed, naturally fleshing but still carries that milking ability and style. She has a fantastic calf at foot and would be an asset to any herd.”
Midhope Heavenly Light is sired by Delfur Chas 11, and is out of the noted Midhope Bright Light, a Corskie Wealth daughter. In 2016 Midhope Bright Light won the Simmental English National Show at the Three Counties, whilst in 2019 Midhope Heavenly Light herself
Simmental sired heifers at £4200, and £3600, were very much at the top end of the prices at the sale following the third Royal Ulster Premier Beef & Lamb Championships held at Balmoral Park on Tuesday 24th November. On the night, sale records were repeatedly smashed, with exceptional prices across the board reaffirming the event as the Premier show and sale for prime livestock in Northern Ireland.
Despite greatly reduced numbers of people allowed to attend the event due to the Covid situation, the full day of judging and auctions was live streamed and as a result, literally thousands watched on from across the globe! The lamb and cattle sales were also viewed live with many lots purchased online in both rings. The quality of livestock forward was top drawer with a mighty 52 beef and lamb show classes culminating in an array of breed and special Championships and some bumper sales.
Lifting the Simmental Championship was a 598kgs heifer from the noted JCB Commercials Team from Crossgar. This heifer went on to sell for £4200, or £7.02 per kg, to Shane Mullen, Cavan.
The Reserve Simmental Championship went to James Alexander (JALEX), Randalstown, with his heifer out of a BB cow. Weighing in at 632kgs she sold for £3600, or £5.69 per kg, to G McGerrigle, Donemana.
Libby Clarke, Chair of the Beef & Lamb committee was absolutely delighted with how it all went and commented on how the use of technology had taken the event to so many people and made it a success: “….The Championships has been a tremendous success with exhibitors showcasing the very best beef and lamb from our local farms. With the innovative use of live streaming, and online sales running in tandem with ringside bidding we have raised the bar in stood as the Overall and Interbreed Champion at Driffield Show. Her calf at foot in this year’s Farmers Guardian competition was the March 2020 born Midhope Heavenly Light Lovely by Woodhall Everhart 13.
SIMMENTAL HEIFERS SELL FOR £4200 & £3600 AT RUAS BEEF AND LAMB CHAMPIONSHIPS
Simmental Champion
Simmental Reserve Champion
