Northern Club

from Beef Shorthorn Cattle Society Journal - Volume 19, 2023

Scottish Club

With things getting back to a more normal routine post-Covid Club members have had a busy and successful year in the show ring. Nationally Andrew Thornber and daughters turned out the overall champion at the Highland, while Tracy and Mark Severn took reserve male champion at the National Championships at the Great Yorkshire.

Their bull then went on to be part of the winning Blythwood pairs team. The trophy for the best placed 2021 heifer shown by a Club member was won by Andrew Thornber and daughters. Several other members were among the tickets at the National Show.

Many Club members have been out and about supporting their local shows, this is vital in helping to keep them going as well as a great showcase for the breed.

In the sale ring John Wilson and Janet Dunning topped the Carlisle May Sale while Stuart and Gail Currie did the same at Longtown in August, then we saw Coxhill take the female champion at Stirling in October.

July saw the Club’s first outing with a visit to Philip and Suzanne Miller’s Gonder herd. The kind weather meant the cattle looked in good order with calves at foot by both a Rockstar and a Jackpot son.

A new stock bull, Glenarif Majestic, has been added to the herd, he comes with a reputation for easy calving and fleshing so watching his influence on the herd going forward will be interesting. Members were then treated to a great spread for afternoon tea prepared by the family.

The Club was lucky to secure the services of John Scott and his son, James, to judge the herd competition this year. A record entry of 38 herds was put forward for their scrutiny.

At the previous AGM the Club decided that it wanted to mark the bicentenary of Coates's herd book since the breed had originated in our area. This was done by giving each member a commemorative glass as well as a commemorative rosette to all entrants in the Club competitions over the year.

The Club also purchased some special trophies which were presented to winners of the various competitions. It was decided to team up with a local show and stage extra Beef Shorthorn classes to showcase the breed in their traditional homeland.

The Club partnered up with Bowes Agricultural Society in Teesdale which was happy to host the Club at their annual show in September. A pre-show barbeque the night before set the scene with meat donated by the Souter family. On the day judge, Robert Leach, had seven classes plus the young handlers to get through with some very good examples of the breed forward. The champion was named as Sandwick Prefer-a-bull owned and bred by Andrew and Caroline Ivinson; he eventually went on to take the interbreed title.

At the beginning of October 80 members and friends gathered at the Moorcock Inn, Eggleston, for the Club’s AGM, dinner and presentation evening. Some members arrived early and took the opportunity to have a look around Jo and Mick Souter’s Jodame herd, which unbeknown to all was to be crowned Northern Club overall herd champions later that evening. The cattle were deep bodied and looked suited to their environment up in the Pennines.