North East Club Report

North East Club

Report By Katie Boyes, Secretary

Another year, another lockdown. The start of 2021 was rather a measly one at that. The January lockdown ruined our hopes of a summer of showing and socialising.

Our year kicked off with the Stirling bull sales in February and where Andrew and Yvonne Leedham sold two bulls for good trade. Grangewood Kingdom 19 selling away to G T & S Coghill, Orkney at 9,500gns and Grangewood Kingpin 19 selling away to Mixbury Hall Simmentals at 8,000gns.

It should also be noted that Alex Bulmer of Habton Simmentals, Malton a relatively new member in the area bought Backmuir Kraken for 15,000 gns.

March brought the Melton Mowbray sale where the Hollingsworth family sold Midhope Jasmine, a Woodhall Everhart sired in-calf heifer. She sold to a new breeder C Chuck, Skegness at 2300gns.

Next stop for our club was the Worcester sale on the 1st May. The Grangewood herd were out again, this time claiming Overall Supreme Champion with Grangewood Keegan, an entirely home bred bull. Sired by Grangewood Glenlivet and out of Grangewood Tollie’s Hope (full sister to Grangewood Baron 2012 Stirling Junior Champion). In Reserve was the Midhope herd with Midhope Kerry, a two year old heifer sired by Rockytop Hurricane and in-calf to Denizes Kingston 19. Grangewood Keegan sold at 7000gns and headed home with J Wainwright, Macclesfield.

Midhope Kerry sold at 3850gns and headed home with G Palk, Paignton. This sale had bulls in demand and on averages, £977.50 up on last year.

A fortnight later we were up at the Carlisle Spring Sale where both the Hollingsworths and the Leedhams were out in force again. Midhope Kiera stood 1st, Female Champion and Reserve Overall Champion, with Midhope Kelly behind her in 2nd place. Keira is sired by Woodhall Everhart and out of Midhope Eclair. She sold for 2600gns and sold away to AJ Wilson, Ayrshire. Midhope Kelly, a Rockytop Hurricane daughter sold for 2600ns to IR Appleton, Hartlepool. Trade was sticky and prices were not where members hoped, however top price for the North East club went to Grangewood Kennedy who sold at 3,800gns. Kennedy was also sired by Grangewood Glenlivet and came back home to the North East with RI Jones, Whitby.

May 21st also saw the herd reduction sale of Stephen Stubbings, Sledmere herd at Malton Livestock Market. 53 head of cattle compromising of pedigrees and cross-bred cattle were sold.

Top price cow was £2,600 for a Simmental x cow with calf at foot. Cows and calves made an average of £1,787. Mr Stubbings heifers averaged £1,192 with stronger heifers pushing for £1750. Younger heifers topped at £1,500 for a 12 month old.

The end of the month also brought our club AGM which was held at Scarthingwell Golf Course on 30th May. This could have been a very sorrowful day for our North East Club. The lovely and long-standing Jayne Pick stood down as secretary, and Craig Hollingsworth also stood down as chairman. The club drew a complete blank. Was this the time to close the club and amalgamate with another? I sat there, not really knowing many of the elder members thinking surely not. As a young member this is my passion and I can’t have our club close down after only just joining. So without really thinking about what the role entailed I jumped at the opportunity. With big boots to fill, Jayne stood as club secretary for 20 years! We are all extremely grateful for what Jayne has done for our club and proud of her longstanding achievement.

Then the task of finding a new chairman. Andrew Leedham was plucked from everyone’s thoughts.

After a visit and a couple of phone calls I had him persuaded. Andrew is from the renowned Grangewood Herd. He farms at Rowan Farm, Lockton. With the help of Yvonne his lovely wife we have managed to get the club going again. Thank you both.

It must also be noted that Andrew Steele will also be standing on as our club treasurer. Which we are extremely grateful for.

Grangewood Keegan

Midhope Kerry

Midhope Heavenly Light

Grangewood Kingdom

After a few very quiet months, July brought the Great Yorkshire Show. Attended by many of our members, only one family were exhibiting, the Hollingsworths with their fantastic cow Midhope Heavenly Light. She stood first in her class, with her heifer calf Midhope Heavenly Light’s Mia at foot. What a great pair they are!

This year we opted to have our herd competition virtual again, just with the uncertainty of Covid still lingering very much as it is now. Very kindly Matthew Robson from the renowned Kilbride Farm herd agreed to judge, which was fantastic.

Virtual Herd Competition Results

Class 1 – Junior Bull 1st – Grangewood Lionking 2nd – Midhope Lloyd Class 2 – Senior Bull 1st – Denizes Iceberg 2nd – Woodhall Everhart Class 3 – Cow 1st – Grangewood Wanda’s Ebony 2nd – Midhope Heavenly Light 3rd – Goskins Bumble Class 4 – In-Calf Heifer 1st – Grangewood Katayana 2nd – Halfacre Belinda 3rd – Midhope Kassandra Class 5 – Maiden Heifer 1st – Grangewood Tollie’s Lottie 2nd – Goskins Leafy Class 6 – 2021 Bull Calf 1st – Grangewood Mastermind 2nd – Midhope Magic Class 7 – 2021 Heifer Calf 1st – Midhope Mint Champagne 2nd – Grangewood Marigold 3rd – Goskins Mouse Class 8 – X Bred calf 1st Midhope herd Class 9 – ‘Fun Class’ 1st – Callum Leedham 2nd – Goskin Herd 3rd – Callum Leedham.

We then held our annual dinner at The Golden Fleece, Thirsk where we had a great evening, fantastic food and great company. Most of the club members were there to enjoy and it was a great night to finally be out and socialising and thoroughly enjoyed by all. The club’s herd competition results were also announced.

On a side note I would like to announce some new arrivals to the club. Firstly we have Mia Hollingsworth, born January 2021. Mia is the daughter of Craig Hollingsworth and Dannielle Taylor, from the Midhope herd. And more recently Harper Johnson born November 2021, daughter of Katie Steele and Ethan Johnson. Katie is the daughter of Andrew Steele – Weeton Simmentals. So congratulations go to those two wonderful new families.

2021 has been another year of lockdowns and the ever-growing worry of Covid-19. I am so pleased as a club we have managed to get together a handful of times and enjoy each other’s company. Something that we have taken for granted pre Covid.

The beef trade has risen and currently is looking great, but the uncertainty of fertiliser prices puts a heavy burden on many farmers shoulders. It seems impossible to be able to afford fertiliser at over £600/t, something is going to have to give soon before it tips farmers over the edge. Growing demand for plant based options is taking a toll, however people are realising that actually these options are full of chemically processed products and not just genuine fruit and vegetables. The UK needs to become more sustainable on how it produces all of its food.

I have high hopes for 2022, hopefully we will get back into the show ring and next year I can report back on all the shows the club has attended.

Denizes Iceberg

Callum Leedham winning image fun class herd comp

Katie Boyes and Jayne Pick at the club dinner