British Simmental Review 2018

Skylark Geronimo at the Devon County Show
Devon County Show Club stand
The Royal Bath and West Show had a good number of
entries. The Blomfield family’s Sway Gorgeous Girl was
judged to be Overall Champion by James Arnold. Steve,
Lorrayne and Emma also had their young bull Sway
Harlequin, awarded Champion Male and Overall Reserve.
Club member, Laura French and her father, Roger Darch
had the Reserve Female, Chard Glitter. Our most recent
and youngest members, Brooks and Stanley Carey, enjoyed
success in the cross bred heifer class.
Sway Gorgeous Girl and Sway Ivanhoe
at the Royal Bath & West Show
Aled Davies modelling the
lastest millinery fashion at
the Devon County Show
HERD COMPETITION
A visit to the Bosahan herd of John and Bridget Olds
took place on October 14th. Around 50 people attended.
A walk around these outstanding cattle was followed by
presentations and a wonderful lunch at the local social
club. Competition judge Clive Roads announced the
winners, and presented the trophies and rosettes. The club
would like to thank the Olds family and the judge for their
generosity.
The following words are the judge’s own thoughts on
the competition:
Super cattle and marvellous hospitality marked what
was a privilege to be invited to judge the 2018 Herd
Competition.
What a trip!! From the Cotswolds and the source of the
River Thames through to the White Horse in Wiltshire,
the Jurassic Coast of Dorset, the Eden Project in Cornwall,
taking in Exmoor, Dartmoor and Land’s End! A total of 846
miles in 3 days!!
My conclusion…. The Simmental breed is in safe hands in
the South West. Some brief yet poignant comments of the
14 herds visited on the trip.
David Bush – impressed with some great individual cows
– not easy when changing calving patterns from Spring to
Autumn but definitely a herd to watch with great young
stock coming through. The Red Deer enterprise on the farm
was particularly enlightening and of great interest.
Len & Adrian Curry – What enthusiasm! A small herd but
making a mark in the breed. A memorable in-calf heifer
Winford Vogue 11th will stay in my mind for a long time – as
will the flight path of Bristol Airport!
David Edwards – The ultimate for any breed is to be
run successfully as a commercial enterprise. David’s herd
typifies this. Purebred (not pedigree) good working cows,
not too big and producing super calves – best advert for
any breed.
Alstone Partnership – Roy Loud & Charlie Kidner - A
pedigree herd run commercially. The cows keeping the
farm rather than farm keeping cows – great management.
Excellent groups of in-calf and maiden heifers by Taurus
ELO and Heywood Fergus – very eye catching.
Steve & Dawn Shapland – Another working herd with
cows doing the calves well. The image of that bull calf
Brynsworthy Jethro sits bright in my mind and surely a
stock bull to make a mark in the future.
Chris Tucker – What an impressive farm and a herd on
the up and up. Again, some super individual cows, brilliant
calves and that particularly smart in-calf heifer Dinton Kiwi.
Seeing the flock of laying ducks and learning about Chris’s
television work was a real treat!
Sandra Francis – One word…Passionate! A walking
encyclopaedia of the breed, superb herd with type and
breeding. Impressed with the overall type even though
a number of different bulls have been used – careful
selection has been the secret.
Rupert Ridout – A small but select herd - making
ongoing improvements and with Rupert’s enthusiasm and
thoughts on future breeding policy, another herd to watch
in the future. British Blue cross calves were particularly
memorable.
Robert & Jim Cook – What inspiring “boys” these are!
Farming land on the coast line with 100,000 visitors walking
the fields, coping with land management required by The
National Trust and still breeding good, sound genuine cattle
with a superb work ethic and stockman-ship ethic. Fabulous
groups of heifers coming forward to enhance the herd.
Graham Reed – Stock farming at its best. Big numbers
of cows run commercially and efficiently with quality
throughout. Great calves, super bulling and maiden heifers
and an outstanding young bull Skylark Infamous – a treat to
see.
www.britishsimmental.co.uk 141
SIMMENTAL REVIEW 2018
REGIONAL CLUB REPORTS