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CORNWALL SIMMENTAL CLUB REPORT 2011
Cornwall Club celebrated our 21st birthday this year and once again had a full calendar of events. In JANUARY, starting with our annual dinner which was a great success as usual with, our original club chairman 21 years ago , John Langdon (Carnon Simmentals), winning the crazy ‘Irish Bingo’ game.
MARCH saw seven teams taking part and gaining first, second and third places in the Quiz evening hosted by the South Devon club. A skittles evening was not well attended in the snowy weather but those there had a hilarious time.
In APRIL we were given a talk by Alan Bryant on the work of GENUS which was most interesting and well attended. APRIL was Sale time at BRISTOL where club members sold animals. David Nicholls selling Chyanhal Borris for £2750, Kevin Thomas selling Crowgey Brigadier for £1950 , and the Gummows selling one of two heifers forward .
Sadly in April, James Lawrey (Tolver) lost his fight against illness. James was a most popular past President and long time committee member of our club. He always supported club activities and bred some lovely cattle. We will all miss, very much, his cheery face and kindly character .
In MAY an open commercial day at the Hawkey family farm was organised with over 50 people attending. After coffee in the club marquee we set off on trailers to see the cattle on their 200 acre farm being 500/550 feet above sea level. The Hawkeys keep 250 sheep and a commercial suckler herd of Simmentals.The family had tried using Blondes and Limousins and after purchasing a Simmental, Washaway Jason, they found they much preferred the temperament and good growth rates of the Simmental. After a visit to Roy Loud’s Taurus Herd ,the Hawkeys decided that they would concentrate on pedigrees and set about buying more. Using AI they bred Sowenna Tamar whose figures were in the top 5%of the breed and in 2009 they won the Eblex prize for the most improved herd. Nowadays, bulls are kept entire on ad lib food ,weights monitored and are sent off at 13/14 months @600 + k where they regularly grade at U+ from St. Merryn Meat. Some, if good enough, will be kept for breeding. Recently Sowenna Aristocrat was sold to the Young Family at Skerrington in Scotland. Quite an achievement . We all tucked in to a Pasty lunch after which came a demonstration of Foot Trimming by Mervyn Hutchings followed by a talk from Angus Trotter on what the butcher looks for in a carcase which was quite enlightening. To finish ,Barrie Wynter and Adele James organised a stock judging competition which was won by Gethyn Lloyd who had travelled from Wales for our day. People stayed on to chat and the general feeling was that we, and those commercial farmers present ,had experienced an interesting informative day for which we thank the Hawkey family.
MAY also was Devon County Show time. Penny Lally’s Chyanhal Amos was Male and then Breed Champion and Viv Hall’s Chegwidden Tilly was female Champion .
JUNE means ROYAL CORNWALL SHOW. Our own marquee was set up by a band of volunteers, Buckland and sons organising. This then becomes our hospitality place where everyone is encouraged to come in to chat, preferably about Simmentals.!Competition was intense as always and our judge Chris Martindale seemed delighted with the standard of cattle before him. Reserve Supreme and Female Champion was the Gummow’s Boarshead Grace 4th . .Reserve Male Champion was the Hall’s Chegwidden Alfie, Reserve Female Champion was Chegwidden Tilly. I personally had a fabulous show as my bull Chyanhal Amos was Male and Supreme Simmental Champion, Interbreed Junior Bull Champion and Reserve Supreme Interbreed Champion of the Show being, I was told, narrowly beaten by the Devon bull who had been Supreme Champ. at every show he had been to! To add to my success I had agreed to sell Amos to Philip Halhead of Norbrek Genetics to go to SEMEX before I had even gone in the first class!! He obviously knew a good thing when he saw it! The show is always enjoyable and all who exhibit enjoy friendly rivalry. Thank you to James Berry who made sure everyone in the lines had tea and coffee on tap, and to everyone who helped put up and take down the stand and provide refreshments. Etc
In AUGUST we had planned to visit UK Sires at Totness and then Henry Widdicombe. Unfortunately Uk Sires had to cancel so a couple of car loads of us went to Henry and Susan Widdicombe’s farm to see the Starline cattle. Henry does not entertain groups as a rule so we felt most honoured to be able to visit. I think I speak for all when I say we have never been on such a steep hill on a farm trailer, it was like Switzerland! We most enjoyed seeing , including his bulls for Stirling, Henry’s cattle, looking great on the rolling countryside of Devon and hearing how he has selected and bred different cow families over many years.
AUGUST also saw a visit to James Berry’s Cathedral herd which has done extremely well in Herd competitions ,in 2010 being reserve best large herd in the South West .We were shown two cow groups one with seven bull calves ,the other with ten heifers, all born in the spring. Five 2010 heifers looked tremendous including Cathedral Bonnie and Bluebell shown successfully in the summer, then two in calf heifers, Adelaide and Annabel ,completed the picture. Everyone then took an opportunity to visit the famous Gwennap Pit which is close to the Berry’s land. The day , and the wonderful homemade pasties, was much enjoyed by all. Much thanks to James and Centa for their generous hospitality.
SEPTEMBER means club trip . This year we stayed in England and went off on a train, then 2 hire cars, to visit herds in the South East. ,As always, it was memorable ! We saw some wonderful cattle, (also many ducks!!) met lovely people whose hospitality was terrific, got lost a few times and laughed till our sides hurt. I think the customary ditty sums it up. Thank you so much to our excellent hosts.
Poem;’The only Way Is Essex’
Our Herd Competition which took place in September was judged by Matthew Harris . Sixteen members took part and Matthew said he was impressed with the quality of the Herds before him . It is a credit to our members that they are all keen to have a go in the herd competition and I am sure that the judges remarks are a great help, keen competition is a great motivator.
2011 Herd Competition Results;
In OCTOBER club members turned out in force to the brand new ‘Cornwall Pedigree Calf Show’ at the Royal Cornwall Showground. The line up of more than 20 Simmentals was a sight to be proud of, and the standard of calves really impressive. The Gummows’ Killiworgie Commander,by Lakside Warrior, being Champion Simmental and Overall Reserve Champion Continental calf. This event, as it was a great success with over 100 calves of all breeds shown, will now become an annual event which is a chance for breeders to show off their stock and prepare some for the next showing season.
NOVEMBER is AGM time. Our meeting was a short affair well attended, with members coming up with some good ideas about encouraging young members. It was decided to update our web site and that Caroline Hawkey would collate and pass on to Neil all good market prices and comparisons from our local markets proving how well some members are doing commercially. After Herd Competition prize giving we were entertained by Julian Ellis who gave a talk on ‘Farming by the moon’. This was a fascinating subject and quite thought provoking.
So that’s it ,another year gone, now looking forward to the next one and all the ‘ups and downs’ of breeding cattle we all experience.
Penny Lally (chaiman)