by Nicky Moreton | Aug 30, 2024 | 2024 Scottish News, 2024 News, 2024
- October 2022 born heifer Delfur Weigela N12 wins Overall Supreme Champion
- Newbiemains Prague places Overall Reserve
- 2024 competition sees 457 entries, up by 26 on the year, over six classes
Delfur Weigela N12, the October 2022 born heifer from Delfur Farms, Rothes, Aberlour is this year’s winner of the 2024 British Simmental Virtual Show. The fifth staging of this event, which has become the UK’s largest online pedigree show, saw 457 animals entered over six classes and from 87 breeders around the country.
Doing it the ‘hard way’, Delfur Weigela N12 initially came through the year’s largest class of 134 entries, for heifers born between 1st January 2022 and 31st July 2023, which was judged by Adrian Ivory of the Strathisla herd, Blairgowrie before securing the Female Championship from Anne MacPherson of the Blackford herd, Croy.
This year’s Overall Supreme Championship was judged by the British Simmental Cattle Society’s President Norman Robson of the Kilbride Farm herd, Ballyclare and saw Delfur Weigela N12 get the nod in front of the Male Champion, the February 2023 born Newbiemains Prague from Jim and Patricia Goldie, Newbie Mains Farm, Annan.
Commenting on his Champion, Normon Robson said: “This is a really well balanced female. She has a level top line, is very clean, shows a tremendous back end without being over muscly, and has a good tail setting. With plenty of femininity, she shows natural fleshing, and sound, correct feet and legs. I think she’s a very worthy Champion and is the type of high quality heifer that epitomizes the ongoing strides of improvement that Simmental breeders have been making over a number of years.”
Hearing the news of this Championship win just prior to the public announcement, Delfur herd manager Garry Patterson said: “I’m absolutely over the moon to hear that Delfur Weigela has won the 2024 Simmental Virtual Show! We were really delighted to win what was a huge class and with Delfur Nifty also taking second place. It’s been a terrific competition with a very high standard throughout, and just a great advert for the Simmental breed. Of Delfur Weigela N12, Garry went on to say, “Along with Delfur Nifty, Weigela has done really well at the backend shows last year and through this summer and has just continued to improve and come on. In shaping and developing the Delfur herd these are the type and quality of heifers we hope to continue to breed and build around.” Delfur Weigela N12, who is by Ballymoney Larry 20, and out of Delfur Weigela E12, an Auchorachan ACDC 09 9 daughter, has been served by the herd stock bull Islavale Magnum which was purchased for 28,000gns at Stirling in October 2022.
Of the ongoing popularity of the Simmental Virtual Show, Iain Kerr the British Simmental Cattle Society General Manager said: “First and foremost it’s a huge thank you to all of the breeders who have had a go and put forward entries for this year’s competition. Over 450 animals from 87 breeders is just terrific and the standard throughout reflects extremely well on the depth of quality within the Simmental herdbook. The competition is proving to be extremely popular with breeders and gives them an opportunity to come together, have a bit of fun and compete on a national level. From the numbers of people watching week on week, both in the UK and internationally, it really is a great promotional showcase for British Simmental and we’ve again had some terrific feedback. Plans are already underway for the 2025 competition!”
All of this year’s classes, entries, and videos can be viewed on the Society’s Facebook page.
by Nicky Moreton | Aug 15, 2024 | 2024 Virtual Show
It’s the turn of the big boys for this week’s ‘Big Reveal’ and the results for Class Five of the 2024 Simmental Virtual Show, for Bull born before 1st January 2022.
Once again we’ve had another top entry of 26 for this class and featuring bulls with plenty of length, good lines, and a natural power to them.
It’s been a terrific standard of competition this year throughout the Virtual Show and Class Five has very much continued that trend. Once again a huge thank you to everyone who supported this class!
BACKMUIR KING 19
Taking the top place in this class is Backmuir King from Reece & Andrew Simmers, Backmuir Farm, Keith, Banffshire This upstanding five-year-old bull is by Islavale Hamilton and is out of Starline Olivia 27th. Well known to the show ring, and amongst a host of titles, Backmuir King was the Male Champion at the 2023 Royal Highland Show. It’s been quite a week for the Simmers who on Monday won a high quality 2024 Simmental Scottish National Show along with the Overall Individual Interbreed, at Turriff Show. For good measure Backmuir King stood second in his class there to the Male Champion!
Judging this week’s class was Helen Searle of the noted Guiltcross herd at Kenninghall, Norwich, and who is also Chair of the East Anglian Simmental Club. Here are Helen’s placings for first to eighth:
1st Backmuir King
2nd Blackford Mars 21 EX93
3rd Rathnashan Kellog’s (ET) (P) EX94
4th Kilbride Farm Jetstream 18 (P)
5th Ranfurly Impeccable 14 17 (ET) EX94
6th Hiltonstown Lachlan 20
7th Wolfstar Jimmy Choo 18
8th Islavale Jammydodger 18 EX93
BLACKFORD MARS 21
RATHNASHAN KELLOGG’S (ET) (P)
KILBRIDE FARM JETSTREAM 18 (P)
RANFURLY IMPECCABLE I4 17
HILTONSTOWN LACHLAN 20
WOLFSTAR JIMMY CHOO 18
ISLAVALE JAMMYDODGER
It’s a big thank you to Helen for judging and please see her short video here with comments on Class Five. We’re loving the judge’s videos this year as well and the quality and ‘oh so quiet’ Simmentals featuring in the background of many!
by Nicky Moreton | Aug 8, 2024 | 2024 Young Members News, 2024 Northern Ireland News, 2024 News, 2024
• Finals held within Simmental Young Members Weekend in Northern Ireland
• 48 competitors take part with teams from seven UK regions, plus RoI
• NI’s Martin Cunningham, and Erin Nelson win Senior, and Junior Individual titles.
• North East (England), and East Anglian Clubs win Senior, and Junior Team titles
• Master judge was Iain Green of the Corskie herd
The Northern Ireland Simmental Cattle Breeders Club hosted the British Simmental Cattle Society Young Members UK stock judging finals on Friday 26th July. The finals formed part of an extended British Simmental Young Members Weekend that comprised of the stock judging competition; further herd visits; and attendance at the NI Simmental National Show held within Antrim Show.
Some forty eight young members from seven regions across Scotland, England, and Wales, with visitors also from the Irish Simmental Cattle Breeders Club, travelled to Northern Ireland to compete in this fun and prestigious competition.
The stock judging finals were held at Kilbride Farm, Doagh, home of WH Robson and Family and the Kilbride Farm Simmental herd and with there being four classes to be assessed by the young judges, followed by giving reasons. The four classes were:
Class 1: Young Bulls
Class 2: Dry Cows
Class 3: In-calf Heifers
Class 4: Young Heifers
There were 48 competitors across three categories: Under 21 (Junior), 21-30 (Senior) and the same for international guests. All judges competed as individuals but were also paired with another judge within their age category and their scores were combined as an overall team result. There was an open competition for other competitors and family members which was also highly contested.
Master Judge for the event was Iain Green of Corskie Simmentals, Garmouth. His role involved adjudicating the reasoning element for all 48 young judges along with timekeeper, Shane McDonald.
In addition to the stock judging competition, judges and visitors enjoyed a farm tour around the Kilbride Farm Simmental Herd where there was an impressive show of young bulls, breeding females and young stock. The afternoon was followed by an evening of socialising and a hog roast before the announcement of results.
Senior Individual
1st Place – Martin Cunningham, Belfast
Overall and Senior winner Martin Cunningham with Iain Green
2nd Place – Katie Boyes, Yorkshire
3rd Place – Holly Lutkin, East Anglia
Junior Individual
1st Place – Erin Nelson, Rosslea
Junior winner Erin Nelson with Judge Iain Green
2nd Place – Chloe Cade, East Anglia
3rd Place – Callum Leedham, North Yorkshire
Senior Team
1st Place – Katie Boyes and Alex Bulmer (North East Simmental Cattle Breeders Club)
Senior Team winners Katie Boyes and Alex Bulmer with Judge Iain Green
2nd Place – Holly Lutkin and Daisy Jones (East Anglia Simmental Cattle Breeders Club)
3rd Place – Martin Cunningham and Kyra Parke (NI Simmental Cattle Breeders Club)
Junior Team
1st Place – Isabelle Markham and Chloe Cade (East Anglia Simmental Cattle Breeders Club)
Junior Team winners Isabelle Markham and Chloe Cade with Judge Iain Green
2nd Place – Erin Nelson and Molly Bradley (NI Simmental Cattle Breeders Club)
3rd Place – Emma Stronach and Aimee Stronach (Scottish Simmental Cattle Breeders Club)
International Senior Individual
1st Place – Cian Connolly, Leitrim
International Senior winner Cian Connolly with Judge Iain Green
2nd Place – Eilish Gill, Mayo
3rd Place – Jamie Reape, Mayo
Individual Junior Individual
1st Place – Jimmy Neeham, Cork
International Junior winner Jimmy Needham with Judge Iain Green
2nd Place – Bridin Needham, Cork
International Teams
1st Place – Cian Connolly and Jamie Reape (Western Simmental Club)
2nd Place – Conor Maher and Eilish Gill (Western Simmental Club)
3rd Place – Cian Martin and Eoghan Coogan (Southern Simmental Club)
Open Competition
1st Place – Timothy Hamilton
2nd Place – Fiona Sutherland
3rd Place – Sarah Jane Young
The young members attended Antrim Show for the 2024 Simmental National Show on Saturday 27th July where there was a superb lineup of Simmentals on the day. Several NI young members were involved in showing animals as well as participating in the Young Handlers competition. In the 8-12 years old category, Lewis Dodd was placed first, Timothy Rainey placed second and Danny Clarke placed third. In the 13-18 years old category, Jamie Dodd placed first and Rhys Rodgers was placed second.
Following this, the young members travelled to the Hiltonstown Herd of Richard and Rhys Rodgers, Portglenone. The visitors were taken on a farm tour, with viewing of excellent breeding stock before a barbeque and socialising in the evening.
On Sunday 28th July, the young members travelled to Newry to visit the Ballinalare Farm herd of Joe and Alan Wilson. Visitors were also given a farm tour which includes several animals to be featured in their upcoming export sale on 7th September. There are to be approximately 25 animals within in this catalogue including full embryo siblings to the unbeaten Ballinalare Farm Nikita and the 28,000 gns Banhill Farm Masterpiece.
The Northern Ireland Simmental Club extends it’s sincere thanks to all host farms for their organisation, hospitality and generosity to making the weekend a huge success. “All farms and Simmental herd visits were a credit to the families involved and testament to their dedication to the Simmental breed”, Irish Simmental Cattle Society.
Also, thanks to Master Judge, Iain Green, for sharing his expertise and adjudicating the event as well as to all young members, family members and visitors for attending all events and supporting the club.
by Nicky Moreton | Aug 7, 2024 | 2024 Scottish News, 2024 News, 2024, 2024 National Shows
- Annick Ginger’s Lucia Wins Simmental Overall Supreme and Individual Interbreed
- Corskie Puma 23 (P) Wins Overall Simmental Junior, and Junior Interbreed
- Simmental Pairs and Group of Three Win Reserve Interbreed Titles
- Pitgaveny win Male Championship
- Pitmudie take Junior Female Championship
The rain stopped and the sun came out to shine on a fantastic 2024 Simmental Scottish National Show held within Turriff Show, The Haughs, on Monday 5th August. At what was the largest Simmental entry in the summer show year to date, the quality through the classes, both male and female, held the attention of what was a large ringside crowd and huge online audience.
Overall Champion Annick Ginger’s Lucia
After some three and a half hours of judging it proved to be another trophy laden day for Reece & Andrew Simmers, Backmuir Farm, Keith, Banffshire, who won the Simmental Overall Supreme Championship with Annick Ginger’s Lucia, before moving on in the afternoon to win Turriff’s Overall Individual Interbreed Championship. This 2020 born cow, in calf to Backmuir King, was shown with her bull calf Backmuir Pompeii at foot, sired by Backmuir Marksman. Presiding over this year’s Simmental classes was Dorothy Moffatt of the noted and long-standing Innerwick herd at Dunbar, East Lothian, whilst the well-known Drew Hyslop, Girvan, Ayrshire, was the man in the middle for the Individual Interbreed.
Bred by the late Lachlan Quarm, Holehouse Farm, By Irvine, Ayrshire, Annick Ginger’s Lucia was bought at the Annick herd’s Dispersal Sale in September 2022 for 16,000gns, and in a summer that had seen her place Reserve Supreme Champion, to the Backmuir herd, at the Royal Highland. Since joining the Backmuir herd, Annick Ginger’s Lucia has just continued to blossom and enjoy a glittering show career. The Overall Simmental Supreme Championship has been won in back to back years at the Royal Highland, and this summer Annick Ginger’s Lucia became the first Simmental to win the Overall Individual Interbreed at the Highland since 1995. The titles at Turriff saw Annick Ginger’s Lucia do Scotland’s 2024 Simmental ‘golden double’ of Championship & Interbreed at both the Highland, and the Simmental Scottish National/Turriff Show. A truly fantastic achievement!
Judge Dorothy Moffat
Commenting on her Overall Champion, Dorothy Moffatt said: “My Champion is a perfect young Simmental cow who is very feminine, full of character, and a great example of the breed. She’s long and fleshy, very correct, and rearing a really good big bull calf as well. She’s got all of the attributes I was looking for and is a very strong Champion animal in what was such a super show of Simmentals.” Speaking more generally Dororthy Moffatt went on to say: “I’d like to congratulate the Simmental exhibitors for the tremendous cattle they brough out today which also made it hugely enjoyable, and at the same time challenging, for me to judge. The standard was so high through both the bulls and females and deep into all of the classes. The breed really keeps progressing and with the animals today of such quality, and with so much potential, you can see why there’s such a growing momentum for Simmental cattle.”
So to the Champions, and this latest win sealed another fantastic summer, and the second time in three years that the Backmuir herd has won the double of Overall Simmental Championship at both the Highland and Scottish National, with Islavale Lullaby winning both titles in 2022. Of this latest win at Turriff, Reece Simmers said: “We’re really thrilled and delighted to win here and also with the year Annick Ginger’s Lucia has had. We said at the Highland that she’s just matured and continued to improve and she’s had to as the competition has just been so strong. I think today is the highest quality show of Simmentals that we’ve competed in to date and it was a real spectacle for everybody watching. It’s been a great year and we’re very honoured to have won these prestigious titles.”
By way of summary, on the day Annick Ginger’s Lucia won the Simmental Overall, Female, and Senior Female titles before picking up the Individual Interbreed Title, and taking Reserve in the Interbreed Pairs with Islavale Kristoff from Pitgaveny Farms. In a further footnote, Backmuir also won the Simmental Championship at last year’s Turriff Show with Brandane Lulu.
With some real heavyweight shoot outs right from the get-go, Annick Ginger’s Lucia firstly won a class of six Senior Female Cows and where the rising seven year old Corskie Illusion EX93 from WJ&J Green, Corskie, Garmouth, Fochabers placed second. In the previous week this cow, by Auchorachan Farmer 14, and out of Corskie Champagne EX91had been Simmental Champion, Champion of Champions, and featured in the winning Interbreed Pairs, and Group of Three at the Black Isle Show. The Black Isle marked this cow’s first show outing since she was Junior Female Champion at the 2019 Royal Highland.
Reserve Supreme Championship, and Reserve Female Overall Delfur Nifty
Lifting the Reserve Supreme Championship, and Reserve Female Overall title at Turriff was the prolific heifer Delfur Nifty from Delfur Farms, Rothes, Aberlour, and shown by herd manager Garry Patterson. November 2022 born heifer, Delfur Nifty is by Ballymoney Larry, a Saltire Impressive son, and is out of Delfur Joyful, an Islavale Cassius daughter. This heifer is another multi title winner and who cornered a little bit of breed history this year when she became the first Simmental to win the Overall Junior Interbreed at the Royal Highland. At the same show she featured in the Reserve Interbreed Pair, and also in the Reserve Interbreed Team of Four. Of her Scottish Simmental National Reserve Overall, Dorothy Moffatt commented: “This is a very sweet young heifer who will grow into a great cow. She has length, width, is very good on her legs, and has plenty of eye-catching style.” Delfur Nifty has been racking up prizes, titles, and interbreeds since last year as a calf and including such as Simmental Youngstock Show at Borderway Agri Expo; LiveScot; Stars of the Future; and from their through to this summer.
Male Champion Islavale Kristoff
Kicking off the day as the rain cleared was the fantastic sight of five senior bulls in the first class, and it was from here that the day’s Male Champion appeared in the shape of Islavale Kristoff 19 EX92 from Pitgaveny Farm, Elgin, Moray and shown by Pitgaveny herd manager Geoff Anderson. By Corskie Highlander 16 EX93, and out of Islavale Ethel EX91, this April 2019 bull bred by WS Stronach, Berryleys Farm, Keith, was purchased for 14,000gns at Stirling in October 2020. Of her Male Champion the judge Dorothy Moffatt said: “This is a big, strong, powerful Simmental bull with tremendous width and depth, and all the qualities to be a top stock sire.” Later in the afternoon, Islavale Kristoff 19 EX92 teamed up with Annick Ginger’s Lucia to win the Reserve Interbreed Pairs. The Pitgaveny herd comprises of some 180 Simmental cows, with 15 pedigrees within that number.
Reserve Male Champion Backmuir King
Placing second in this class and following through to be Reserve Male Champion was another from the Backmuir team and in the form of the homebred Backmuir King. This upstanding five-year-old bull is by Islavale Hamilton and is out of Starline Olivia 27th. Again with a little track record behind him, Backmuir King was the Male Champion at last year’s Royal Highland Show, the herd’s top award to date for a homebred animal, and with his first progeny at Stirling already selling to the five figure mark in October 2023.
Overall Junior and Junior Male, Corskie Puma 23 (P)
It seems to have been a summer of ‘Simmental doubles’ and another one was confirmed when Corskie Puma 23 (P), from the Green family, won a hatful of Simmental titles including Overall Junior, and Junior Male. This classy young January 2023 born bull is by Rathnashan Kellogg’s (ET) (P) EX94, and is out of Corskie Kit, an Auchorachan Farmer daughter. In his first show outing, at this year’s Royal Highland, he also won the Reserve Male Championship, and Junior Male Championship titles. At the aforementioned Black Isle Show last week, this bull was Male Champion and part of the Greens Interbreed winning team of three, whilst at Turriff Show he rounded off his day by winning the Junior Interbreed title! Corskie Puma 23 (P) will now be aimed at the Stirling October Bull Sale and will be joined there by his stablemate Corskie Power, a Rathnashan Magnum son, who was second in his class to the Overall Reserve Junior, at the Scottish National.
Junior Female Champion, Pitmudie Primrose
Reserve Overall Junior Champion, and Reserve Junior Male Champion Pitmudie Princeton
Another shining light was the top team of cattle from the Pitmudie herd of Heather Duff, Pitmudie Farm, Menmuir, By Brechin. On the day Pitmudie cattle won the Junior Female Championship, the Reserve Junior Male, Reserve Overall Junior Championship, and the Pairs! Taking the Junior Female Championship was the April 2023 born Pitmudie Primrose. This heifer is by the stock bull Hiltonstown Irish 17 and is out Pitmudie Irish Moss who herself is a twin out of a Delfur female. Standing as Reserve Overall Junior Champion, and Reserve Junior Male Champion was the stylish young bull Pitmudie Princeton. Also April 2023 born, Pitmudie Princeton is another by Hiltonstown Irish 17, and is out of Pitmudie Babe from the noted Manor Park Babe line. At this year’s Royal Highland Show, this ‘correct young bull with muscle, length, breed character, and good on his legs’, won the Reserve Beefbreeder Interbreed title. Commenting generally, Heather Duff said: “We are delighted to win these titles and given the standard within the classes which were a terrific advert for the breed. At home there are now 50 breeding females in the Pitmudie herd. The stock bulls are breeding well within and we’re pleased with the general progress and development of the herd.” The sire of these two animals, Hiltonstown Irish 17, was purchased at Stirling in October 2018 for 8500gns. In one of the last classes of the day, Pitmudie Princeton 23 teamed up with the March 2023 born Pitmudie Pitcairn, a Springfield Legacy son, to win the Simmental Pairs class. Both of these Pitmudie bulls will now be heading to the Stirling Bull sale in October.
Reserve Junior Female Champion Corskie P-Enna
Standing in the Reserve Junior Female Champion position was another from the prolific Corskie team and this time the first prize winner Corskie P-enna. January 2023 born, Corskie P-enna is by Rathnashan Kellogg’s (ET) (P) EX94, the same sire as the herd’s Junior Champion, and is out of Corskie Iam-enna, a Dirnanean Bradley 10 EX93 daughter. Rounding off another top day, the Corskie herd also won the Simmental Group of Three, with the team comprising of Corskie Puma (P); Corskie Illusion; and Corskie P-enna.
Overall Championship Line Up
Scottish National Simmental Show, within Turriff Show – Monday 5th August, 2024
Judge: Mrs Dorothy Moffat, Innerwick Herd, Dunbar
Class 1 Senior Bull born before 31st December 2022
1st Pitgaveny Farms Islavale Kristoff 19
2nd R & A Simmers Backmuir King 19
3rd D & R Durno Coose Nelson (P)
4th Declan Whyte Newton House Ninja 22
Class 2 Junior Male Bull born between 1st January 2023 and 31st March 2023
1st W J & J Green Corskie Puma 23 (P)
2nd R & A Simmers Backmuir Pegasus 23
3rd Heather Duff Pitmudie Pitcairn 23
4th J C MacIver Coltfield Peter 23
Class 3 Junior Male Bull born between 1st April 2023 and 31st July 2023
1st Heather Duff Pitmudie Princeton 23
2nd W J & J Green Corskie Power 23
3rd R & A Simmers Backmuir Pluto 23
4th Gavin Brown Springfield Pelle 23
Class 4 Junior Male Bull born between 1st August 2023 and 31st December 2023
1st W J & J Green Corskie Plasma 23
2nd W J & J Green Corskie Pepsi 23
3rd Gary & Angela Christie Rockytop Panache 23
Corskie Plasma
Class 5 Senior Female Cow born on or before 31st July 2021
1st R & A Simmers Annick Ginger’s Lucia
2nd W J & J Green Corskie Illusion
3rd J C MacIver Coltfield Katie
4th R & A Simmers Brandane Lu Lu
Class 7 Senior Female Heifer born between 1st April 2022 and 31st December 2022
1st Delfur Farms Delfur Nifty
2nd Laura Green Garmouth Fame’s Nicole
3rd R & A Simmers Backmuir Kenzie’s Nespresso
4th Ryan Smith Overhill House Neva
Class 8 Junior Female Heifer born between 1st January 2023 and 31st March 2023
1st W J & J Green Corskie P-Enna
2nd Heather Duff Pitmudie Pandora (P)
3rd R & A Simmers Backmuir Ginger’s Paprika (P)
4th Pitgaveny Farms Pitgaveny Pepsi
Class 9 Junior Female Heifer born between 1st April 2023 and 31st July 2023
1st Heather Duff Pitmudie Primrose
2nd W J & J Green Corskie Private Eyes
3rd Heather Duff Pitmudie Paloma
Class 10 Junior Female Heifer born between 1st August 2023 and 31st December 2023
1st J C MacIver Coltfield Perfect
2nd Gary & Angela Christie Rockytop Faye’s Poppet
3rd W J & J Green Corskie Pastel
4th Gavin Brown Springfield Pippa
Coltfield Perfect
Class 11 Calf born after 1st January 2024
1st R & A Simmers Backmuir Lu Lu’s Rosalu
Backmuir Lu Lu’s Rosalu
Class 12 Pairs – Any two animals owned by the same exhibitor
1st Heather Duff
2nd R & A Simmers
Overall Champion
Annick Ginger’s Lucia R & A Simmers
Reserve Overall Champion
Delfur Nifty Delfur Farms
Male Champion
Islavale Kristoff 19 Pitgaveny Farms
Reserve Male Champion
Backmuir King 19 R & A Simmers
Female Champion
Annick Ginger’s Lucia R & A Simmers
Reserve Female Champion
Delfur Nifty Delfur Farms
Junior Male Champion
Corskie Puma23 (P) W J & J Green
Reserve Junior Male Champion
Pitmudie Princeton 23 Heather Duff
Junior Female Champion
Pitmudie Primrose Heather Duff
Reserve Junior Female Champion
Corskie P-Enna W J & J Green
Overall Junior Champion
Corskie Puma 23 (P) W J & J Green
Reserve Overall Junior Champion
Pitmudie Princeton 23 Heather Duff
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