BACKMUIR SIMMENTAL WINS SENIOR INTERBREED AT STARS OF THE FUTURE CALF SHOW!

• Annick Lucia’s Nicosia wins Simmental Senior Championship and Overall Senior Interbreed
• Islavale Peaches wins Simmental Junior Championship
• Finlay Soutter wins Senior Young Handler Championship

It’s a massive well done to Reece & Andrew Simmers, Backmuir Farm, Keith, Banffshire, who won the Simmental Overall Senior Championship before going on to win the Overall Senior Interbreed with their heifer calf Annick Lucia’s Nicosia (P) at the high-profile Stars of the Future Calf Show held at United Auctions, Stirling on Saturday 11th November.

September 2022 born, Annick Lucia’s Nicosia (P) is the first calf out of Annick Ginger’s Lucia who was purchased for 16,000gns last year at the Annick Herd Dispersal Sale and who won the Overall Simmental Championship at this year’s Royal Highland Show with Annick Lucia’s Nicosia (P), at foot. Annick Lucia’s Nicosia is sired by the heterozygous polled bull Kilbride Farm Karl (P).

Having been awarded the Simmental Senior Female and Overall Senior Championship by the judge Neil McIlwaine of the Corrick herd, Newtonstewart, Co Tyrone, Annick Lucia’s Nicosia (P) then ‘doubled-up’ the Championship titles when getting the Senior Interbreed Championship nod from the judge Teresa Wilson, the well-known Chief Cattle Steward at the Royal Welsh Show. It was another top showing day for the Backmuir herd who in addition to their Overall Senior Championship and Overall Senior Interbreed titles, also went on to win Reserve Junior Female; Reserve Junior Overall; and Junior Male Champion.

Commenting on his Senior Female Champion the judge Neil McIlwaine said: “This was a beautifully balanced heifer and just full of breed character. She had tremendous length and width, with a great top, and correctness right through her. A really sweet heifer, she exemplified all the traits you would look for in the Simmental breed.”

With the Simmental Championships split into two sections, the Junior Simmental Female and Overall Junior Champion came in the shape of Islavale Peaches, from the prolific Islavale herd of Mr WS Stronach, Berryleys Farm, Grange, Keith. Entirely homebred, this April 2023 born calf is by Islavale Lucifer 20 EX93 and is out of Islavale Honeypot VG 86, the mother of the 10,000gns Islavale Lord. Islavale Peaches now heads to the Simmental Next Generation III Sale of Females & Weaned Calves at Borderway Mart, Carlisle on Friday 1st December. Strong supporters of Stars of the Future, this is the second year in a row that Islavale have won the Simmental Junior and Junior Female Championships at this event.

Of his Junior Female Champion, Neil McIlwaine said: “Another tremendous Simmental heifer and one of the youngest on the day. Again she had super length and conformation, moved out extremely well, and was very stylish. Certainly a young heifer with a big future ahead of her.” Speaking generally of the day, Neil went on to say: “I was delighted to judge at Stars of the Future and it was a super show of Simmentals giving a tremendous representation of the breed. There was a consistency throughout the classes which is a great credit to the exhibitors.”

Back in the Simmental Senior Females, the Reserve Senior Female came in the shape of the November 2022 born Delfur Nifty from Delfur Farms, Rothes, Aberlour. At the end of October, this heifer calf had won the Simmental Championship at the Simmental Youngstock Show held within the Borderway Agri Expo at Carlisle. Delfur Nifty is by Ballymoney Larry, a Saltire Impressive son, and is out of Delfur Joyful, an Islavale Cassius daughter. Another Ballymoney Larry daughter, Delfur Weigela N12, who was Reserve Overall to Nifty at Carlisle, won Class Four at Stars of the Future.

Winning the Senior Male Championship was Islavale Novak and another from the Stronach family. October 2022 born, Novak is by Coose Lincoln and is out of the young cow Islavale Jazz. At the recent Stirling Bull Sale the Islavale herd sold the first Coose Lincoln sons at sale to a top of 13,000gns, 12,000gns, and 11,000gns respectively. Islavale Novak will now be provisionally aimed at the February 2024 Stirling Bull Sale.

Taking the Senior Male Reserve Championship was the entirely homebred Chestermann Neymar from N&N Gwynne, Castlewigg Farm, Newton Stewart. Winner of the day’s opening class, the July 2022 born Chestermann Neymar is sired by Chestermann Gibble, a Lisglass Domino son, and is out of Chestermann Ringleader Tracey 10 EX91. Chestermann Neymar is another young bull provisionally heading to Stirling in February next year.

The Reserve Junior Female and Reserve Overall Junior Champion was another from the Backmuir herd and this time Backmuir Ginger’s Paprika (P). February 2023 born this calf is out of Annick Colleen’s Ginger who was purchased with her then calf at foot for 23,000gns at the aforementioned Annick Herd Dispersal Sale, a breed record for a cow and calf unit. Backmuir Ginger’s Paprika (P) is another by Kilbride Farm Karl (P), the same sire as the herd’s Overall Senior Interbreed Champion. Rounding off the Backmuir herds’ day was the bull calf Backmuir Pegasus who won Class Six before going on to take the Junior Male Championship. Another calf just full of breeding behind him, Backmuir Pegasus is an AI calf got by the well-known Atlow Dixon 12 EX91, and is out of Brandane Lu Lu who the Simmers purchased for a centre breed record price of 18,000gns at the Next Generation II Sale held last December in Carlisle.

The Reserve Junior Male title went to the January 2023 born Overhill House Patrick from Richard McCulloch, Armadale, West Lothian and with this calf initially placing second in his class to Backmuir Pegasus. Overhill House Patrick is by Corskie Lambe 20, a Kilbride Farm Haka son, and is out of Overhill House Italia, a Curaheen Drifter (P) daughter.

Adding to what’s been quite a stellar year for him to date, Finlay Soutter, Yew Tree Farm, Ashby De La Zouch, Leicestershire won the Stars of the Future Senior Young Handler Championship and whilst showing a Simmental heifer from the Blackford herd of Anne MacPherson, Croy, Inverness, which Finlay had helped to halter break on-farm. This latest win follows on from high profile Young Handler Championships secured earlier in the year at both the Royal Norfolk and Royal Welsh Shows respectively. Finlay also enjoyed multiple summer wins with his heifer Brandane Millie including the Simmental Breed Championship at the Royal Welsh and where he also placed Overall Reserve Supreme in the Individual Interbreed.

SIMMENTAL CLASS RESULTS & CHAMPIONSHIPS AT 2023 STARS OF THE FUTURE CALF SHOW
Judge: Neil McIlwaine, Corrick Simmental Herd, Newtonstewart, Co Tyrone.

Class 1 – Senior Males born on or between 15 July & 7 October 2022
1st – Lot 359: N & N Gwynne – CHESTERMANN NEYMAR – s. Chestermann Gibble
2nd – Lot 360: J C Mclaren & Partners – DARGILL NEIL (P) – s. Corskie Journal (PP)
3rd – Lot 363: J C Mclaren & Partners – DARGILL NAPLES (P) – s. Highcross Larry (PP)

Class 2 – Senior Males born on or between 26 October & 17 November 2022
1st – Lot 365: Mr W S Stronach – ISLAVALE NOVAK – s. Coose Lincoln
2nd – Lot 369: J & E Dyet – MERKLAND NELSON – s. Merkland Infinity

Class 3 – Senior Females born on or between 3 July to 12 September 2022
1st – Lot 374: Reece & Andrew Simmers – ANNICK LUCIA’S NICOSIA (P) – s. Kilbride Farm Karl (P)
2nd – Lot 373: W G Macpherson (A Firm) – BLACKFORD NADIA – s. Glenturk Legend
3rd – Lot 375: Frank Gwynne – CASTLEWIGG RINGLEADER GIRLIE – s. Blackford Ringleader
4th – Lot 370: Gavin Brown – SPRINGFIELD NEXT GENERATION – s. Islavale Jabba
Class 4 – Senior Females born on or between 1 October to 5 November 2022
1st – Lot 379: Delfur Farms – DELFUR WEIGELA N12 – s. Ballymoney Larry
2nd – Lot 380: Mr W S Stronach – ISLAVALE ASHLEY 9 – s. Coose Lincoln
3rd – Lot 376: Andrew J Wilson – CHESTERMANN EMPIRE NONNE 4 – s. Sterling Empire
4th – Lot 378: Andrew J Wilson – CAIRNVIEW REA 8 (P) – s. Slievenagh International (PP)

Class 5 – Senior Females born on or between 7 November to 25 December 2022
1st – Lot 384: Delfur Farms – DELFUR NIFTY – s. Ballymoney Larry
2nd – Lot 387: Reece & Andrew Simmers – BACKMUIR NAUGHTY SPICE – s. Backmuir King
3rd – Lot 388: Reece & Andrew Simmers – BACKMUIR VIVA’S NUTCRACKER – s. Skerrington Gambler

Senior Male Champion
Lot 365: Mr W S Stronach – ISLAVALE NOVAK – s. Coose Lincoln

Reserve Senior Male Champion
Lot 359: N & N Gwynne – CHESTERMANN NEYMAR – s. Chestermann Gibble

Senior Female Champion
Lot 374: Reece & Andrew Simmers – ANNICK LUCIA’S NICOSIA (P)– s. Kilbride Farm Karl

Reserve Senior Female Champion
Lot 384: Delfur Farms – DELFUR NIFTY – s. Ballymoney Larry

Senior Overall Champion
Lot 374: Reece & Andrew Simmers – ANNICK LUCIA’S NICOSIA (P) – s. Kilbride Farm Karl

Reserve Overall Champion
Lot 365: Mr W S Stronach – ISLAVALE NOVAK – s. Coose Lincoln

Class 6 – Junior Males born on or between 22 January & 26 March 2023
1st – Lot 390: Reece & Andrew Simmers – BACKMUIR PEGASUS – s. Atlow Dixon
2nd – Lot 391: Richard McCulloch – OVERHILL HOUSE PATRICK – s. Corskie Lambe
3rd – Lot 393: Mr W S Stronach – ISLAVALE PRESIDENT – s. Curaheen Giant

Class 7 – Junior Males born on or between 1 April & 29 May 2023
1st – Lot 394: Cameron MacIver – COLTFIELD PRINCIPAL – s. Wolfstar Loose Cannon
2nd – Lot 398: Gavin Brown – SPRINGFIELD PRIME – s. Islavale Jabba

Class 8 – Junior Females born on or between 24 January & 21 March 2023
1st – Lot 401: Reece & Andrew Simmers – BACKMUIR GINGER’S PAPRIKA (P) – s. Kilbride Farm Karl (P)
2nd – Lot 404: Cameron MacIver – COLTFIELD PANDORA – s. Wolfstar Loose Cannon
3rd – Lot 400: Frank Gwynne – CASTLEWIGG EMPIRE STELLA 3 – s. Sterling Empire
4th – Lot 399: Dean Saunders – MAIDENLANDS POLARINE 4 P – s. Derrycallaghan Kingkong

Class 9 – Junior Females born on or between 5 April & 15 June 2023
1st – Lot 407: Mr W S Stronach – ISLAVALE PEACHES – s. Islavale Lucifer
2nd – Lot 406: J C Maclean & Partners – DARGILL P-NUT (P) – Highcross Larry (PP)
3rd – Lot 408: J & E Dyet – MERKLAND PETULA – s. Merkland Jimmy

Junior Male Champion
Lot 390 – Reece & Andrew Simmers – BACKMUIR PEGASUS – s. Atlow Dixon

Reserve Junior Male Champion
Lot 391 – Richard McCulloch – OVERHILL HOUSE PATRICK – s. Corskie Lambe

Junior Female Champion
Lot 407 – Mr W S Stronach – ISLAVALE PEACHES – s. Islavale Lucifer

Reserve Junior Female Champion
Lot 401: Reece & Andrew Simmers – BACKMUIR GINGER’S PAPRIKA (P) – s. Kilbride Farm Karl (P)

Junior Overall Champion
Lot 407- Mr W S Stronach – ISLAVALE PEACHES – s. Islavale Lucifer

Reserve Overall Champion
Lot 401 – Reece & Andrew Simmers – BACKMUIR GINGER’S PAPRIKA (P) – s. Kilbride Farm Karl (P)