by Nicky Moreton | Dec 12, 2024 | 2024, 2024 East Anglia News, 2024 Scottish News, 2024 News
- Backmuir take Bronze in 2024 Simmental Miss Europe
The results are in and British Simmental genetics are again to the fore in this year’s online 2024 Simmental Championship of Europe, taking silver in the Overall Champion of Europe, and bronze in the Simmental Miss Europe competition.
An increasingly high profile competition, the European Championship is held within the ‘Simmental Champion of the World Competition’ run by the Texas, USA based ‘Simmental Breeder.’
Placing as Overall Reserve Champion of Europe was the January 2023 born Simply Peter Pan, owned by RE & SHW Steggles of the Wacton herd, Honingham, Norfolk, and bred by Mr & Mrs R Fitton, Moss Hall farm, Bolton, Lancashire. January 2023 born, Simply Peter Pan is by Ashland Magic and is out of Derrycallaghan Kitkat (ET). At this year’s Simmental English National Show, held within the Royal Lancashire Show in July, this bull won the Male Championship, Junior Male, and Overall Junior titles in front of judge for the day, Stewart Stronach of the noted Islavale herd, Keith, Banffshire. The bull, the breeding, and his performance caught the eye of fellow exhibitor Sam Steggles, and a deal was done that saw the bull purchased for £11,000. Commenting on this latest accolade, Sam Steggles said: “We were delighted to buy Simply Peter Pan in the summer and he’s settled in to the Wacton herd ever so well. For him to be recognised at an international level and be placed as Reserve European Champion Simmental really is a bit of bonus icing on the cake!”
Meanwhile in the Simmental Miss Europe competition, it was a terrific bronze medal position for the prolific Annick Ginger’s Lucia from Reece & Andrew Simmers, Backmuir Farm, Keith, Banffshire. Annick Ginger’s Lucia bred by the late Lachlan Quarm, Holehouse Farm, By Irvine, Ayrshire, was bought at the Annick herd’s Dispersal Sale in September 2022 for 16,000gns. This February 2020 born heifer Is sired by Wolfstar Golddigger, and is out of Annick Colleen’s Ginger who led the aforementioned sale at 23,000gns. With an amazing show record behind her, Annick Ginger’s Lucia has won back to back Simmental Championships at the Royal Highland, and this year, shown with her bull calf at foot, Backmuir Pompeii by Backmuir Marksman, won the show’s Overall Individual Interbreed title, a first for a Simmental since 1995! For good measure, Ginger’s Lucia also won this year’s Simmental Scottish National Show held within Turriff Show, and also won the show’s Overall Individual Interbreed. Quite a year!
No strangers to these awards, British Simmentals took the Overall Champion of Europe award in both 2023, and 2022, with Islavale Jabba from Gavin Brown, Penicuik, Midlothian, last year, and Drumsleed Legacy 20 from Gerald and Morag Smith, Fordoun, Laurencekirk in 2022.
The Simmental judges for the ‘Champion of Europe’ award consisted of:
Daniel Espinosa (Colombia); Sigi von Lüttwitz (Namibia); Andrew Hughes (England); and Rafael Ramirez (Mexico).
Tremendous achievements by the Wacton, and Backmuir herds and great to see British Simmental featuring again on the international stage.
by Rachel Foley | Aug 13, 2024 | 2024 East Anglia News, 2024 Scottish News, 2024 News, 2024, 2024 North West News
- Simply Peter Pan sold to the Wacton herd of RE & SHW Steggles
- Strathisla Pentagon joins the Denizes herd of MA Barlow & Sons
The importance of the show circuit as a ‘shop window’ for breeders to promote top quality cattle has again been highlighted with the news that two high achieving Simmental bulls through the 2024 summer have been sold in respective private deals.
At the 2024 Simmental English National Show, held within the Royal Lancashire Show, the January 2023 born Simply Peter Pan from Robert, Louise, & Margaret Fitton, Moss Hall Farm, Lostock, Bolton, won the Male Championship, Junior Male, and Overall Junior titles in front of the judge Stewart Stronach of the Islavale Herd in Keith, Banffshire. Seeing this stylish bull at first hand was fellow exhibitor Sam Steggles of the Wacton herd, Fieldings, Honingham, and further to family chats, and discussions, a deal was done with him being sold for £11,000 and joining the Wacton team when heading back to Norfolk following the show!
Simply Peter Pan 23 – Male Champion, Junior Male and Overall Junior Champion, English National Show 2024
Commenting, Sam Steggles said: “We hadn’t gone to the show with the view of buying a bull but we saw Simply Peter Pan being unloaded at the Royal Lancashire and just liked him a lot straight away. He’s a modern Simmental bull with length and shape, very clean, is good on his legs, and has a lot of breed character. There’s proven breeding behind him and he’s got very good performance figures. We’re delighted to get him and excited to see his progeny in due course.” Joining the 50 head Wacton herd, the initial aim is to take some semen from the bull before putting him to a handful of cows in the backend, and with him put to more cows come next Spring having settled in.
Full of Northern Irish breeding, Simply Peter Pan is by Ashland Magic and is out of Derrycallaghan Kitkat (ET) who was bought at three months of age from breeders H C Stubbs & A A Burleigh, Ballindarragh. Kitkat herself was Junior Champion at the Simmental Calf Show in 2019 at Borderway Agri Expo, and with her dam Corskie Vesna being a top breeding female with many of her progeny being sold at Stirling bull sales.
For the ten cow Simply herd it was a terrific couple of days with the Simmental English National Show prizes being the ten-cow herd’s highest awards to date, and followed by a private sale to a pedigree herd. Speaking afterwards Rob Fitton said: “In the run up to, and through the show, we said that we thought this bull is the full package of looks, breeding, and performance. His sire was bought for length, colour, and figures, and his dam is a thick set cow. He’s clean with width, end, and no gut, carries a +9 figure for Maternal (Milk), and is +109 for Self-Replacing Index.” Continuing he went on to say: “We’re over the moon that Simply Peter Pan is going to Sam and his noted Wacton pedigree herd. When a pedigree man comes and buys an animal that you have bred it’s just great and there’s a little added bonus as you know that his name will appear on certificates for years to come. We wish the Steggles family every success with him.”
Come the autumn and Rob Fitton will be taking two half-brothers of Simply Peter Pan to the Stirling Simmental Bull Sale in October.
The second private sale has seen Strathisla Pentagon, from Strathisla Farms, Blairgowrie, Perthshire, head south when selling to the Denizes Herd of MA Barlow & Sons, Near Leyland, Lancashire, and this time for £10,000.
Strathisla Pentagon at the Royal Highland Show 2024
This April 2023 born bull stood first in a strong class at the Royal Highland Show when judged by Michael Durno of the Auchorachan Herd, Glenlivet Ballindalloch. With some breeding connectivity, Strathisla Pentagon is by Denizes Logic 20 VG89, and is out of the Dirnanean Grafter 15 EX93 daughter Strathisla Jitterbug’s Haka VG85.
Commenting on this purchase, John Barlow said: “This bull just caught my eye for the tremendous length he had coupled with his power and weight for age. His sire comes from a strong female line that we obviously know very well, and he’s got some tremendous performance figures behind him. We think he’ll be a good fit with daughters of our primary stock bull Corskie Nutmeg, and we’ve already used him on Denizes Hamish heifers.” Corskie Nutmeg was also purchased privately, following last year’s Royal Highland, for £32,000.
With exceptional performance figures, Strathisla Pentagon is in the breed’s top 1% for both Self Replacing and Terminal Production Indexes, the top 1% for 400 & 600 day growth, top 1% for Eye Muscle, and is +9 for Maternal (Milk).
This is the second Denizes Logic 20 bull that the Strathisla herd have sold privately recently and with a further seven sons, the first crop to be offered at sale, heading to Stirling in October. Of Denizes Logic 20 and this private sale, Strathisla Farm’s Adrian Ivory said: “We’re delighted with Denizes Logic 20 and he’s breeding very consistently and to a type. His progeny have length, shape, are easy fleshing, and with great daily live weight gains from birth. We’re really delighted with the sale of Strathisla Pentagon to a noted herd like Denizes.”
by Rachel Foley | Jul 22, 2024 | 2024 National Shows, 2024, 2024 North West News, 2024 East Anglia News, 2024 Midlands News, 2024 News
Cade Fifi’s Nala also wins Interbreed Continental Champion
Simmentals win Team of Four Interbreed
The outstanding September 2022 born heifer Cade Fifi’s Nala lit up the 2024 Royal Lancashire Show for breeders Paul & Sharrie Cade, Paddock Farm, Buckden, Peterborough, when taking the Overall Supreme Championship at the 2024 Simmental English National Show, before moving on to win the Overall Individual Interbreed Championship of the Royal Lancashire Show, held at Salesbury Hall, Ribchester on 19th – 21st July.
Overall Interbreed and Overall Simmental Champion Cade Fifi’s Nala
With eleven classes having been judged in the allocated ring on Saturday morning, the Simmental first and second prize winners then moved to the show’s main ring to ‘wow’ the big crowds as they paraded, and as the Championship judging played out. Judge for the day was Stewart Stronach of the highly noted Islavale Herd, Berryleys Farm, Keith, and he duly gave the Championship tap to Cade Fifi’s Nala who was expertly shown by the Cade’s daughter, Erin.
Speaking afterwards, Stewart Stronach said of his Champion: “This is just a tremendous heifer. Good in all the right places, she moves well, is easy fleshing, deep in the hip, wide and square, and has real show presence. She’s very much a modern Simmental with no extremes or hard muscling, and will go on to make a beautiful cow.”
Judge Stewart Stronach
Very much backing this judgement up on the show’s closing day, Cade Fifi’s Nala went on to win the Individual Continental Interbreed Championship, before taking the show’s blue riband award when winning the Individual Interbreed Overall Supreme title. For good measure, and a little extra icing on the cake, Cade Fifi’s Nala then joined up with the bull Popes Premier from Jimmy & Vikki Wood, Popes Farm, Preston; and Denizes Melody 52nd, and Denizes Melody 53rd from the Wacton Herd of RE & SHW Steggles, Honingham, Norfolk, to win the Team of Four Interbreed. Judging the interbreeds was the well-known Mary Reynolds, Hampshire.
The Interbreed awards reflected what was a high-quality Simmental English National Show with the judge Stewart Stronach congratulating all of the exhibitors for the standard of animals forward and noting that he had ‘seen Simmentals that I think will be some of the best in the UK today’!
Cade Fifi’s Nala is an ET calf by Sacombe Jameson and out of the noted Sterling Celia’s Fifi, who is owned in a three-way split by the Cades along with the Brandane herd of Jimmy McMillan and the Key herd of GD Key & Sons. Sterling Celia’s Fifi, bred by Boddington Estates, by Sterling Cotswold, and out of Sterling Delores Celia, is a past winner of the English National Show having lifted the title in 2017 at the Three Counties Show. Later that same year she was sold for 22,000gns, a then albeit briefly held Simmental female record, at the Boddington Estate Herd Dispersal Sale and to Harte Farms, Republic of Ireland. In 2021 the ‘herd consortium’ came together to buy Sterling Celia’s Fifi for 6200 Euros at the Harte’s online Dispersal Sale. The quality of Cade Fifi’s Nala suggests this was a knowledgeable and rewarding investment and Sharrie Cade was quick to thank and acknowledge Jimmy McMillan, and Simon Key for their part in ‘the journey with Sterling Celia’s Fifi’.
It was an emotional win for the Cades and from their Cade herd which was only established in 2017 and now comprises of some 25 breeding females and fifty head in all. Commenting afterwards, Sharrie Cade said: “It really has been quite overwhelming to win these prestigious titles against such strong competition, and it’s going to take a little time to sink in! Fifi’s Nala is stylish, modern, easy fleshed with good growth, and most importantly for us is very correct. She’s a very special heifer but she is typical of the type of animals that we are looking to breed.” The wins at the Royal Lancashire Show are the highest show achievements for the herd to date but with them also having bred the bull Cade Nugget who took the Male Championship at the 2023 Simmental English National Show and also the Interbreed Male Continental Champion at the same Royal Norfolk show, for Chris & Zara Curson’s Hollybrook herd.
With a host of titles behind her this year, Cade Fifi’s Nala has been part of Simmental winning Interbreed Teams and Groups at the Royal Norfolk, was breed champion at Herts Show and Reserve Continental Interbreed, and was Reserve Supreme Simmental at Suffolk, and Royal Norfolk Shows! Bringing two quality heifers to the show, another red ticket was secured when the January 2023 born Cade Kathleen’s Prada, also by Sacombe Jameson 18, won the fourth heifer class on the day.
Reserve Overall Champion Popes Princess Noor
Females were to the fore and taking the Reserve Overall Supreme, and Reserve Female title was Popes Princess Noor from well-known local breeders Jimmy & Vikki Wood, Popes Farm, Preston, Lancashire. April 2022 born, Popes Princess Noor is an ET calf by the noted Team Celtic and is out of Popes Princess Hettie. This in-calf heifer (to Denizes Hamish) arrived at the Royal Lancashire having won the Simmental Supreme Championship at the 2024 Great Yorkshire Show. Commenting, Stewart Stronach said: “This is another tremendous Simmental heifer. She’s full of show presence, has a beautiful head, and carried herself extremely well.” A multi title winning animal, Popes Princess Noor was the Overall Junior, and Junior Female Champion at the 2023 Simmental English National Show, and is a half sister to the all-conquering 2022 Simmental English Show Champion, Popes Princess Lumi.
The quality kept on coming and winning the Male Championship, Junior Male, and Overall Junior, was the very stylish January 2023 born Simply Peter Pan from Robert & Louise Fitton, Moss Hall Farm, Lostock, Bolton, and another from the Red Rose County of Lancashire. This calf is by Ashland Magic and is out of Derrycallaghan Kitkat (ET). Of his Male Champion Stewart Stronach said: “Again a very modern Simmental, this bull is long and clean with a great turn of hip, and carried himself extremely well. He’s a bull with all the qualities to do both jobs as a breeder’s bull, and as a high-end commercial bull.” For the ten cow Simply herd who are ‘not regulars in the showring’, this was their highest show accolade to date and with it being the bull’s first time out. Commenting Robert Fitton said: “We really think this bull is the full package of looks, breeding, and figures. His sire was bought for length, colour, and figures, and his dam is a thick set cow. He’s clean with width and end, and no gut and carries a +9 figure for Maternal (Milk), and is +109 for Self-Replacing Index.” In a little footnote, all of the Simply animals registered in 2023 carry the name Peter within, in tribute to Robert’s dad, so a very fitting win.
Male Champion, Junior Male and Overall Junior Champion Simply Peter Pan 23
Lifting the Reserve Male Championship was the January 2023 born bull Popes Premier 23. Sired by Popes Lethal Weapon, Popes Premier 23 was shown through last summer as a calf at foot alongside his multi title winning mum, Popes Princess Immie. Premier’s grand dam is the herd’s famous, and much decorated cow, Popes Princess Cleo. In his own, Popes Premier 23 won the Simmental Pedigree Calf Championship and National Pedigree Calf Show Interbreed, at the English Winter Fair in November 2023. This year he won the Male Championship and Reserve Overall to his stablemate Popes Princess Noor, at the 2024 Great Yorkshire Show.
Reserve Male Champion Popes Premier
Back in the females and the Junior Female Champion and Reserve Junior Overall was Atlow Plume from David Donnelly, Atlow House, Ashbourne, Derbyshire. June 2023 born this was another ‘first timer’ in the show ring. Sired by Dermotstown King Kong (ET), Atlow Plume is out of Atlow Dora’s Jojo who goes back to Kilbride Farm Dora 34A EX94. The Atlow Herd has secured many show Championships over the years and speaking afterwards David Donnelly said this heifer was right up there with previous breeding: “Atlow Plume is one of the best heifers we have bred since Atlow Valentine who was an Overall Simmental and Interbreed Champion at the Royal Show in the early 2000’s.” From here the aim is that Atlow Plume will be entered, along with two other show heifers, to the Next Generation IV Simmental female Sale at Carlisle in December.
Junior Female Champion Atlow Plume
Another local breeder putting forward a mighty team of animals was MA Barlow & Sons from their noted Denizes herd. Enjoying a fine day the herd picked up four class winners (three in the bull classes) and four second prizes. The consistency and performance of the Denizes entries saw the herd pick up the Imex Award for the breeder winning most points across all of the classes.
Pair winners – Denizes Melody 53 & Denizes Melody 52
Group of Four
Judge Stewart Stronach with Overall Champion Cade Fifi’s Nala and Reserve Champion Popes Princess Noor with Iain Kerr from BSCS
Junior Championship
Simmental English National Show
(Held within Royal Lancashire Show)
Saturday 20th July 2024
Judge: Mr Stewart Stronach, Islavale Herd, Berryleys Farm, Keith
Results
Class S1a Heifer born on or after 1st April 2023
1st J H & V G Wood Popes Trixies Pearl
2nd A S Leedham Grangewood Jewel’s Princess
3rd David Donnelly Atlow Pippa
Popes Trixies Pearl
Class S2b Heifer born on or after 1st April 2023
1st David Donnelly Atlow Plume
2nd Barlow Brothers Denizes Matilda 15th
3rd Barlow Brothers Denizes Eunice 5th
4th Barlow Brothers Denizes Nelly 14th
Class S2c Heifer born on or after 1st April 2023
1st Barlow Brothers Denizes Matilda 16th
2nd Barlow Brothers Denizes Melody 58
3rd PM & R Fitton Simply Trixi Pixie
Denizes Matilda 16th
Class S2 Heifer, born on or between 1st January and 31st March 2023
1st PA & SM Cade Cade Kathleen’s Prada
2nd JH & VG Wood Popes Trixies Prudence
3rd R & L Storersmith Storersmith Puzzle
4th J H & V G Wood Popes Trixies Perla
5th T & J Hassall Fishpool Poppy
Cade Kathleen’s Prada
Class S3 Heifer, Born on or between 1st August and 31st December 2022
1st PA & SM Cade Cade Fifi’s Nala
2nd RE & SHW Steggles Denizes Melody 53
3rd RE & SHW Steggles Denizes Melody 52
4th A S Leedham Grangewood Tollie’s Natalie
Class S4 Heifer, born on or between 1st April and 31st July 2022
1st J H & V G Wood Popes Princess Noor
2nd A S Leedham Grangewood Nicole
3rd Steven White Tirley Bluebelle
Class S9a Bull, born on or after 1st April 2023
1st Barlow Brothers Denizes Predator 23
2nd J H & V G Wood Popes Paxton 23
3rd RE & SHW Steggles Wacton Peroni 23
4th PM & R Fitton Simply Pete (Big) 23
Denizes Predator
Class S9b Bull, born on or after 1st April 2023
1st Barlow Brothers Denizes Passito 23 (P)
2nd Barlow Brothers Denizes Pablo 23
3rd Barlow Brothers Denizes Powerboy 23
4th Barlow Brothers Denizes Portobello 23
Denizes Passito
Class S9c Bull, born on or after 1st April 2023
1st Barlow Brothers Denizes Phantom 23
2nd Barlow Brothers Denizes Paparazzi 23
3rd RE & SHW Steggles Wacton Powerhouse 23
Denizes Phantom
Class S10 Bull born on or between 1st January and 31st March 2023
1st PM & R Fitton Simply Peter Pan 23
2nd J H & V G Wood Popes Premier 23
3rd J H & V G Wood Popes Power 23
Class S11 Bull born in 2022
1st R & L Storersmith Storersmith Navarone 22
Storersmith Navarone
Class S13 Pair of animals
1st RE & SHW Steggles
2nd A S Leedham
3rd JH & VG Wood
4th Barlow Brothers
S14 Group of four
1st JH & VG Wood
2nd RE & SHW Steggles
3rd Barlow Brothers
Overall Champion
Cade Fifi’s Nala PA & SM Cade
Reserve Overall Champion
Popes Princess Noor JH & VG Wood
Female Champion
Cade Fifi’s Nala PA & SM Cade
Reserve Female Champion
Popes Princess Noor JH & VG Wood
Junior Female Champion
Atlow Plume David Donnelly
Male Champion
Simply Peter Pan PM & R Fitton
Reserve Male Champion
Popes Premier 23 J H & V G Wood
Champion Junior Male
Simply Peter Pan PM & R Fitton
Junior Champion
Simply Peter Pan PM & R Fitton
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