POPES PRINCESS NOOR CROWNED SIMMENTAL CHAMPION AT 2024 GREAT YORKSHIRE SHOW!

POPES PRINCESS NOOR CROWNED SIMMENTAL CHAMPION AT 2024 GREAT YORKSHIRE SHOW!

• Popes Premier takes Male Championship

The April 2022 born in-calf heifer Popes Princess Noor from Jimmy & Vikki Wood, Popes Farm, Preston, Lancashire swept all before her to lift the 2024 Simmental Supreme Championship on day one of the 2024 Great Yorkshire Show, Harrogate on Wednesday 10th July.

Supreme Champion Popes Princess Noor

From a small but quality entry of Simmentals, Popes Princess Noor first of all picked up the Female Championship before going head to head with her stablemate and Male Champion on the day, Popes Premier 23, to secure the Championship tap out. Judge for the day was John Barlow of the noted Denizes herd at Ulnes, Nr Leyland, Lancashire.
No stranger to the show ring, Popes Princess Noor last year, amongst a host of titles, won the Simmental Overall Junior Championship at the English National Show (within the Royal Norfolk), and was Junior Female Champion at the Scottish Simmental National Show (held within Dumfries Show).

Judge John Barlow

With a connectivity in breeding, Popes Princess Noor is by the noted Team Celtic and out of Popes Princess Hettie making her a full sister to the herd’s 2022 Great Yorkshire Champion, and English National Show Champion Popes Princess Lumi, and a half sister to the 2023 Great Yorkshire Show Individual Interbreed Champion, and multi title winner, Popes Princess Immie!

Popes Princess Noor is in-calf to the noted AI sire Denizes Hamish.

Reserve Supreme Champion Popes Premier

Taking the Reserve Overall Supreme, and 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, the aforementioned Popes Princess Immie. Premier’s grand dam is the herd’s famous, and much decorated cow, Popes Princess Cleo. In his own right, Popes Premier 23 won the Simmental Pedigree Calf Championship before moving on to win the National Pedigree Calf Show Interbreed, a first for the Simmental breed, at the English Winter Fair in November 2023.

Overall Champion & Reserve

CLASS 60 Bull born before 1 January 2023
1st Fircovert Nigel, Mr P Gunther

Fircovert Nigel

CLASS 61 Bull born on or after 1 January 2023
1st Popes Premier 23, Messrs JH & VG Wood
2nd Fircovert Peacock, Mr P Gunther
3rd Fircovert Panther, Mr P Gunther
4th Allsaints Phoenix, Mrs S Germany

CLASS 63 Heifer born in 2022
1st Popes Princess Noor, Messrs JH & VG Wood
2nd Williams Fluffys Nellie, Mrs S Germany
3rd Lynfield Precious, Mr G Scrivens
4th Maidenlands Polarine 4 (P), Mr D Saunders

CLASS 64 Heifer born in 2023
1st Popes Trixies Pearl, Messrs JH & VG Wood
2nd Clonagh Regal Fortune, Mr C Croft
3rd Popes Trixies Prudence, Messrs JH & VG Wood
4th Maidenlands Polarine 4 P, Mr D Saunders
5th O’so’good Sarah’s Paisley, Nichola Osgood & Robert Tremayne
6th Maidenlands Polarine 5 P, Mr D Saunders

OVERALL, FEMALE, & JUNIOR CHAMPION
Popes Princess Noor, Messrs JH & VG Wood

RESERVE OVERALL, & MALE CHAMPION
Popes Premier 23, Messrs JH & VG Wood

RESERVE MALE CHAMPION
Fircovert Peacock, Mr P Gunther

RESERVE FEMALE CHAMPION
Popes Trixies Pearl, Messrs JH & VG Wood

CLASS 65 Group of three animals
1st Messrs JH & VG Wood
2nd Mr P Gunther

CLASS 66 Pair of animals
1st Messrs JH & VG Wood
2nd Mr D Saunders
3rd Mr P Gunther

Reserve Female Champion, Popes Trixies Pearl

7,200GNS GRANGEWOOD NEW HOPE TOPS SOLID SIMMENTAL SALE AT CARLISLE

7,200GNS GRANGEWOOD NEW HOPE TOPS SOLID SIMMENTAL SALE AT CARLISLE

  • 19 bulls sell to a clearance rate of 73%, and average £4,603
  • 36 Simm X High Health heifers average £2021
  • 57 lots sell in Simmental section to gross £165,988
  • Bulls sell to Orkney, and down to Hampshire
  • Popes Picasso 23 lifts Overall Simmental Championship

 Grangewood New Hope 22 from Andrew & Yvonne Leedham, Rowan Farm, Pickering, North Yorkshire sold for 7,200gns to lead a solid Simmental Sale at H&H’s Borderway Mart, Carlisle on Saturday, 11th May.

Grangewood New Hope 7,200gns

August 2022 born, Grangewood New Hope is by the herd sire Ranfurly Impeccable 14 17 (ET), and is out of the Dinton Nautical daughter Grangewood Jackie.  Combining length and muscle with top figures, this bull was +10 for Maternal Milk, and with breed top 5% and 10% Terminal Production and Self Replacing Indexes.  Purchasing this bull, who had stood second in his class to the Reserve Overall Champion, was JC Innes & Sons who run the Strathbogie herd, along with a suckler herd of some 800 cows, at Dunscroft Farm, Huntly Aberdeenshire.

In a good day’s trading the Leedhams sold three bulls with a depth of pedigree and performance figures, all sired by Ranfurly Impeccable who was purchased for 8500gns at Stirling in 2018, to make 7,200gns; 5,000gns; and 4,000gns respectively.

Across the sale 19 bulls sold to average £4,603, with 36 Simm X High Health bulling heifers averaging £2021, and a small entry of pedigree heifers topping at 3,000gns.  57 lots sold in all to gross £165,988.  Commenting on the sale, BSCS General Manager Iain Kerr said “We’re seeing a strong and increasing demand for Simmental genetics, bulls and females, from commercial producers across the UK and this is being reflected at the Society’s pedigree sales.  This sale fixture at Carlisle continues to grow and we’re really pleased to see 19 bulls sell across the UK, up by seven on the year, and to buyers from Orkney right down to Hampshire.   The addition of the Simm X High Health heifers for the second year is proving to be popular and met with an increased average which is great to see.”

Popes Picasso 7,000gns

Selling at 7,000gns was Popes Picasso 23 from the well-known pedigree herd of Jimmy & Vikki Wood, Popes Farm, Dutton, Preston.  This bull, a heifer’s calf, is the first offered at sale by the €52,000 Euro Clonagh Lucky Explorer, and is out of Popes Princess Kiki, a daughter of the herd’s renowned show cow Popes Princess Cleo. Again, a bull with good growth figures, and +12 for Maternal (Milk), this ‘stylish young bull with length and shape’ was bought by local commercial producer Irving Pearson, for his 120 cow suckler herd of mainly pure Simmental, and Blue cross Simmental cows, at Manor Farm, Blencow, Penrith.  Earlier in the day Popes Picasso 23 had been placed Overall Supreme Champion in the pre-sale show judged by Bruce Lambie of the noted Fallhills herd at Penicuik, Midlothian.  Commenting on his Champion Bruce Lambie said “This was a tremendous young Simmental bull, with all of the potential to be a fantastic stock sire in both pedigree or commercial herd.  He was a very modern type, clean through the middle, very correct on good feet and legs, and had a great top line.  A very worthy Champion who I’m sure will go on and do well.”

Auchorachan Newbie 6,000gns

Jim and Patricia Goldie who run the Newbiemains herd at Newbie Mains Farm, Annan, Dumfriesshire purchased to bulls on the day at 6,000gns and 5,000gns.    The first of these at 6000gns was Auchorachan Newbie 22 from D&R Durno & Sons, Auchorachan, Glenlivet, Ballindalloch.  Sired by the 9,000gns Greencap Kane 19 EX91, this September 2022 born bull is out of Auchorachan Gipsy EX 92 who has previously bred bulls to 9,000gns twice.  With figures to go with the breeding, Auchorachan Newbie 22 is in the breed’s top 1% for both Terminal Sire, and Self Replacing Indexes.  Another Greencap Kane son, Auchorachan Ninja 22, a first prize winner, made 4,000gns when selling to TJ & MB Smithson, Poplar Farm, Stamford Bridge, North Yorkshire.

Grangewood Paddington 5,000gns

Selling at 5,000gns, the Goldies also purchased another from the Leedham family’s pen in the shape of the January 2023 born Grangewood Paddington (TM).  Another by Ranfurly Impeccable 14 17 (ET), this calf is out of Grangewood Tollie’s Hope EX 93, a full sister to the 19,000gns Grangewood Baron, and whose sons have averaged 7,250gns to date.  A theme of the day was bulls selling well with a depth of pedigree and performance figures, and Grangewood Paddington (TM) continued this trend with him carrying a +11 figure for Maternal (Milk).

Commenting afterwards Jim Goldie said of his two purchases: “We came to the sale looking for a bull, and a second if possible, for our pedigree herd that’s now at 150 cows.  We had previously purchased a half-brother to Auchorachan Newbie (Auchorachan Kennedy 19) and have been really pleased with how good his progeny are.  He’s also from a line of three cows that are all classified EX 92 and that’s a big bonus for us. The Grangewood bull was a lovely standout, stylish bull with good feet and legs, and walked well. Again, his sire is well bred and classified EX94.  Two good bulls and we are pleased to have bought them.”

Newbiemains New Moon 5,000gns

Recouping some of their outlay, the Goldies themselves sold Newbiemains New Moon 22 for 5,000gns to DF Crew, Gall Farm, Lockerbie.  In the pre-sale show this upstanding July 2022 born bull had placed first in his class and was Overall Reserve Champion.  Sired by Carbery Lightening EX 91, Newbiemains New Moon 22 is out of Newbiemains Eclypse EX 90. Later in the sale Newbiemains Nailer 22, a Skerrington Iceman 17 EX 95 son was sold for 4000gns to Thwaites & Co, Thorney Croft, Newby, Penrith.

Enjoying another solid sale at Carlisle was the Scotland Hill herd of Tom Hill & Ruby Wright, Mill Farm, Wadworth, Doncaster who sold two bulls at the 4,800gns mark.  Up first was the September 2022 born Scotland Hill North Star 22.  Sired by the imported bull Clonagh King Eyes (ET), and out of Scotland Hill Emily Jilly, this bull went to Hampshire when selling to Clachanton & Poundland Partners, The Estate Office, Stratford Saye.  At the same 4,800gns mark was the October 2022 born Scotland Hill Niagra 22.  Another son of Clonagh King Eyes (ET), and out of Scotland Hill Westeria Freya, this bull was one of two purchases by well known Orkney buyer Liam Muir, Upper Onston, Stromness.

Leading the small offering of pedigree females was the Tilbrook Netty from Peter Burgess, High Keenley Fell Farm, Hexham who made 3,000gns when selling to Derbyshire and the Dovefields pedigree herd of L Renshaw & I Brassington, The Old Myers, Church Broughton.  Sired by the AI sire Clonagh Latin Lover, this December 2022 born maiden heifer is out of Tilbrook Honey.

A feature of the sale was the Simm X High Health Sale of bulling heifers that saw 36 sell to average a very healthy £2,020.  Leading the way in this section with a pair of Simm Luing heifers at £2,450, and a further pair at £2,400 was Angus Freeman, Town End Farm, Troutbeck, Windermere, Cumbria.  Fourteen to fifteen months old, a selection of these heifers had caught much attention on the Society’s promotional stand at the NBA’s 2024 Beef Expo at North West Auctions Jct 36.  The top price heifers at Carlisle on Saturday were purchased by AJ & L Birkett, Birk Howe Farm, Ambleside, Cumbria.  Selling at £2300 was a pair of ¾ Simmental X heifers from Reece & Andrew Simmers, Backmuir Farm, Keith, Banffshire, and which were purchased by Rutter Farm, Burradon Mains, Morpeth.  Other same way bred Backmuir heifers sold for £2,250 to the same buyer.

Overall & Male Champions

Judge Bruce Lambie

AVERAGES

 19 Bulls                                   £4603.42
2 Heifers                                 £2887.50
36 High Health Heifers           £2020.83