COLTFIELD AND ISLAVALE TAKE THE SIMMENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP HONOURS AT THE 2025 STARS OF THE FUTURE CALF SHOW!

 Coltfield Sister Sandra wins the Overall Junior Championship
Islavale Rafferty lifts the Overall Senior Championship

Tippetcraig wins the Junior Male Championship
Bowhill Ruth takes the Senior Female Championship

North East of Scotland based herds took the top Simmental Championship honours at the 2025 Stars of the Future Pedigree Calf Show, at United Auctions,  Stirling, on Saturday 8^th November with the Coltfield Herd of JC MacIver, Wester Coltfield, Forres, Moray winning the Junior Championship, and the Islavale Herd of WS Stronach, Berryleys Farm, Grange, Keith securing the Senior Championship.

A strong Simmental entry of 44 calves, from sixteen herds, were entered and came before the judge for the day Rob Fitton of the noted Simply herd, Bolton, Lancashire.

Taking the Junior Overall Championship, and Junior Female Champion, was the February 2025 born Coltfield Sister Sandra. This heifer is by the 12,000gns Islavale Northstar 22 (ET) EX 90, and is out of Coltfield Louise EX 90, a Rockytop Invader 17 EX 92 daughter.   It was a tremendous outing for the Coltfield herd, their most successful to date at Stars of the Future,  and who on the day won the Junior Overall Championship; the Junior Female Champion; the Reserve Senior Championship; and had a second in class to the Senior Female Champion.

Junior Female and Overall Junior Champion Coltfield Sister Sandra

Of his Junior Overall Champion, the judge Rob Fitton said:  “This was a really sweet Simmental heifer and exactly what I was looking for, carrying a real presence in the ring and walking out well on four good legs. She was clean, had plenty of width to her, and had real femininity and a lot of breed character.”

Speaking afterwards Cameron MacIver said:  “It was a very special day for the family and a poignant one as Coltfield Sister Sandra is named after my late sister. This was her first time out in the show ring so we are really pleased with how she ahs got on.  Louise is one of the best breeding cows in the herd and this is her third calf, and each by a different sire.  Plans for Sandra all being well are to how her next year and then get her in calf in the backend.”

Following Coltfield Sister Sandra through from her class, the Reserve Junior Champion, and Reserve Junior Female Champion went to the heterozygous polled Islavale Amanda 17 (P), a March 2025 heifer’s calf by Incheoch Niko 22 (PP) VG 87, and out of Islavale Amanda 11 GP 84.  The homozygous polled Incheoch Niko 22 (PP) VG 87, was purchased for £10,500 at the Working Genes Sale at Incheoch Farms, Alyth in September 2023.  Islavale Amanda 17 (P) will now head to Simmental Next Gen V Female & Weaned Calves Sale on Friday 12^th December at Carlisle.  Joining her there will be Islavale Rae who placed second in her class to the Reserve Senior Female Champion.  October 2024 born, Islavale Rae is by the homebred sire Islavale Lucifer 20 EX 95, and is out of Islavale Jinx (P) EX 90, a Curaheen Giant daughter.

Reserve Junior Female and Reserve Junior Overall Champion Islavale Amanda

Overall Junior Champions Coltfield Sister Sandra & Islavale Amanda with the judge Rob Fitton

It was another top Stars of the Future Show for the Islavale herd who also took the Senior Championship, and Senior Male Champion with their December 2024 born bull Islavale Rafferty 24. This calf is the first to be shown sired by Bighill Parker ET (Imp.) EX 90. Out of Islavale Lippy GP 80, a Corskie Highlander 16 EX 93 daughter, Islavale Rafferty will be heading to the May 2026 Stirling Bull Sale.  A further Bighill Parker ET (Imp.) EX 90 son, Islavale Shamrock 2 stood third in a very strong class to the Junior Male and Reserve Junior Male Champions.  Semen has been taken from Bighill Parker, and a further heifer calf, Islavale Regal, will also be heading to Next Gen V at Carlisle in December.

Senior Male and Overall Senior Champion Islavale Rafferty

Commenting on his Senior Overall Champion, Islavale Rafferty, Rob Fitton said:  “This is a tremendous eleven-month-old calf and a real stock bull in the making.  Again he had tremendous character to him with a lovely head and big Simmental ears.  Clean through he had tremendous power for his age, a good straight top on him, and walked extremely well.  He’s a bull with a lot of future for sales ahead.”

Of the show of Simmentals generally Rob Fitton said: “Firstly I’d like to thank the organisers for inviting me to judge at Stars of the Future and what was a very well organised and enjoyable show.  I’m delighted with my two Champions and both are animals I’d very much like to be taking home with me!  It was a tremendous show of Simmental young stock and I’d very much like to congratulate all of the exhibitors.”

It was a Championship role reversal from the juniors with the Reserve Overall Senior Champion going to Coltfield Rhysand 24. September born, Rhysand is another by Islavale Northstar 22 (ET) EX 90, and is the first bull calf out of Annick Whitney’s Fresia EX 94, purchased at the Annick Dispersal Sale for 6200gns, and for the tremendous breeding behind her featuring many Royal Highland Show winners.   From here Coltfield Rhysand will be aimed towards the Stirling Bull Sale in February 2026.

Reserve Senior Male Champion & Reserve Senior Overall, Coltfield Rhysand

Bringing their first ever homebred calves to Stars of the Future was the Burns Family, Tippetcraig Farm, High Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire, and who met with more than a bit of success when winning the Junior Male Championship with the appropriately named Tippetcraig Someboy.  This February 2025 born calf is by Kilbride Farm Maverick 21 (P), a Kilbride Farm Jetstream 18 (P) son, and is out of Broombrae Rosina M2 21, who was purchased at Stirling in February 2023.  The Burns Family also placed third in the class where the Junior Champion and Reserve Junior Champion came from, with Tippetcraig Salerno, a February 2025 born heifer, and another by Kilbride Farm Maverick 21 (P).  Commenting afterwards Lindsay Burns said: “Stars of the Future has been a lot of fun, with the Simmental breeders being so friendly and helpful, and we’re really delighted to win the Junior Male Championship with Tippetcraig Someboy.  As a herd we plan to do some summer showing next year, and with Tippetcraig Someboy being aimed at Stirling in October next year.”

Junior Male Champion Tippetcraig Someboy

Following Tippetcraig Someboy through from his class, and to take the Reserve Junior Male Championship, was Delfur Supernova from Delfur Farms, Rothes, Aberlour, and shown by herd manager Garry Patterson.  January 2025 born, Delfur Supernova is by the 28,000gns stock bull Islavale Magnum 21, and is out Delfur Hells, a Clonagh Tiger Gallant daughter. Delfur Farms also took a first prize in the females with Delfur Shakira winning the class for heifers.  January 2025 born, Shakira is by Kilbride Farm Nebulus 22, and is out of Delfur Nightingale, an Innerwick Ivor daughter.

Reserve Junior Male Champion Delfur Supernova

Taking the Senior Female Championship was Bowhill Ruth from Rachael Reid, D&R Holdings, Low Bowhill Farm, Newmilns, Ayrshire.  August 2024 born, this heifer is got by the 30,000gns AI sire Denizes Lancelot, and is out of Overhill House Mary, an Aultmore Goliath daughter who was bought for £4000 in a charity auction with all proceeds going to charities helping children from the conflict in Ukraine.  Earlier this summer Bowhill Ruth won the Junior Female Championship at the Scottish Simmental National Show in Perth.  It was a good follow up to last years Stars of the Future for the Bowhill herd who in 2024 won the Senior Female Championship and Senior Overall Championship with Bowhill Petal, another daughter of Overhill House Mary.

Senior Female Champion Bowhill Ruth

The Reserve Senior Female Champion, and winner of Class 4, came in the shape of Aultside Royalty from Garry Patterson, Rothes, Moray.   This November 2024 born heifer is by Saltire Impressive and is out of Hazelden Jingle 8^th, a Whitemire King Kong daughter.

Reserve Senior Female Champion Aultside Royality

2025 STARS OF THE FUTURE PEDIGREE CALF SHOW

SIMMENTAL RESULTS – Judged by Rob Fitton, Simply Herd, Bolton

Class 1 – Senior Males (2nd July – 16th September 2024)
1st 47 Megan MacIver Coltfield Rhysand
2nd 43 Barlow Brothers Denizes Rocketman 24

Class 2 – Senior Males (24th October – 8th December 2024)
1st 53 W S Stronach Islavale Rafferty
2nd 52 Bowhill Simmentals Bowhill Racer
3rd 51 J & E Dyet – Merkland Rocket
4th 49 J & E Dyet Merkland Rory

Class 3 Senior Females (19th October – 6th December 2024)
1st 55 Bowhill Simmentals – Bowhill Ruth
2nd 57 James MacIver – Coltfield River
3rd 59 Barlow Brothers – Denizes Matilda 21st
4th 54 Gavin Brown – Springfield Rose
5th 58 N & N Gwynne – Chestermann Explorer Lulu 4
6th 60 D & R Durno & Sons – Auchorachan Remi Nanny
7th 56 Frank Gwynne – Castlewigg Explorer Girlie 5

Class 4 Senior Females (19th October – 6th December)
1st 63 Garry Patterson Aultside Royality
2nd 61 W S Stronach Islavale Rae
3rd 62 D & R Durno & Sons Auchorachan Rusty Madie
4th 64 J & E Dyet Merkland Joy 24
5th 66 J & E Dyet Merkland Rebecca
6th 67 J O Hodge Swinton Milky Girl

Class 5 – Junior Males (4th January – 4th May 2025)
1st 70 The Burns Family Tippetcraig Someboy
2nd 68 Delfur Farms Delfur Supernova
3rd 74 W S Stronach Islavale Shamrock 2 25
4th 69 Cameron MacIver Coltfield Sambo
5th 71 Mr And Mrs L Moffat Innerwick Supreme 25
6th 72 Gavin Brown Springfield Strongbow
7th 73 Gavin Brown Springfield Stallone

Class 6 – Junior Females (3rd January – 23rd January 2025)
1st 75 Delfur Farms Delfur Shakira

Delfur Shakira

2nd 79 Andrew Leedham Grangewood Jemima’s Sugar Plum
3rd 78 Andrew Leedham Grangewood Tollie’s Sparkle
4th 77 Andrew Leedham Grangewood Matilda’s Sweet Pea
5th 80 Frank Gwynne Castlewigg Ringleader J-lo 2

Class 7 – Junior Females – 8th February – 5th May 2025
1st 81 James MacIver Coltfield Sister Sandra
2nd 83 W S Stronach Islavale Amanda 17 (P)
3rd 82 The Burns Family Tippetcraig Salerno
4th 85 Gavin Brown Springfield Shannon
5th 84 Gavin Brown Springfield Skylar

Junior Championship

Junior Male Champion The Burns Family Tippetcraig Someboy
Reserve Junior Male Champion Delfur Farms Delfur Supernova

Junior Female Champion James MacIver Coltfield Sister Sandra
Reserve Junior Female Champion W S Stronach Islavale Amanda 17 (P)

Junior Overall Champion James MacIver Coltfield Sister Sandra
Reserve Junior Overall Champion W S Stronach Islavale Amanda 17 (P)

Senior Championship

Senior Male Champion – W S Stronach Islavale Rafferty
Reserve Senior Male Champion – Megan MacIver Coltfield Rhysand

Senior Female Champion – Bowhill Simmentals Bowhill Ruth
Reserve Senior Female Champion – Garry Patterson Aultside Royality

Senior Overall Champion – W S Stronach Islavale Rafferty
Reserve Senior Overall Champion – Megan MacIver Coltfield Rhysand