EAST ANGLIAN CLUB REPORT

It’s great to report that 2023 was a busy and successful year for the East Anglian Simmental group. With member numbers continuing to increase, and being at a record high, it is definitely a club that is thriving. With a great mix of youth and experience hopefully this will continue into the future.

It has been another fantastic year for animals from across the region with herds from the club supporting several shows and sales this year.

The first significant achievement was at the Melton Mowbray multi-breed Show and Sale. We are proud to say that four herds from our club made the trip to support the sale and it was Hollybrook Maximum from Chris and Zara Curson who claimed breed champion, with Key Marvel from Simon Key taking reserve champion. Hollybrook Maximum also went on to claim reserve interbreed champion and sold for the top price of 3,900gns. Although with only a small selection of Simmental’s on offer at this fledgling show and sale we hope that with such success we will see a growth in numbers in years to come.

The biggest success goes to our new club members James and Rachel Griffin of the Hemingford Herd with their March 2022 born bull Hemingford Nelson. Not only did he claim first place in his class at Stirling in October, he went on to secure Reserve Senior champion and sold to the renowned Auchorachan herd for 11,000gns. We want to say a massive congratulations to James and Rachel and hope your success continues in the coming year.

Moving into the show season and our very own Simon Key kicked had the huge privilege of judging at the Royal Highland Show. What an honour it was for him to judge at such a prestigious show, and we at the club are very proud of him.

Again members from the East Anglian region were very successful at both nationwide and local shows with breeders bringing home rosettes and sashes from near and far.

The Suffolk show saw the return of the Wacton herd to the show circuit, and it was Denizes Eve’s Beauty 7th bred by the Barlow family who claimed breed champion for Sam Steggles, with Heathbrow Jasmine taking reserve breed champion for D.A and L.A Sapsed. Sam and his team went on to do well this season at further shows and also claimed the Imex Plate at the English National show.

This year would turn out to be David and Lesley Sapsed’s last year on the show circuit after numerous years of supporting the agricultural shows. In a career that has seen them take many titles and also interbreed titles, they will be a big miss at future shows and we wish them all the best in the future.

Without doubt the highlight of the year was hosting the Simmental English National at the Royal Norfolk show. The show was supported and attended brilliantly and with fantastic numbers of almost 60 Simmental’s entered, the competition in many classes was fierce. Club secretary Zara Curson said it was an absolute honour to be a part of the organising team for this event and with the help of others, it was never in doubt that the show would be successful. We would like to again thank our judge John Moore of the Omorga herd, and our generous sponsors, exhibitors and those who travelled from all over the U.K to help make the show a roaring success.

Our overall champion went to the Woods family for Popes Princess Immie. Sterling Celia’s Fifi jointly owned by Paul & Sharrie Cade, Jimmy McMillan and Simon Key won overall reserve champion. Popes also lifted the Junior Championship with Popes Princess Noor with Cade Nugget claiming Reserve Junior Champion.

Cade Nugget owned by Chris & Zara Curson was shown by up and coming young handler Erin Cade who’s family bred Nugget. Erin at only 14 years of age halter broke the February 2022 born bull so it only seemed right that she put him through his paces at the English National, and they didn’t disappoint with them not only taking Male Champion but also Continental Interbreed Champion too.

On the second day of the show it was the young handlers who took centre stage and with a good turnout it was great to see the breed is in good hands for the future. A massive congratulations to everyone who was involved but in particular to Finlay Soutter who went on to win the prestigious Overall Championship for young handlers and was presented with his prize by William, the Prince of Wales!!

With the national show heading back to the Norfolk show again this year we will be looking to make it bigger and better for 2024!!

The Aylsham show concluded the showing season in East Anglia and it was Theberton Joanne who took champion for Mr and Mrs L. J. Dowley, with reserve going to Fircovert Lizbet, from Paul & Linda Gunther.

The Great Yorkshire show didn’t disappoint for Paul & Linda Gunther, Andrew & Hayley Clarke and Sam Steggles making the trip north and all placing well within their classes. Andrew & Hayley also featured in the winning Junior Interbreed Group!

Cade Simmental’s made the trip this year to the Agri Expo in Carlisle in October and their 2022 born heifer Cade Fifi’s Nala, placed 3rd in her class and with 2023 born Cade Kathleen’s Prada, 4th in her class. The Cades very much held their own against some very stiff competition in large classes. Also daughter Erin came 3rd in her young handlers class with Bella Markham claiming 1st in her young handlers class.

It has been fantastic to see so many breeders from our region supporting shows and sales across the country and returning home with such tremendous results. It shows that we are producing some great quality cattle in our area.

In September we had our annual herd competition take place with Phillida Hurn judging from the noted Twyford herd. With herds continuing to increase and therefore the time taken to organise and carry this out, our extended thanks and gratitude go to Phillida and her stockman Paul Monaghan, who accompanied her, for taking the time to judge. Phillida was very complimentary about the standard of cattle and had a very difficult job to decide the placing’s in the various categories.

At the start of the year our aim as a club was to do a herd visit as this hadn’t happened in a while so in November we organised a farm visit to our Rendham herd which was well attended. It was great to have a catch up whilst walking amongst the cattle and hearing what people thought. The visit also coincided with Phillida announcing the herd competition results and doing the presentations.

We rounded off the year with our annual Christmas dinner which was well attended by members, and we now look forward to what the New Year has in store for our club.

East Anglia herd competition results 2023 are below.

Best Bull Calf
1. Rendham Poacher
2. Hollybrook Paxton
3. Guiltcross Proudlock

Yearling Bull
1. Brandane Nutcracker
2. Rendham Neptune
3. Cade Nugget (Hollybrook)

Stock Bull
1. Blackford Galaxy (Key)
2. Saltire Jaguar (Hemingford)
3. Wolfstar Jumanji (Rendham)

Best heifer calf
1. Rendham Pixie
2. Therberton Purple
3. Hollybrook Pandora

Group of yearling Heifers
1. Hemingford heifers
2. Rendham heifers
3. Cade heifers

Best 2Yr Old Heifer
1. Therberton Mouse
2. Key Heifer
3. Guiltcross Mable

Group of 2Yr Old Heifer
1. Fircovert heifers
2. Rendham heifers
3. Cade heifers

Cow and calf
1. Rendham Lucky & Pixie
2. Therberton Forget me Not & her Bull calf
3. Thursford Tina & Hollybrook Pandora

Family Group
1. Iris Family (Therberton)
2. Thursford Tina Family (Hollybrook)
3. Honeysuckle Family (Fircovert)

Overall Herd.
Rendham Herd

Judges Choice: Brandane Kirsty and her bull calf Brandane Nutcracker