JAMES HODGE’S GOLDSTAR HERD WINS THE SIMMENTAL YOUNGSTOCK SHOW WITH DENIZES MELODY 62ND!

The April 2024 heifer Denizes Melody 62nd from the Goldstar herd of Ayrshire’s James Hodge, Dundonald, lifted the Overall Supreme, and Senior Champion titles at the Simmental Youngstock Show held within the Borderway Agri Expo yesterday, Friday 31st October at Harrison & Hetherington’s Borderway Mart.

This growing Simmental show, held in the fantastic new extension within Borderway Mart, Carlisle, saw a good entry of Simmental youngstock with entries from Scotland, England, and Wales competing.  The Young Handler classes were also well supported and keenly contested which was great to see.

Denizes Melody 62nd Senior and Overall Supreme Champion

Sired by Hiltonstown Lorenzo, the days Champion, Denizes Melody 62^nd, was purchased as a calf at foot along with her mum, the then nine-year-old Denizes Melody 22nd, for 7000gns at the Production Sale of the Denizes Herd of MA Barlow & Sons, Lancashire, held at Stirling in October 2024. Earlier this summer she secured a memorable Overall reserve Supreme at the Simmental Scottish National Show held in Perth.

After giving her the Championship tap, the judge for the day James Griffin, of the noted Hemingford herd, Cambridgeshire, said: “This is a really classy heifer full of style and presence. She was very correct, well fleshed, walked well, had plenty of breed character, and just has all the makings to be a tremendous Simmental breeding female.”

Judge for the day, James Griffin of the Hemingford Herd getting hands on

Denizes Melody 62^nd had initially come through the first heifer class of the day for heifers born between 1^st April – 30^th June 2024, before going on to take the Senior Championship, and finally the Overall Supreme title.  Commenting afterwards James Hodge said: “We’re really delighted to have won the Overall Supreme Championship with Melody and in what is our first time at the event.  From day one she has just been a dream to work with.  We’ve had a fantastic summer and this has now just rounded off the year.  From here we’ll aim to get in her in-calf and with a view to a back end calving.  We’ll look at taking her to Ayr Show in May next year, and some other local shows.  The Simmental Youngstock Show was a fantastic event as a whole and it was great to take part and meet a few new breeders from around the UK.”

Taking the Overall Reserve Supreme, and the Junior Championship, was the January 2025 born Fishpool Spartan (P) from Tom and Jenn Hassall, Winsford, Cheshire. Heterozygous polled, this young bull is by Newbiemains Kalypso 19, and is out of Fishpool Lottie (P), from the herd’s Kilbride Farm Eunice 277J line.   This calf won the class for bull calves born between 1^st January 2025 and 15^th March 2025, where he pipped his stablemate, the similarly bred Fishpool Spitfire 2025, also by Kalypso and +11 for Maternal (Milk), into second place.

Fishpool Spartan Junior and Reserve Overall Supreme Champion

Of his Reserve Champion the judge James Griffin said: “Just a really nice bull calf who had that bit of sparkle on the day. Still very young he was a calf with shape, a good top, and again who walked very well.”

For the Fishpool herd, regular supporters of the Simmental Youngstock Show, this was their highest placing to date.  Speaking afterwards Jenn Hassall said: “We’re really delighted to have won the Overall Reserve today.  We think Spartan is a very modern Simmental who has length to him, with a good end, and is good on his legs.  He’s got such a gentle nature and we’ll see how he goes on from here but his next trip will be to the English Winter Fair next month.”

The Denizes herd of MA Barlow & Sons, Ulnes, Nr Leyland, Lancs put up a strong defence of their Overall Supreme title won last year, and when taking the Reserve Supreme Championship with Denizes Ringmaster 24.  This June 2024 born calf is one of the first sons by the herd stock bull Corskie Nutmeg, purchased privately in 2023 for £32,000 after winning the Junior Male Championship at the Royal Highland Show.  Out of Kennox Imogen (TF), Denizes Ringmaster is in the breed’s top 1% for Maternal (Milk), and top 5% for 220, 400, 600 day weight.  Denizes Ringmaster is being aimed at the 2026 Stirling February Bull Sale.  On the day, the Denizes herd also won the class for heifers born between 1^st July 2024 – 30^th September 2024 with the Denizes Hamish 16 daughter, Denizes Matilda 21^st. Having bred Denizes Melody 62^nd, this is the second year in a row that a Denizes animal has won the Overall Supreme.

Denizes Ringmaster 24 Reserve Senior Champion

Lifting the Reserve Junior Championship was the smart young heifer Castlewigg Ringleader J-Lo 2 from Frank Gwynne, Castlewigg Farm, Whithorn, Newton Stewart. January 2025 born this well bred heifer is by Blackford Ringleader, and is out of Brandane J-Lo, a Team Celtic daughter out of Sterling Bacardi’s Funky.  Again with strong performance figures, this Castlewigg heifer is in the breed’s top 10% for 200, 400, & 600 day weight, and also in the top 10% for Maternal (+Milk). Castlewigg Ringleader J-Lo 2 initially came through a strong class of heifers born between 1^st January 2025, and 15^th March 2025.

Castlewigg Ringleader J-LO 2 Reserve Junior Champion

It was another good day for the Storersmith herd of Richard & Louise Storer Smith, Spath Farm House, Uttoxeter, who lifted a first prize in the bull calf classes, had a class 1-2-3 in the heifers, and rounded it off by winning the Pairs!   In the class for heifers born between 1^st October 2024 – 31^st December 2024, the red ticket went to the November 2024 born Storersmith Rapunzel. Out of Storersmith Moonshine GP 83, this heifer is by herd sire Storersmith Navarone 22 VG 88 the Overall Supreme Champion at this year’s Simmental English National Show.  Rapunzel prevailed over her team mates Storersmith Ribbon, a Ranfurly Notorious N2 22 daughter, and Storersmith Raffia, another by Navarone 22 VG 88.  Winning the class for bulls born between 1^st October 2024 – 31^st December 2024 was the December born Storersmith Rasputin, again by Storersmith Navarone 22 VG 88, and out of the Atlow Dixon daughter Storersmith Misty VG 87.  Come the Pairs and Storersmith Rapunzel teamed up with Storersmith Robyn, another Navarone 22 VG 88 daughter, to take that title.

Storersmith Rapunzel

A further noted mention must go to Gavin Brown, Penicuik, Midlothian.  Another strong team saw Springfield cattle have a first and a second in the bull class for calves born on or after 16^th March 2025 with Springfield Strongbow, and Springfield Stallone; a win in the heifer class born on or after 15^th March 2025 with Springfield Skylar; Reserve Overall in the Pairs with Islavale Raven and Springfield Raven, and a further second, and third prize tickets in a heifer class.

Springfield Strongbow

A highlight of this annual show is the Young Handlers classes judged during the Championships, and they were once again keenly contested this year with tremendous enthusiasm and ability throughout.  Winning the category for handlers aged between 10 and 15 years was Polly Steggles of the Wacton herd, Norfolk, whilst the class for young handlers aged between 15 and 28 years was won by Beth Lawman who was showing with the Storersmith team, Uttoxeter.

Denizes Melody 62nd and Fishpool Spartan 25 Overall and Reserve Overall Champion

Denizes Melody 62nd and Denizes Ringmaster 24 Senior and Reserve Senior Champion

2025 SIMMENTAL YOUNGSTOCK SHOW, BORDERWAY AGRI EXPO, H&H, CARLISLE

31^st October 2025

Judge: James Griffin, Hemingford Herd, Cambridgeshire

Results

Bull born between 1.4.24&30.6.25

1st: MA Barlow & Sons – Denizes Ringmaster 24

2nd: Messrs RCS&CFE Addison – Lyvennet Racey 24

Bull born between 1.10.25&31.12.24

1st: R&L Storer Smith – Storersmith Rasputin 24

Storersmith Rasputin

Bull born between 1.1.25&15.3.25

1st: T&J Hassall – Fishpool Spartan 25

2nd: T&J Hassall – Fishpool Spitfire

3rd: M/SRE & SHW Steggles – Wacton Schoffel 25

Bull born on or after 16.3.25

1st: Gavin Brown – Springfield Strongbow 25

Springfield Strongbow

2nd: Gavin Brown – Springfield Stallone

Heifer born between 1.4.24&30.6.24

1st: James & Claire Hodge – Denizes Melody 62nd

2nd: Gavin Brown – Islavale Raven

3rd: Gavin Brown – Springfield Rita

Heifer born between 1.7.24&30.9.24

1st: MA Barlow & Sons – Denizes Matilda 21st

Denizes Matilda 21st

2nd: Gavin Brown – Springfield Rose

3rd: Messrs N&N Gwynne – Chestermann Explorer Lulu

Heifer born between 1.10.24&31.12.24

1st: R&L Storer Smith – Storersmith Rapunzel

2nd: R&L Storer Smith – Storersmith Ribbon

3rd: R&L Storer Smith – Storersmith Raffia

Heifer born between 1.1.25&15.3.25

1st: Frank Gwynne – Castlewigg Ringleader J-Lo 2

2nd: A Davies – Hirwaun Snowdrop

Hirwaun Snowdrop

3rd: M/SRE & SHW Steggles – Wacton Sophie

Heifer born on or after 16.3.25

1st: Gavin Brown – Springfield Skylar

Springfield Skylar

2nd: Nick Edmondson – Crakeside Sadie Haka

3rd: Gavin Brown – Springfield Shannon

Pairs

1st: R&L Storer Smith

Pairs winners Storersmith Rapunzel and Storersmith Robyn

2nd: Gavin Brown

Young Handlers

Young handlers aged between 10 and 15 years: Polly Steggles

Young handlers aged between 15 and 28 years: Beth Lawman

Senior Champion

– James & Claire Hodge – Denizes Melody 62nd

Reserve Senior Champion

– MA Barlow & Sons – Denizes Ringmaster 24

Junior Champion

– T&J Hassall – Fishpool Spartan 25

Reserve Junior Champion

– Frank Gwynne – Castlewigg Ringleader J-Lo 2

Overall Supreme Champion

– James & Claire Hodge – Denizes Melody 62nd

Reserve Overall Supreme Champion

– T&J Hassall – Fishpool Spartan 25