Carolyn Fletcher of Barwise Herefords, Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria has been elected as president of the Hereford Cattle Society at the society’s November council meeting.

A member since 2002, Carolyn is famed for her quality of cattle, having won the UK sire of the year trophy on two separate occasions. Due to the pandemic, she has just completed her second year as society vice-president.

She said: “I look forward to taking on my role as president and becoming integral to the running of the society.”

David Smyth of Magheraknock Herefords, Ballynahinch, Co Down was elected as vice-president.

Rempstone 1 Curly N604 from MJ Ludgate, Thame, Oxfordshire stood supreme, grand female and junior female champion in the Hereford section of Agri Expo, hosted by the Scottish and North of England area associations. Born in January 2021, it is by Solpoll 1 Nobility, a Panmure 1 Henry son, which the Ludgates describe as the most consistent bull they have ever used and also sired Rempstone 1 Pansy N513, the top price at the 2019 autumn society sale at 4,200gns.

Judging, Panmure Herefords’ Abbie Anderson described her champion as the sort of heifer she likes, being ‘big and powerful with a cracking head’.

Rempstone 1 Curly N604 – supreme, grand female and junior female champion

It was the grand male and junior male champion which found its way to the reserve supreme spot in the form of Moralee 1 Valuabull RK V19 from T and D Harrison, Mickley, Northumberland. March 2021-born, it is by Moralee 1 Rebel Kicks KS R12 which did so well on this year’s summer show scene. Its dam is the Harrisons’ ‘original Pippa’, Coley 1 Pippa 356, which won the Royal Highland Show in 2017.

Abbie again praised this animal for its power, and added it had ‘great length with plenty of potential’.

Moralee 1 Valuabull RK V19 – grand male, junior male and reserve supreme champion

Commenting on the quality of juniors on show, Abbie placed Moralee 1 Pippa RK V21 as reserve junior and reserve grand female. Born in March 2021, it is a full sister to the Harrisons’ grand male champion.

Moralee 1 Pippa RK V21 – reserve junior female and reserve grand female champion

Staying in the limelight, Ludgate’s Rempstone 1 Venom N597 was tapped out as reserve grand male. Another by Nobility, this time it is out of Gouldingpoll 1 Duchess 911, purchased from Ireland’s Matthew Goulding.

Rempstone 1 Venom N597 – reserve junior male and reserve grand male champion

The senior female championship was won by Bishop Auckland-based W and R Kemp and sons with Auckvale 1 Beth 2023T. By stock bull Auckvale 1 Ramesses, it is out of Auckvale 1 Beth 1791R, an embryo imported from Canada, bred from CBB 4R Iggy 511C which the Kemps own a share of in Canada.

Auckvale 1 Beth 2023T – senior female champion

Reserve senior female champion was Bethanfield 1 Lisette 080 from Bethan Hutchinson, Billingham, County Durham. By Coley 1 Petrus, which Bethan showed for Heather Whittaker at the 2018 Royal Highland, before purchasing for her own use.

Bethanfield 1 Lisette 080 – reserve senior female champion

Coley 1 Vincent from Heather Whittaker, Halifax, West Yorkshire, took the senior male championship, having already stood reserve supreme and junior champions at the 2021 Great Yorkshire Show. A September 2020-born embryo calf originating from Gouldingpoll Herefords’ programme, it is a Fabb 1 Northern Star son, with Gouldingpoll 1 Duchess 591 as its dam, which the Gouldings say is their most successful female.

Coley 1 Vincent – senior male champion

Reserve senior male champion was Saltire 1 Vinnie from WP and K Wason, Kinglassie, Fife. A Laertes son, it is out of Baldinnie 1 Cathy 40^th, which is a Baldinnie 1 Orient daughter.

Saltire 1 Vinnie – reserve senior male champion

Fellowhills 1 Viking from Jimmy Hodge, Horndean, Berwick-upon-Tweed led the November to December 2020-born bull class. Sired by SMH Kingsize 87K, it is out of Fisher 1 Cheerful J364.

In the pairs class, Tom and Di Harrison won the red ticket, before going on to also stand top of the line up in the group of three class, with a trio of Moralee 1 Rebel Kicks KS R12 sired progeny.

From Jimmy Hodge, Fellowhills Kris won the commercial class at nine months old.

The United Feeds calf show returns for another year and will be held on Saturday 13 November at Dungannon Farmers’ Mart.

This will be an opportunity to see some of the best young Hereford stock in Northern Ireland and is to be held in conjunction with NI Shorthorn Club in a multi breed showcase.

Entries close Friday 29 October.

The HCBA Christmas calf show will return to Shrewsbury Auction Centre on Saturday 11 December, by kind permission of Halls, to commence at 9am.

Entries are open and will close on Friday 12 November. Further information and relevant paperwork available here.

For further information please contact HCBA secretary Emma Davies on 07944 519860 or emmajadedavies@hotmail.co.uk.

Sky High 1 Miss Staffordshire sold for 7,000gns while its calf sold separately for 6,500gns

Sky High 1 Miss Staffordshire from Boomer Birch and Graham Brindley, Weston, Staffordshire lead the trade at the herd’s reduction sale, hosted at the society’s autumn sale, selling at 7,000gns to Will Medforth, Llanrug, Gwynedd.

By the renowned Canadian sire Remitall Super Duty 42S, this November 2018-born female is out of Dendor 1 Jennefer 15th, the twice female of the year title winner. Calving at two years old, Staffordshire carries robust performance figures with growth traits ranking in the top 1% of the breed, and has been running with Gouldingpoll 1 Stockman.

Next to be sold was its daughter Sky High 1 Staffordshire Lass, which follows its dam with the same Gwynedd-based buyer. It is a Gouldingpoll 1 Stockman daughter and together with its mother, the outfit grossed 13,500gns.

Forced to sell due to a loss of ground at home, the Sky High herd has experienced a good amount of success since its inception in 2010, and witnessed 100 per cent clearance of its seven lots forward, which averaged £6,315.

Next in the money at 6,800gns was Gouldingpoll 1 Duchess 967, a three year old cow purchased by Steven O’Kane on behalf of a client. By Fabb 1 Northern Star, it was sold with its heifer calf Sky high 1 Lady Lambo at-foot which is a Gouldingpoll 1 Stockman daughter.

Sky High 1 L’amour Lucy sold for 6,200gns

Not far behind at 6,200gns and selling to G and A Redmayne, Kendal was Sky High 1 L’amour Lucy. Sired by Spurstow 1 Super Duty, it is paternal brother to the top price and out of Romany 1 Lucy RE L21, a daughter of another Spurstow-bred sire. The June 2019-born daughter is a maternal sister to the record priced female and National Calf Show champion, Sky High 1 Lancome Lucy, and Agri Expo calf champion Sky High 1 Luscious Lucy.

Sky High 1 Lady Leshurr went at 5,800gns to A Newton, Antrobus, Cheshire. It is the first daughter to be offered for sale from Sky High 1 Shawshank Redemption and is a daughter of Gouldingpoll 1 Duchess 967 which also sold that day.

Eight year old Alderville 1 Diane and heifer calf Sky High 1 Demeter realised 5,400gns, bid by Steven O’Kane on behalf of a client. Diane is sired by Dorepoll 1 93N Transatlantic, which is bred from Remitall stock on either side of its pedigree. The calf is another Gouldingpoll 1 Stockman daughter.

Purchased by L Davies, Oswestry, Shropshire, Alderville 1 Lady Lynda and heifer calf Sky High 1 Lady Lush sold at 4,400gns and had been running with Grifford 1 True Player.

Averages: 7 females, £6,315

Auctioneers: Halls

Demand for females remained strong throughout the Hereford Cattle Society’s autumn sale, with show heifers averaging £3,327 and clearing to 96 per cent. The day’s proceedings concluded with two reduction sales which saw a consignment of seven females from Staffordshire-based Sky High Herefords owned by Boomer Birch and Graham Brindley with a total clearance at an average of £6,315.

The Medforths and their Sky High purchases

Peaking at 7,000gns, Sky High 1 Miss Staffordshire lead the day’s trade which was purchased by Will Medforth, Llanrug, Gwynedd along with the following lot, its daughter, Sky High 1 Staffordshire Lass at 6,500gns. The Sky High entries saw Gouldingpoll 1 Duchess 967 hit 6,800gns, with Steven O’Kane putting in the winning bid on behalf of a client. The consignment also included Sky High 1 L’amour Lucy which sold at 6,200gns to G and A Redmayne, Kendal while the hammer went down at 5,800gns for Sky High 1 Lady Leshurr to A Newton, Antrobus, Cheshire and 5,400gns for Sky High 1 Demeter to an undisclosed buyer.

Read more about the Sky High reduction sale here.

Harveybros 1 Crocus S6 sold for 5,500gns

First lot through the ring, Harveybros 1 Crocus S6 from George and Sophie Harvey, Balfron, Glasgow, started things off with a bang at 5,500gns, selling to Bosolo Farms, Isle of Arran. By the legendary Normanton 1 Laertes, its full sister Crocus Tiara was reserve female champion at the Royal Highland Showcase this year. April 2019-born, it was sold AI’d to Wirruna Matty M288.

Moorside 1 New Dawn 4th sold for 5,500gns

Moorside 1 New Dawn 4th from G and MC Shepherd, Preston met strong demand, selling at 5,500gns to Ian Wilkinson of Redstroke Herefords, Inchture, Perthshire at 18 month of age. By Hoghton View 1 Gold Mine, it is out of a home-bred female from two Moorside-bred parents. The purchaser took home two other Moorside females on the day, having also purchased Moorside 1 Julia 4th at the 2020 Designer Genes sale for 5,600gns.

Milovaig 1 Lady Jane 2nd sold for 5,300gns

At 5,300gns, Milovaig 1 Lady Jane 2nd sold to Tom and Di Harrison, Mickley, Northumberland. This March 2020-born heifer is by Shraden 1 Perestroika and out of a home-bred Solpoll 1 Ferrari daughter. The breeders had travelled to the society sale with their first females offered at public auction to mark their 25th year within the breed, selling three females to average £3,800.

Dendor 1 Echo 39th sold for 4,600gns

Dendor 1 Echo 39th, the only female entry from DE, ED and AL Jones, Caersws, Powys sold to a top call of 4,600gns from Saltire Herefords’ Willie and Pauline Wason, Kinglassie, Fife. The youngest show heifer entered at just nine months old, it is by Dendor 1 Nairobi, the 2018 National Poll Show supreme champion, while its dam, Dendor 1 Echo 36th was reserve champion at the National Calf Show in the same year.

Glenvale 1 Sara 730 sold for 4,200gns

TG, EI and EN Thorne, Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire were named 2021 national herd of the year the night before and led Glenvale 1 Sara 730 through the ring to a top call of 4,200gns. September 2019-born, it is by AI bull Netherhall 1 OZ Daffy M024 and out of a Bosa 1 Hereward daughter. It was purchased by B Nicholls, Parracombe, Devon.

In the for sale only female section, trade topped at 4,000gns for another from G and MC Shepherd, this time Moorside 1 Jane 19th, which sold to A Whitfield, Bronington, Shropshire. It is a daughter of the 13,000gns Coley 1 Pilot and out of Romany 1 Jane A51 E66.

Not far behind at 3,600gns was herd mate Moorside 1 New Dawn 5th, which is another Pilot daughter but this time out of a daughter of Australian sire Injemira Advance Z080 and was part of Ian Wilkinson’s purchases.

Rempstone 1 Fashion E436 from M Ludgate, Thame, Oxfordshire sold for 3,300gns to Jim Speirs of Pepperstock Herefords, Luton and is out of Kinglee 1 Fashion 3045, which goes back to the Costhorpe herd.

There was less demand for bulls on the day, with Barwise 1 Tango MU T1139 from Carolyn Fletcher, Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria, leading the trade at 4,000gns, having previously taken the top price at the spring sale at the same venue. With a good set of figures, including a calving ease direct index in the top 1 per cent, this bull sold to commercial man Mark Spendlove, Northamptonshire to use on British Blue cross cows.

Barwise 1 Tango MU T1139 sold for 4,000gns

The hammer went down at 3,500gns for Free Town Talent from RA Bradstock, Tarrington, Herefordshire. November 2019-born, this bull is by Irish-bred sire Moyclare Quinlan and out of a Mara Humorous-bred daughter. It was purchased by N Hooper, Leigh Sinton, Worcestershire.

Also selling at 3,500gns was Vexour 1 Theodore from Jan Boomaars, Surrey, which was purchased by ELL and CE Evans, Talybont, Dyfed. Several other bulls sold for 3,000gns.

The reduction sale of Harold Hatt’s Basingstoke-based Weybrook herd saw the senior section of his herd’s females go through the ring, with 19 lots averaging £1,995. The price leader from this breeder was Weybrook 1 Dawn 16th, a Romany 1 Kryptonite daughter, which sold to CMG Sutton Scott Tucker, Bowden, Devon.

Averages: 22 show females, £3,327; 11 bulls, £2,989; 11 for sale only females, £2,401; 7 Sky High females, £6,315; 18 Weybrook females, £2,106.

Auctioneers: Halls

At the annual awards dinner of the Hereford Cattle Society, Pembrokeshire-based breeders George, Ionwy and Non Thorne were named as winners of the national herd of the year title after winning the Wales herd competition this summer. With the Glenvale poll, Studdolph poll and Ashdale British Polled herds to their name, the Thorne family have been in the breed since 1946, and were also founding members of the British Polled Hereford Society.

Now running 35 breeding females, the family have experienced some great successes over the years, and previously won the herd of the year title in 2008. This year alone, they topped the female trade at the society’s spring sale with Glenvale 1 Polly 721 which sold at 5,200gns after 40 years of private-only female sales.

This year’s National Poll Show also saw Studdolph 1 Barbie 754 in the reserve supreme position in the hands of Inverness-based owners Calum Smith and Anna Wilson.

Commenting on her visit to the herd, judge Pat Stanley commended the breeders for their animals’ uniformity, stating all groups were of the same type. She highlighted the females’ flat tops and great depth, and praised the cattle for their second thigh and rump angle.

Taking second place was Phillip and Laura Vincent, Norfolk who had led the Midlands and East Anglia Hereford Breeders Association herd competition. Their Pulham herd consists of approximately 30 horned and 15 poll breeding females.

Having won the North of England Hereford Breeders’ Association herd competition a total of seven times, the Kemp family were pleased to be named third place in the national competition. Operating under the Auckvale prefix, they run 100 cows.

For more of the regional herd competition, click here.

Solpoll 1 Starlet M19 from John and William McMordie, Ballygowan, led the honours at Balmoral Show which this year was held in September rather than its usual May date. Judged by Devon cattle breeder Jeff Thomas who travelled from Cornwall, it lay host to 29 entries from 10 different exhibitors.

Solpoll 1 Starlet M19

Six and a half years old, this McMordie-bred cow is a daughter of the renowned Panmure 1 Henry which has already sired three Balmoral-winning daughters. Its dam is a Solpoll 1 Dynamite daughter and carries Canadian breeding on either side of its pedigree.

Shown with its heifer calf at-foot, Jeff Thomas described the female as a ‘good, strong, powerful cow with real style’, adding it had ‘bred and fed a real good calf’.

In the interbreed championship, this cow went on to be placed third by judge John Elliot of Rawburn Angus, Kelso.

John said: “All three females put on a maternal masterclass and on another day the Hereford could have won the show”.

In the final interbreed class of the week, the native team of five, consisting of cattle from the Haire family, John and William McMordie, Marcus Murdock, Stephen Cherry and Andrew McMordie took first prize.

The reserve Hereford champion was from the same stable and came in the form of Solpoll 1 Triumph which also won the junior championship. March 2020-born, it is by Moeskaer Mentos and out of another Starlet female and Henry daughter. In the interbreed performance recorded championship, this bull was tapped out as champion by well-known Kilrea-based Limousin breeder Paul Rainey, having already taken the native title.

Solpoll 1 Triumph

During the breed judging, Jeff commented the bull was a ‘good type of bull’ with ‘excellent feet’ being ‘thick and full in its plates and nice across its top’.

McMordies were back on top in the senior bull class, won by Solpoll 1 Real Good, out of another Panmure 1 Henry daughter, but this time it is an ET son of Canadian-bred NBG 69T The Wonderer 36R 3W.

Solpoll 1 Real Good

Success continued for the McMordie family in the 1 July 2019 to 31 December 2019-born heifer class where the reserve female champion was also found in the form of Solpoll 1 Starlet T4. Born in October 2019, it is a daughter of the show’s champion, Solpoll 1 Starlet M19. It is sired by Solpoll 1 Promoter, which is a son of the Canadian-bred FCC Twenty X 20X and was also reserve native and reserve overall interbreed beef performance champion. This heifer was also a class winner in the NIHBA virtual calf show last year.

Solpol 1 Starlet T4

The 1 January to 30 June 2019 heifer class was taken by Magheraknock Niki S2 from David Smyth, Ballynahinch, Co Down. By Free Town Mentor, a Mara Humorous son, it is out of a home-bred female, sired by Border Quaestor H5, bred by Stan Quan, Herefordshire.

Magheraknock Niki S2

The 2020-born heifer class was won by Stephen Cherry’s Ballypallady 1 TigerLily, a January-born Dorepoll 1 60G Chinook daughter. It is out of Boghill 1 Nicola, bred by FA and E Kerridge, Templepatrick, Co Antrim and by Trillick Hotspur, bred by Ireland’s JJ and C Farrell.

Ballypallady 1 TigerLily

The group of three class was again taken by John and William McMordie, with the trio made up of Solpoll 1 Triumph, Solpoll 1 Starlet T4 and Solpoll 1 Starlet M19.

Marcus Murdock took the pairs class with two Romany 1 Lawbreaker progeny.

Marcus Murdock’s pair

A duo of Solpoll animals placed third in the interbreed pairs competition from John and William McMordie. The Hereford group of three also placed third in the interbreed and was made up of Solpoll and Ballypallady animals.

A Hereford-cross heifer named Hetty from JCB Commercials, Newtonwards, Co Down led the native sired commercial class, bred by Aaron Quigley and out of a British Blue dam.

Leading the Hereford section at Westmorland Show and taking the breed champion title was Coley 1 Pilot from Graham Shepherd, Preston, tapped out by Jack Henry of Blakelaw Herefords, West Yorkshire. Purchased for a record poll bull price of 13,000gns at the 2018 Designer Genes sale, it was also named Hereford Champion of Europe and UK Hereford bull of the year. Born in January 2017, it is out of Romany 1 Ishbel and by Coley 1 Maverick.

Moralee 1 Pippa KS S11

Moralee 1 Pippa KS S11 from T and D Harrison, Northumberland stood reserve champion. An animal now known to most, it has had a good deal of success across the country this summer. Senior female champion at the National Poll Show, it is April 2019-born and by the 2019 UK sire of the year, SMH King Size 87K, and out of Coley 1 Pippa 356. This season, the heifer has already been named reserve native interbreed champion at Staffordshire County, reserve breed and female champion at Devon County, female champion at the Great Yorkshire and reserve breed champion at the Royal Highland Showcase.

Moralee 1 Vandal RK V16 and Morlee 1 Villian RK V17

The Harrisons also took first place in the pairs class with Moralee 1 Vandal RK V16 and Morlee 1 Villian RK V17, both by Moralee 1 Rebel Kicks KS R12, which was interbreed champion at Devon County, native interbreed champion at the Royal Highland Showcase and reserve interbreed champion at the Great Yorkshire.

Coley 1 Vincent, another familiar animal on this summer’s show circuit stood first place in the 2020-born bull class. September 2020-born, it was reserve supreme and junior champion at the Great Yorkshire Show before standing reserve junior male champion at Moreton. A Fabb 1 Northern Star son, it is out of Gouldingpoll 1 Duchess 591, a daughter of the Canadian-bred Remitall Super Duty 42S.

Eveter 1 Demelza 5th from Emma Jackson, Lancashire took the red ticket in the junior female class. A Normanton 1 Laertes daughter, it is out of Barbern 1 June 349, bred by Barbara and Bernard Rimmer.

Moralee 1 Pippa KS S11 from Tom and Di Harrison was victorious in the breed championship at Staffordshire County Show, continuing a successful summer despite a reduced show circuit. The heifer was tapped out by Jack Henry, West Yorkshire in the breed judging, before named as reserve native champion the following day by Jim Barber, Cheshire.

Moralee 1 Pippa KS S11

April 2019-born, it is yet another by the prolific SMH King Size 87K and out of Coley 1 Pippa 356 which stood breed champion at the Royal Highland in 2017, a daughter of Australian sire, Days Calibre G74 daughter. Together with Spartan 1 Typhoon from SC and GL Hartwright, this heifer also made up one half of the winning pair of animals.

Reserve and male champion was Clares 1 Stafford from M and C Whieldon, Eccleshall, Staffordshire. Born in May 2019, it is by Cogent’s Netherhall 1 Oz Daffy M024 and out of Romany 1 Dawn H12 M55 and won the senior bull class at Shropshire County Show last month.

Spartan 1 Typhoon from SC and GL Hartwright, Abingdon, Oxfordshire stood reserve champion, and also did well at Shropshire County where it won its class, and has since taken the reserve male title at the Royal Lancashire Show. It is a son of Solpoll 1 Perfection, purchased at the 2019 society spring show and sale for 8,000gns from Northern Ireland’s John and William McMordie and went on to win the 2019 Devon County and Royal Bath and West breed championships.

Winning pair of Moralee 1 KS S11 and Spartan 1 Typhoon

R and RI Shaw, Cheshire and heifer Hallwood 1 Oyster Shell produced the reserve female champion. By Hallwood 1 Knight, it is out of Kinglee 1 Oyster Girl 495, a daughter of Kinglee 1 Jowett and won its senior cow class at the Royal Lancashire.

Another from the Shaws, Hallwood 1 Carefree Girl, led the March 2019 to March 2020 born heifer class. October 2019-born, this female is sired by herd sire Vexour 1 Ned, a son of Solpoll 1 Landmark, and out of a home-bred female.

SA Jones and CH Corbishley, Cheshire moved to the fore in the junior heifer class with Sandlow 1 Delilah. By Rempstone 1 Mines-A-Double E432, it is out of Silvertrees 1 Dalcota, bred by A Davies.