As the first year of my term as chairman draws to a close, I’d like to thank the president, Charlie, secretary Bridget and treasurer Gill. Also all the committee and members for their support and encouragement. Your commitment to continually improving your cattle promotes our breed making it a joy to be your club chairman.
The year began in January with our annual dinner at Plume n Feathers at Mitchell, with 33 members and friends attending the dinner including our guests Phil and Lesley Martyn-Uglow hosts of our 2018 commercial open day. The meal was followed by a rousing round of Irish bingo won by John Olds.
February
We hosted the annual duel between the Cornwall Simmental and Truro South Devon clubs. This year we decided to run a beetle drive, organised by our president Charlie Harris, with a pin the tail competition adding to the excitement. With the South Devons winning, we anticipate the returning tussel in 2020.
Several members ventured to Stirling, with Islavale emerging champions followed by a selective trade. New investments headed back to Cornwall to the Bosahan and Kurlycoat herds.
March
Featured a member’s social night at country skittles Townsend., with a meal followed by a game of eightpins on the cards with a gender battle of men v ladies. The ladies won with Penny Lally clinching the victory by being the only individual to scatter all the skittles with one bowl.
April
Featured a get together to enjoy a new event the “Turnout Lunch” celebrating cattle out at grass and longer days. A carvery meal at the Fox and Hounds Comfort was top class. Members were pleased to welcome Jenny Harris our president’s wife after a nasty fall while gardening involved a transfer to the house via wheelbarrow by Charlie despite broken limbs!!!
May
Brought the Worcester bull sale and club members Chegwidden (reserve male champion with Chegwidden Jericho) and Bosahan venturing forth. The best spring sale outside Scotland experienced very good trade with bulls meeting an 85% clearance and 16 bulls selling to average £4010. Females also attracted attention with the dispersal of Lopemede and Ravensdale herds. Killiworgie acquired an Ashland Brandy daughter Weeton Erica’s Indigo while 2 young Lopemede heifers were added to the new Hawkhill herd.
The planned visit to Healeys Cyder Farm was cancelled as the Secretary was somewhat distracted due to the early arrival of a grandchild.
June
Royal Cornwall (with past shows causing concern) I was pleased with the support from sponsors, marquee hosts and members exhibiting. From setting up to clearing away all committee members were involved . The hosts in the hospitality marquee allowed exhibitors to concentrate on stock therefore a special thanks to Crediton Milling, Seamus Nagle Bullbank and Focus farm vets and members. Although stock numbers were down with fewer exhibitors, Judge David Barker had a selection of good quality cattle meriting rosettes and prizes. Many thanks to exhibitors working hard to present cattle on show day, interbreed day in atrocious conditions including the new team of 5 competition and finally being caught in the rain again on Saturday during breed promotion.
With all effort and enthusiasm for our county show a first visit from the breed secretary Neil Shand on show day resulted in Royal Cornwall making a big impression. The size of show, breed quality and pitch position of marquee were all major contributors to raising the profile of the Simmental breed. Neil remarked we must continue with the marquee even if it requires assistance from a 3rd party to help costs and sharing hospitality .
A special mention must go to Roger Pascoe for receiving a lifetime achievement in the livestock section for showing at Royal Cornwall for 60 years in all breeds of cattle, horses and acting as night steward for 10yrs.
End of June saw members and friends travel to the Clyst herd of Simmentals at Exeter a budding young herd of cattles owned and generously shown by Steve Hammet and family . Members received a very warm welcome and enjoyed a visit in glorious sunshine.
July & August
Several members were busy exhibiting and proudly showing their stock around the county at one day shows, special mention to Steve n Gill Gummow winning the interbreed at Stithians show with their young bull Killiworgie Jack The Lad, a first for the Simmental Breed,
and to the group of 3 for winning the prestigious Archie Opie Trophy for the 2nd year running.
At Camborne Killiworgie Chrissie’s Izzie emerged champion with Bosahan Jessica Star reserve.
Wellatree represented the Simmental breed with Jemima and Jewell in the interbreed pair of uncalved heifers standing in reserve spot.
Over the 5 one day shows the club runs a most points competition where points are collected for exhibiting and places. This year the most points award was won by Megan Wellington Pennytinney herd with 31 points. Including reserve Simmental Champion at Stithians, Reserve Interbreed Champion at Liskeard and Other Beef Breeds Champion at Launceston. Reserve was Steve n Gill Gummow Killiworgy herd with 30 points. With Bosahan, Wellatree, Trevabyn also taking part.
2019 OPEN DAY
This year the open day was kindly hosted by David Reeve and Steph Hooper and family at Castle Farm Castle an Dinas St Columb. 40 plus members and interested parties from Lands’ End to Bristol gathered to be shown around their commercial cattle and their established Tregnether herd of pedigree Simmentals. The cattle shone on well farmed land with views to match. Many thanks to David and Steph’s for their energy and enthusiasm. Hopefully members will support and encourage these young breeders.
Members from Threemilestone YFC also attended and were presented with a £100 donation, from the Cornwall Simmental Club in conjunction with Edd Buckland. The money will be added their 2019 Fundraising For Our Future Campaign to purchase the plot of land that their club hall sits on.
CQLP concluded the day giving a talk on livestock marketing. Our thanks go to Peter Chapman Chairman and procurement and marketing officer Shelley Lockett for giving up their Sunday to join us.
Reports of the open day were featured in several agricultural publications.
August
Our 2019 club trip saw club members travel to Tullamore show in the Republic of Ireland taking in visits to the Dermotstown, Hillcrest and Coose herds. Both the show and herd walks left most members with cow envy!
For a one day show Tullamore Show is on a vast scale , with long walks up hill down dale while the cattle section provides a huge spectacle of 1000 pedigree cattle. With the trip being memorable for all including a 35th wedding anniversary and your chairman’s first international judging stint.
September
Brought highs and lows. Firstly, the herd competition judged by Simon Key from Key Simmentals in Norfolk.
With 3 commercial and 8 pedigree herds involved Simon set about his task in a hectic 2 ½ days ending in an awards dinner at the Chiverton arms. Unfortunately an untimely Society conference call led to Simon missing his meal before explaining his decisions and presenting awards.
John and Bridget Olds Bosahan herd took the overall best herd and Steve and Gill Gummow Killiworgie runners-up.
Ant Hart Treverbyn took the small herds honours.
For the first year we ran an associate commercial competition resulting in Edward White’ s White Bolankin winning the best commercial herd
Stephanie Hooper was deservedly awarded The John Langdon Trophy for the Young Member of The Year.
The next day saw Sowenna Bosahan Killiworgie and Crowgey herds hot footing it to Worcester to support a new autumn sale, with the optimistic hope of selling success and empty pens. After a very hard trade with only 4 bulls selling members returned home disappointed. However a better clearance of females in a depressed beef market resulted in the Cornwall based herds of Housey and Hawkhill investing in Little Orchard and Dinton bloodlines.
Other scheduled events for the month namely to cycle the Camel Trail Wadebridge – Padstow and visits to Warren Butchers and St Boniface Vets either conflicted with the Cornwall and South West herd competitions or were cancelled by our prospective hosts.
October
Lodge and Thomas held the 2nd Simmental Sired Suckled Calf show in conjunction with the Cornwall Simmental club
With the British Simmental and Cornwall club sponsoring £600 of prize money over 50 Simmentals were entered and ably judged by Keith Hawkey from Sowenna. The Hooper family won 3 out the 4 classes and Olds family the 4th with the Simmentals making some of the top prices and standing up very well alongside all the other breeds, many thanks to all the supporters. In the words of the auctioneers “Thank you again for your society’s sponsorship of our second Suckled Calf Prize Sale which, given the current political and economic position, was a success. There was a super show of Simmentals on offer and differing buyers for the winning bunches.”
Some members travelled to autumn Stirling bull sales and shared the excitement of seeing the Killiworgie herd make a considerable investment in a class winner and son of Ranfurly Confederate. Islavale Jerico’s maternal lines include Darsham and Milnafua.
October concluded with the annual pedigree beef calf show. One of our life members Roger Pascoe presided as president .
There were Simmental entries forward from Killiworgie, Treverbyn, Tregnether, and Pennytinney and welcome entries from the Winford herd near Bristol.
Winford Jasmin from Len & Adrian Curry emerged Simmental Champion with Killiworgie Mirandas Krystal from the Gummow family standing reserve
I am also delighted to report that following nominations and the national AGM at Stirling your chairman is now elected to be a representative on the council of the British Simmental cattle society.
I will do my utmost to support, represent and be a voice for the Cornwall members and the cattle we breed.
As a club we must continue to welcome new and young members, whether pedigree or commercial breeders and other interested parties or businesses.
As a breed we move into the 50th year in this country and we also celebrate the Cornwall Club’s 30th year. Therefore in 2020 please continue to support our events, social evenings and herd visits. Exhibit your cattle promoting Simmentals and encourage others to enjoy our wonderful sociable and friendly club.
Lastly once again I wish to thank all members and friends for a successful and enjoyable year,
Cornwall Simmental Club’s Commercial Open Day 2019
Over forty commercial and pedigree breeders travelled from Somerset, Devon and throughout Cornwall to attend the eighth Cornwall Simmental Open Day on Sunday 28th July. In glorious sunshine we were treated to a tour of Castle Farm, Castle-an-Dinas, St Columb Major at the kind invitation of the Hooper Family.
After welcoming visitors with coffee and cake Cornwall Simmental Club Chairman, Barrie Wynter presented a cheque to Kieran Varker (Vice Chairman) and Natalie Brown (Social Media and Communications Officer) representing Threemilestone YFC. The £100.00 donation goes to the club’s 2019 Fundraising For Our Future Campaign. Threemilestone and District Young Farmers have the opportunity to purchase the plot of land that the club hall sits on, including the surrounding car park area for £52,000. In six months they are half way to their target.
Shown around by David, Steph and Peter we viewed over one hundred and thirty suckler cows including pedigree blondes and Simmentals as well as cross-bred dams. Grazing two hundred and twenty acres of permanent pasture reclaimed from downs the family’s hard work has resulted in plentiful grass despite the hot, dry conditions experienced this year. The farm rises to eight hundred and fifty feet (two hundred and sixty metres) above sea level. The surrounding views were marvellous as David remarked ‘one of the best offices in the world’.
Decisions throughout the move from a dairy business to a suckler beef enterprise have been based on costings and currently the herd is run to offer top class suckled calves at Truro Livestock Market from the end of August onwards with only herd replacements being retained. This allows dams to recover and gain condition before the majority calve indoors during the winter months.
With all members of team Hooper also working part time off the holding, this system aids management and reduces winter costs while maximising profits. The move to increase numbers of Simmentals over the last five years has been driven by temperament, handling ease and the dams’ ability to grow shapely calves with good confirmation that have been proved to be very easy to sell.
Following welcome refreshments Cornwall Quality Livestock Producers representatives, Peter Chapman Chairman and procurement and marketing officer Shelley Lockett, gave a presentation on their independent livestock marketing co-operative owned by its farming members.
As a group of farmers they benefit from marketing their stock together the organisation has roots going back to 1975 when a group of enterprising Cornish lamb producers collaborated to market their early season lambs outside the county to achieve higher returns.
For over thirty years CQLP have been selling livestock on behalf of members located throughout the South West to deadweight outlets across the UK. Livestock farmers work together to retain strength and independence in the marketplace, encourage best practice and improve the profitability of their businesses as well as promoting the quality of the beef and lamb they produce. With over two hundred and fifty members CQLP market over 20,000 lambs and 5,000 cattle per year sharing transport costs and benefiting from insurance against bad debts. CQLP has an interactive website where the members’ only area has latest information and prices and also offers a free advertising section covering breeding stock, machinery and miscellaneous agricultural services.
The afternoon concluded with votes of thanks and gifts for our tremendous hosts.
