The growing Impact and stature of the hardy hill breed was clearly evident at CCM Skipton’s fourth annual show and sale on behalf of the Belted Galloway Cattle Society, likely the most successful to date at the North Yorkshire venue when attracting vendors from a wide area, who arrived with a quality entry of bulls, cow and calf outfits and single females put before a packed and eager ringside, producing a host of four-figure selling prices to a top of 6,000gns. (Sat, May 30)
It fell to the first prize senior bull, male and overall champion, and sole entry from Cumbria’s Carolyn Fletcher, Barwise herd, Appleby-in-Westmorland. Her Barwise Ergo is a well-grown three-year-old with a strong back pedigree, being by the highly influential sire, Maybeck Dundee, also responsible for Barwise Jamboree, whom at two-years-old made 15,000gns at the annual Society sale at Castle Douglas in 2024.
The supreme champion’s dam is Barwise Ermina, herself by Barwise Jigsaw, a premier herd sire who was not only champion at the Royal, Royal Highland and Great Yorkshire Shows, but also has produced numerous other champions.
Carolyn established her currently 60-strong Barwise Hall herd in 2002 after losing all her cattle and sheep to foot and mouth – the family also runs a pedigree Hereford herd – and her Skipton victor was shown by daughter Zara Wise and 13-year-old grandson, George.
Derbyshire show judge and Society stalwart Robert Adams, Bigginvale herd, Alstonfield, deemed his chosen champion the standout entry among a good standard of both males and females, and it was no surprise, therefore, when Ergo commanded top call in sale, heading north to the Cairngorms National Park with Alana Clark, Dalbeg, Carrbridge.
Best described as a hobby farmer, she only recently established her Belted Galloway herd, which has the Dalbeg prefix, and her new acquisition will be put to work on three foundation heifers. Alana has already shown her heifers with some success on the regional show circuit, with future forays no doubt in the pipeline.
Standing reserve supreme was the female champion from Derbyshire’s Jonathan and Vicky Clowes, Monochrome herd, Woodside, Ilkeston, a rising two-year-old heifer, Monochrome Lexus, by Fernyford Oscar, acquired from Peak District breeder and former national herd competition winner Neil Richardson, who judged the breed highlight at Skipton in 2023.
“He bred some really nice, big, strong cattle – both bulls and heifers – for us, and all four of our show team this year are by him,” explained Jonathan, who founded the now 60-strong herd some 14 years ago and also runs his own, business, JB Clowes Agricultural and Equestrian Merchants.
However, he was quick to pass on full credit to 15-year-old daughter Chloe as the Skipton coup was down to her hard work and preparation. A pupil at Kirk Hallam Academy, Ilkestone, she proudly paraded the reserve supreme – a “very correct heifer throughout,” according to the adjudicator – in both the show and sale arenas. Out of the home-bred Blackthorn Warrior daughter, Monochrome Indigo, Lexus was snapped up at 3,800gns, heading to Cumbria with TH Vickers, Brampton.
Back with the boys, the first prize junior bull and reserve male champion was consigned by Ribble Valley husband and wife, Mick and Claire Handley, Croasdale herd, Slaidburn. Their Croasdale Vernon is a September, 2024, son of the Scottish-bred Lomond Whisky Galore, himself a prolific breeder and responsible for both the 2023 and 2025 Royal Highland Show champions.
He is out of the home-bred Cairnsmore Geordie daughter, Croasdale Oh Katie, and a full brother to both Croasdale Usher, reserve champion male at Castle Douglas last year, and 2023 Royal Highland Show champion, Croasdale Rhianna, Vernon proved his value when knocked down for second top 5,300gns, also heading north with GD Herdman, Alnwick.
The Croasdale consignment of three also comprised two ticket-winning 2024-born home-bred females again by Whisky Galore. First up was the aptly-named Croasdale Victoria, out of Croasdale Queen Mary, a fourth prize winner selling at 3,600gns, again to TH Vickers, followed by the third prize August, 2024, Croasdale Vicky, out of Croasdale Junior, a 14-year-old cow still at work, also the dam of a 6,000gns bull at Castle Douglas in 2024, and with daughters retained in the herd. The local buyer at 2,500gns was Richard Peel, Foulridge.
Also making their mark from the Ribble Valley were Robert Taberner and Hannah Grummett, Bowland herd, Cowark, Clitheroe, with a brace of runners-up tickets across both sections. Their second prize junior bull, Bowland Mr Gladiator, is an up-and-coming February, 2025, son of Mochrum Gideon, who has bred well for both the Bowland and Racy Ghyll herds. Out of Barwise Miss Mandy and maternal brother to the 6,000gns Higherhouse Mr President, Mr Gladiator strutted his stuff in the sale ring, earning a 4,600gns price tag when falling to Scottish purchasers J&Z Kirk, Dumfries.
The same home also stepped up with the reserve female champion, Bowland Luna, a November, 2024, daughter of Mochrum Colonel, bred on the renowned Mochrum Estate in Dumfries & Galloway and also responsible for the 6,200gns top price at Skipton last year, this for a 2023 bull from James and Helen Rebanks, Racy Ghyll herd, Matterdale. From very strong Clifton dam lines, including the 4,600gns Higherhouse Lilibet, Luna shone when making 3.900gns and becoming a further local acquisition by Richard Peel.
Cows and calves sold to 4,400gns for an outfit also with solid Mochrum breeding from north-east vendors, the Oliver family, Off The Wall herd, Great Whittington. The dam, the 2021 cow, Mochrum Fern 2nd, sold with her April-born Hockenhall Horatio-sired bull calf at foot, joining fellow exhibitor, Pendle’s Paul Atkinson, Sweetwell herd, Briiercliffe.
Paul, also a regular consignee, himself had a brace of prize-winning 2024 bulls which both sold reasonably locally. His second prize fully home-bred Sweetwell Blaze made 2,600gns to MJ Colley, Waddington, with third prize Sweetwell Concorde, a Barwise Boeing son, flying to 2,400gns when falling to M Pickard, Bolton-by-Bowland
From North Craven, brother and sister, Harry and Abby Parsons, Newfield herd, Giggleswick, chipped in with the fourth prize senior bull, Newfield Maui, an April, 2024, son of Poplar Waymark, from fellow North Craven breeders, the Butterfields, who has produced some lovely calves for the Newfield herd, out of a solid dam, Newfield Bella. The bull, outwintered at 1,000ft, sold at 3,800gns and goes south to the Leckie Farm Partnership, Whitchurch, Hampshire.
A solid consignment of cow and calf outfits from East Yorkshire’s Edward Duggleby, BeswickHall herd, Beswick, proved in ready demand ringside. A brace of home-bred 2022 cows with BeswickHall Elstar-sired heifer and bull calves at foot led the way at 3,100gns and 3,000gns respectively, both heading to Nidderdale with DR&G Snow, Glasshouses.
Matching the 3,100gns selling price with one of her brace of cow and calf outfits was Nicola Jowett, Westscholes herd, Queensbury, with her 2022 Offthewall Harold daughter, Pioneer Voila 2nd, sold with her May-born Brigthenflatt Asterioid heifer calf to RJ Doyle, Galphay, Ripon.
An increased turnout of 33 head saw bulls average £4,322, heifers £2,857, well up on the previous year’s £1,727, and cows and calves £3,187.
Pic caption 1: Zara Wise with her mother Carolyn Fletcher’s CCM Belted Galloway supreme champion and 6,000gns top call, joined by son George and Derbyshire show judge Robert Adams.
Pic caption 2: Rosie Clowes with the CCM Belted Galloway reserve supreme heifer, joined by father Jonathan and Derbyshire show judge Robert Adams.
Pic caption 3: From left, George and Zara Wise with the CCM Belted Galloway supreme champion and 6,000gns top call, Rosie Clowes with the reserve supreme heifer, and Derbyshire show judge Robert Adams.
Pic caption 4: Mick Handley with the reserve male champion and second top 5,300gns at CCM’s annual Belted Galloway highlight.
Images: Moule Media, Skipton
Further info: Robin Moule 07976 559961