The Scottish Belted Galloway Club recently held their Herds competition and were most fortunate to have Des Dunne from Co Kildare, Ireland, judging. Des used to manage the Castlemartin Herd which was dispersed a few years ago and he is an authority on Charolais cattle as well as having a deep knowledge of Belted Galloway Cattle.
Predominantly most herds are in South West Scotland but as it is open to the whole of Scotland a bit of travelling was involved so Chairman David Keiley kindly chauffeured Des for the first two days which saw them travelling to Aberdeenshire, to the Borders and then Ayrshire before handing over to Zan Kirk for the remaining two days going round herds in Dumfries and Galloway.
The weather shone favourably upon us, showers moved around but no heavy rain hampered the visits, it’s so much more pleasant to view cattle in the sunshine and to absorb the stunning views that many herds have.
As well as the herds Competition, new for this year was a young members competition for entrants 21 and under. They had to have a short chat with the judge telling them about their Herd or individual beltie and demonstrate their knowledge of the Belted Galloway breed. This was won by Alasdair Marshall of Eastlands Farm, Crocketford, Dumfries with Mollie Keiley, Carton Croft, Haugh of Urr, Castle Douglas second and Daisy Keiley, Carton Croft in third.
Anne Bell from Clifton Farm, Southwick, Dumfries won the overall best herd and picked up most of the prizes in the individual classes too. Well done Anne and congratulations to all the prizewinners.
The results are as follows:
Class 1 – Large herds
1st Clifton, Anne Bell
2nd Huntfield, J&Z Kirk, Low Kirkbride, Dumfries
3rd Auchengassel, RKG Farms, Irelandton, Kirkcudbright
4th Dornells, J Jack, Dornells Farm, Castle Douglas
Small herds
1st Larghill, W Marshall and Son (Alasdair Marshall), Eastlands Farm, Dumfries
2nd Burnfoot, Hugh Sloan, Burnfoot Farm, Lauder
3rd Croft, Keiley Family, Carton Croft, Dalbeattie
4th Crawlaw, AD & SA Campbell, Crawlaw Farm, Ayrshire
Overall winner – Clifton, Anne Bell
Class 2 – Best cow
1st Clifton Lily, Anne Bell
2nd Huntfield Ultra, J & Z Kirk
3rd Larghill Tara, Alasdair Marshall
4th Whitstone Gill, Hugh Sloan
Class 3 – Best heifer three years old and under
1st Clifton Delilah, Anne Bell
2nd Huntfield Yolo, J & Z Kirk
3rd Huntfield Yvette, Keiley Family
4th Burnfoot Rhona, Hugh Sloan
Class 3 b – Best Junior heifer, weaned to 23 months
1st Clifton Violet, AD & SA Campbell
2nd Larghill Zuri, Alasdair Marshall
3rd Dornells Joy, J Jack
4th Hilton Empress, PC & PJ Vickers, Hilton Farm, Aberdeenshire
Class 4 – Best veteran cow, ten years and older
1st Huntfield Petra, 12 years old, J & Z Kirk
2nd Clifton Daffodil, 14 years old, Anne Bell
3rd Auchengassel Hope, 14 years old, RKG Farms
4th Thornthwaite Bluebell, 13 years old, J Jack
Class 5 – Best bull
1st Clifton Dougal, Anne Bell
2nd Huntfield Sebastian, J & Z Kirk
3rd Lipwood Machermore, J Jack
4th Auchengassel Sportsman, RKG Farrms
Class 6 – Best Exhibitor Bred group of three
1st Clifton Lily, Lavender and Delilah, Anne Bell
2nd Huntfield Topaz, Tamara and Ulala, J & Z Kirk
3rd Burnfoot Lulu, Leora and Pansy, Hugh Sloan
4th Glencrosh Flora, Imelia and Charlie, Alexander Heald, Glencrosh, Dumfries
Best calf at foot
1st Clifton Lavender, Anne Bell
2nd Burnfoot Tara, Hugh Sloan
3rd Huntfield Austen, J & Z Kirk
4th Croft Easter Bonnet, Keiley Family
New Class for entrants aged 21 and under
1st Alasdair Marshall
2nd Molly Keiley
3rd Daisy Keiley
