Future generation of dairy compete to highest level - Cowsmo

Future generation of dairy compete to highest level

The highly anticipated All Breeds All Britain Calf Show held on 14th to 16th October drew the future generation of dairy farmers from across the UK to learn, network and compete.

View Cowsmo’s Coverage of the All-Breeds All-Britain Calf Show

Taking place at the Three Counties Showground in Malvern, the event attracted 23 regional Holstein Young Breeder (HYB) clubs bringing with them nearly 140 Holstein calves. In total, 360 calves were shown at the event with the inclusion of Guernseys, Jerseys, British Friesians, Dairy Shorthorns, Brown Swiss and Ayrshires.

To add theatre to the event, teams were required to construct stands based on the theme ‘Fairytales’ whilst also ensuring that their lines and calves were looking immaculate at all times. The fantastic interpretation of the theme and the effort the clubs had all put into designing and building their displays was recognised by Holstein UK President David Tomlinson and his wife Sheila who were judging the stands. The prize for best stand went to the Lancashire club, very closely followed by Derbyshire who took second place. The award for tidy lines went to the Border and Lakeland club with Staffordshire taking second place. Lancashire’s brilliant efforts for their stand display resulted in them taking the prize for Best Overall Stand.

The Holstein Showmanship classes, judged by leading cattle photographer Jane Steel, were described as some of the highest standard she had seen at this level and made no apologies for taking her time to ensure that the very best showman won each class.

Michael Yates from the Scotland South team won the Champion Showman title resulting in a new record, being the only person to have won this prestigious title three times. Reserve Champion Showman was Stephanie Whittaker from Shropshire. It is both Michael and Stephanie’s final year of competing at HYB events. Having won the Intermediate Showmanship class, Rosie Dennison from Lancashire received the well-deserved title of Honourable Mention Showman.

The calf classes were judged by Brian Miller of the Moorshard herd, Somerset. Brian sits on the European Judge’s Panel and in previous years has judged 12 of the All Britain Calf Show qualifiers along with the UK National Dairy Event, Welsh Dairy Show and numerous other shows throughout the UK and Ireland.

For the second consecutive year, Bob Lawrence from the Lancashire club achieved Champion Calf with newly purchased Ingleview Bradnick Honey which the judge immediately fell in love with. The Reserve Champion Calf was Panda Heart of Gold representing the Devon club which also won Red & White Champion Calf. The title of Honourable Mention was another win for the Lancashire club with Shoreline Euphoric Pixie from the Woodhouse family. Brian Yates’ Logan Integral Jodie Red 3 won Reserve Red & White Champion for the Scottish team whilst Wiltor Integral Jodie Red from D & C Jones claimed the title of Honourable Mention for the West Midlands team.

The Littlestar Award, judged by Holstein UK President David Tomlinson, Semex National Sales Manager Michael Dennison, along with Lynette Steel from Bartholemew Agri Foods, is presented to an HYB member under the age of 17 who has made an outstanding contribution to the breed and the club. The judges commented that it was very close between the four finalists but Jodie Nutsford from the Western Club had gone that extra mile and the judges especially liked her ideas and enthusiasm for the future of the British dairy industry.

Helen Eastham from the Lancashire club was presented with The Dick Stapleton Award in recognition of how helpful she had been over the weekend, especially with the young members who she organised very well.

The stock judging competition was judged by Izzy Jones of the Knowlesmere Herd, first place went to Simon Kirk from the East Midlands club whilst Staffordshire HYB coordinator Elizabeth Custer won the open stock judging.

Overall, Lancashire’s Showmanship team won first place for their impressive performance throughout the day whilst Scotland South were a very close runner up. In the calf team, first place was awarded to Western for their impressive display of calves with the Shropshire team being placed as runner up.

Lancashire were awarded the best overall team throughout the weekend for their efforts both in and out of the show ring whilst Scotland South were awarded second place.

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