Exhibitors and spectators were back in force as this year’s Borderway UK Dairy Expo event got underway on what the shows tenth anniversary. Hannah Park and Katie Fallon report.
It was a double win for Mark and Sue Nutsford, daughter, Jodie, and the team at Riverdane Holsteins, Middlewich, who clinched the overall inter-breed and reserve honours at this year’s Borderway UK Dairy Expo event.
Championship
Top honours went to Red and White champion, Riverdane Miss Awesome Strawberry Red, a home-bred second calver by Luck-E Absolute Awesome Red and out of Riverdane Colt Strawberry, an EX94 classified cow which stood first in the production class on the day. December calved and already giving 60kg daily, Strawberry Red is classified VG87.
The reserve champion from the same home was the Holstein section winner, Riverdane Doorman Elke. Shown 100 days fresh and giving 50kg, this home-bred second calver by Val-Bisson Doorman is out of the well-known show cow Emeraude and classified VG88.
Speaking on how the event had gone which included global livestreaming for the first time, Harrison and Hetherington’s senior pedigree dairy auctioneer Glyn Lucas said: “The quality of cattle forward has been phenomenal. It has been great to welcome a crowd back to the event as well as give the option for others to view the event online via a livestream for the first time, a feature we will definitely continue in future years.”
Red and White
Reserve to overall champion in the Red and White section was the home-bred third calver, Drointon Arvis Promis Red, a Mr Lr Edg Arvis daughter giving 45kg a day from Andrew and Debbie Mackellar, Staffordshire. Residing with the families 100-cow herd, its EX95 classified dam, Drointon JJF Promis Red, also took the breed reserve ticket at the 2020 event.
Holstein
The reserve Holstein championship was a home-bred second calver from father and son duo Ian and Max Davies, Wake. Davlea Sidekick Wattle, by Walutlawn Sidekick, last calved in November and was shown giving
45kg a day.
As at the 2020 event, spectators were given the chance to vote for their supreme heifer champion, with the majority vote to the Holstein, Absolute Doorman Shes A Belter, a home-bred heifer from Absolute Genetics, Lancashire.
Heifer championship
Reserve heifer champion was awarded to the Jersey heifer, Treasure Andreas Fernleaf from the team at Summer Sizzlers, Co. Antrim.
Ayrshire
Taking the Ayrshire section overall and reserve titles was first time Dairy Expo exhibitor John Adamson, Lanarkshire. His champion was the home-bred second calver, Swaites Buttercup 40, brought out by Mr Adamson’s son, Jay. On its first time out and by 7 Oaks Burdette Alaska, it was shown just seven weeks fresh giving 50kg a day.
In reserve was another home-bred cow from the same home, Swaites Bracken 19. The West Mosgeil Modern Reality daughter calved with its third in January this year and was also shown giving 50kg. Both reside with the 200-cow herd at home.
Jersey
The Jersey championship went to the team at Honeygirls Jerserys, Gomersal, West Yorkshire, with Honeygirls Welsh Lily. Bred and owned by Edward Sugden and brought out by Georgina Fort, the VG89 classified cow by Glanmor Belmont Welsh Wizard calved with its fourth in December and was shown giving 38kg.
In reserve was Skiddaw Megapower Bluebell from John and Yvon Raven, Cumbria. The River Valley PF Megapower daughter calved with its first in October.
British Friesian
Borderway UK Dairy Expo was also the venue for this year’s British Friesian national show with the championship going to Oakalby Brandy Britto 57 from David and Jamie Burroughs and Margaret Vale, Suffolk. Brought forward by herdsmen Robert Ives and Liam Bannes, the EX94 classified fourth calver was shown giving 23kg a day.
Reserve overall British Friesians was first calver, Irthingelt Balmoral Spirit 4, from Thomas Moscrop and family, Carlisle. Residing with the families 450-cow herd, it last calved in October and was shown giving 28kg a day.
Dairy Shorthorn
The Fisher family, Armathwaite, prevailed in the Dairy Shorthorn ring with their second calver, Mossrigg Barrington Iris 8. Its dam, Mossrigg Barrington Iris, stood supreme champion at Penrith show in 2013. Iris 8 last calved in February and was shown giving 40kg a day.
The reserve ticket went to Churchroyd Golden Drop 41, a home-bred heifer from Ian Collins, West Yorkshire. By Churchroyd Koala and out of VG87 classified Churchroyd Golden Drop 40, it was the first calvers debut appearance in the show ring.
Brown Swiss
Taking the Brown Swiss championship was Kedar Shut Up And Dance With Me from T. Lochhead Sons, Dumfries. The third calver, which also won best udder in its class, is a EX91 Kedar Spots Shenanigans daughter and was shown giving 43kg a day.
Reserve was another from the same home, HoldOnToYourHats Jeez Louise, belonging to 11-year-old Harriet Hassall, who also won the showmanship championship at this year’s event. It’s dam, Kedar Wonderment Juilet, was shown as a calf and stood junior champion at Borderway UK Dairy Expo in 2017.
British Friesian
DSH
Brown Swiss
John Dennison Lifetime Achievement Award
Harry Hodgson from Wormanby Farm, Burgh by Sands, Carlisle was presented with the John Dennison Lifetime Achievement Award at the event.
The accolade was established in 2013, in memory of well-known dairy farmer John Dennison, with the aim to recognise a dairy cattle breeder who is judged to be an exemplary role model and high achiever in the dairy industry.
Harry Hodgson has been a keen Holstein breeder all his life who, alongside his son, David, has overseen the expansion of the Wormanby herd which now stands at 550-head.
On receiving the award, Mr Hodgson said: “This is the biggest surprise of my life. This award is not just for me, it is for the entire family. John Dennison was a great friend and someone I admired hugely. He has been and still is missed by all within the dairy farming community.”
New rising star award
James Wright, 24, a dairyman at Guillyhill Farm, Dumfries, was selected as the inaugural winner of the UK Dairy Expo Rising Star award. Launched this year in partnership with MilkTech, it aims to recognise an individual’s knowledge, work ethic and sportsmanship.
Results
Inter-breed(Panel) Supreme, Riverdane Miss Awesome Strawberry Red, Riverdane Holsteins (Red and White); reserve, Riverdane Doorman Elke, Riverdane Holsteins (Holstein)
Heifer champion(Public vote) Sup., Absolute Doorman Shes a Belter, Absolute Genetics (Holstein); res.,
Ayrshire(K. Davidson, Dumfries and Galloway) Sup., Swaites Buttercup 40, John Adamson and Son; res., Swaites Bracken 19, John Adamson and Son; jun., Knowe B-King Dainty Lass 2, A. Struthers and S. Esquierdo
Jersey(T. Packard, USA) Sup., Honeygirls Welsh Lily, Honeygirls Jerseys; res., Skiddaw Megapower Bluebell, J.A. and Y. Raven; jun., Treasure Andreas Fernleaf, Summer Sizzlers
Red and White(T. Packard) Sup., Riverdane Miss Awesome Strawberry Red, Riverdane Holsteins; res., Drointon Arvis Promis Red, A. and D. Mackellar; jun., Panda Amazon Order In Red, Panda Holsteins
British Friesian(J. Arrell, Shropshire) Sup., Oakalby Brandy Britto 57, E.S. Burroughs and Son; res., Irthingelt Balmoral Spirit 4, Thomas Moscrop; jun., Gemini Jupiter Cher, A. Malt and T. Barrell
Dairy Shorthorn(J. Arrell) Sup., Mossrigg Barrington Iris 8, J.M. and J. Fisher and Daughters; res., Churchroyd Golden Drop 41, I.R.G. Collins and Partners; jun., Cotonhall Dynamic Empress, R.D. Kite and Son
Brown Swiss(M. Sloan) Sup., Kedar Shut Up And Dance With Me, T. Lochhead and Sons; res., HoldOnToYourHats Jeez Louise, Harriet Hassall; jun., Kedar Daredevil Risky, Oakleigh Brown Swiss
Holstein(M. Sloan) Sup., Riverdane Doorman Elke, Riverdane Holsteins; res., Davlea Sidekick Wattle, I.M. Davies; jun., Absolute Doorman Shes A Belter, Absolute Genetics
