MEMBERS of the Border and Lakeland Holstein Young Breeders put in some exceptional performances at this year's All Breeds All Britain Calf Show —the country's leading event for up and coming dairy cattle enthusiasts.
The show, held for the first time at Bingley Hall, Staffordshire, saw more than 300 calves of seven dairy breeds go before leading judges from Friday to Sunday. An even larger number of young farmers were involved, since some demonstrated their handling skills with calves also shown in other classes.
Fourteen members of the Border and Lakeland HYB, aged from 8 to 27, headed down to the event and many achieved good results, including three breed championships and one handling championship.
Attending the show for the last time as an HYB member was 27-year-old Will Horsley, of Woodhouse, Catterlen, who exhibited the champion calves in both the Holstein and Jersey sections.
His champion Holstein was Starlet Legend Barbara, a calf bred by Kevin and Sian Rickard, from Newport, Wales, which he bought in a breed society sale at Borderway mart, Carlisle.
The champion Jersey calf was Silversparkle Chocochip Roses, owned by Will and Tom Horsley, J. Robinson and K. Bainbridge. It was bought privately from breeder Izzy Lee, from Yorkshire.
In the Dairy Shorthorn section, Ellie Fisher, whose family are based at Holmewrangle Farm, Armathwaite, took the calf championship with the home-bred Mossrigg Barrington Iris 22.
A calf from the Fisher family also featured in the Dairy Shorthorn handling championship claimed by 13-year-old Maisie Awde, of Broadmeadows Farm, Melmerby.
Additional silverware claimed by the Border and Lakeland team included the Malabar Trophy, for the calf team gaining most points. The Philip Gilbert Trophy, for the overall champion team, went to Scotland, but with Border and Lakeland in reserve.
Other results achieved by the Border and Lakeland team were: Red and white calf born between 1st April and 31st October, 2023 — 5th Jackpot Willows Jodie Red 5, K. and S. Hay; Red and White calf born between 1st November, 2023, and 31st May, 2024 — 6th Wormanby Diamondback Snapple Red, Wormanby Farms Ltd; Calf born between 1st April and 31st May, 2023 — 6th Crossfell Legend Erle, Crossfell Holstein and Tom Feeny; Calf born between 1st August and 30th September, 2023 — 1st Starlet Legend Barbara, Will Horsley;.
Calf born between 1st October and 30th November, 2023 — 4th Wormanby Hanley Gloriette 3, Wormanby Farms Ltd; Calf born between 1st December, 2023 and 31st January, 2024 — 10th Hay A2P2 Blexy, Mr and Mrs K. Hay; Calf born between 1st February and 31st March, 2024 — 1st Woodcatt Latayo Erle, D. R. and H. M. Horsley; Calf born between 1st April and 31st May, 2024 — 8th Pearsgill Eyecandy Lisamaree, Pearsgill Holsteins.
Senior Holstein showmanship — 6th Alfie Hay; intermediate Holstein showmanship — 4th Torie Wilson; junior Holstein showmanship — 4th Seth Davidson.
Tidy lines competition — reserve Border and Lakeland; overall stand competition — reserve Border and Lakeland; Club Choice Award for best stand — 2 Border and Lakeland