Charolais breeders turned out one of the ‘best ever’ entries of cattle at the Scottish and Northern Charolais Breeders’ National Show staged at the Cumberland Show, Carlisle on Saturday 15 July which was led by the two year old in calf heifer, Holstead Velvet bred and exhibited by Freddie and June Andrews, of Holmfirth.

Not only did Velvet claim the supreme female and overall Charolais event award, but she went on to secure the overall beef interbreed award on the field.

“This show attracted an outstanding entry, one of the best I’ve ever seen which bodes well for the Charolais breed’s future,” commented judge, Brian McAllister, of Kells, Ballymena after a three hour stint among the 101 entries. “However Velvet was the obvious winner. She was very correct throughout and had good locomotion, in fact she demonstrated all the breed’s characteristics and was everything a Charolais should be.”

Velvet, who was fresh from her success three days earlier at the Great Yorkshire where she claimed the supreme beef interbreed title, was by Gretnahouse Noel and out of the homebred Halstead Pascal who goes back Shamleys Hero and two Royal champions, Lakeland Sagesse and Livermore Royal. She was also within the breed’s top 1% with a Beef Value of CH33. “We are absolutely thrilled with Velvet’s success, however what pleased us most is the support we’ve had from fellow breeders and their appreciation of such a quality beast,” said Freddie Andrews who has been exhibiting Charolais from the family’s 30 cow herd for more than 20 years, but never before won such accolades.

Pipped into overall reserve place was the junior male champion, Corrie Alan, an 11 month old youngster by Oldstone Egbert, who claimed the breed award at Doune and Dunblane. Alan was bred and exhibited by Duncan MacGregor, Kilsyth, Glasgow, who also produced the senior male champion, Corrie Urbane, a 30 month Mortimers Roselier son and out of the celebrated Burke trophy winner, Mowbraypark Gigi. Urbane, who carried off the championship at Campsie, was scheduled to be turned straight back out to work among the 45 cow Corrie herd.

The junior female award went to Ian and Dot Goldie’s (Cummertrees, Annan) Solwayfirth Abi, an 18 month old maiden who was placed first in her class at the Royal Highland. Abi was by Maerdy Restful and out of the successful show cow, Bassett Philly.

Kelton Unity, a three year old calved heifer was in reserve senior female slot. Bred and exhibited by Gelston Castle Farms, Castle Douglas, Unity was by Balmyle Magnate and no stranger to the Cumberland ring having taken the breed title and reserve overall award 12 months earlier.

The strong commercial classes were led by Crookdake Athena, a 12 month purebred Charolais heifer from David and Sharon Miller, Waverton, Wigton. A Doonally New daughter and out of a Givendale bred dam, one of the foundation cows in their four year old herd, Athena was led to victory by the couple’s 12 year old son, David.

David also headed up the young handlers section, this time with Crookdake Apple, another Doonally New daughter, while his brother, 10 year old Kieran Miller was in second place with Athena.

The overall reserve place in the commercial section was Whiskey, an August 2005 born Charolais cross by Cargriff Rolls Royce and bred by the Morgan brothers, Pencelli Court, Brecon. Exhibited by Richard Hassall and Rachael Wyllie, Lower Brailes, Banbury, Whiskey was making a highly successful showring debut, standing above Peaches and Cream, a same way bred Charolais cross heifer who claimed the top Charolais cross award at the Newark and Notts, and the Three Counties.

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