Scottish “raider” Robbie Galloway had a virtual clean sweep at the annual North of England Aberdeen-Angus Calf Show at Craven Cattle Marts’ Skipton Auction Mart, on Saturday. (Nov 12).

Champions and handlers at the Skipton Aberdeen-Angus calf show

Robert, whose noted Cardona herd is based at Doune in Perthshire, presented three of the four championship victors, along with the reserve champion in the remaining class. All were by the prolific sire Lockerley Eastern Cruz.

The junior male champion, Cardona Erasmus E339, an exceptional youngster which turned one-year-old the day prior to the show, went on to land the overall male championship in the capable hands of handler Sharon McRobert.

Sharon had earlier led up the junior female champion, Cardona Edwina E342, born on January 16 this year, which progressed to take the reserve female title. For good measure, Erasmus and Edwina then entered the ring together to win a special class for the best pair of animals by the same sire.

A Cardona whitewash was only prevented by North-East of England Aberdeen-Angus Club member Gordon Brooks, of Hornby Grange, Great Smeaton, Northallerton, when his heifer Bon Lea Petra D031, an October, 2004, daughter of Hurdcott Estimator, became overall female champion in the hands of David Cormack.

There was further success at the fixture for well-known North Yorkshire breeders Adrian and Penny Johnson, of Clarence House Farm, Yearsley, Brandsby, near York, who also operate Yorkshire AI Services.

The couple, who landed the Skipton yearling bull championship in 2004, this year clinched three reserve titles. They had the reserve junior male and overall reserve male champion with Yearsley Porlock E048, an April, 2005, son of Netherton Fabulous Cruz, who was also responsible for their reserve junior female champion, Yearsley Pru E045, born in January this year. The Johnsons also had the runners-up in the pairs class.

Organised jointly by the Pennines and North-West England and North-East of England Aberdeen-Angus Clubs, the show attracted an 86-strong entry of calves and yearlings from herds throughout the North of England and from as far away as central Scotland, with exhibitors competing for a prize pool of £4,000.

The judge was breed president, John Elliot, of Roxburgh Mains, Kelso, Roxburghshire, owner of the renowned Rawburn herd, who commented: “It was a superb show with a very good top end, particularly among the youngsters. The champions were excellent and would look well in any show, while I am sure we will see some of the younger animals progress to be show winners next year.”

The junior showmanship competition was judged by Hamish Sclater, of Denhead Farms, Turriff, Aberdeenshire. Jodie Flower, aged ten, from Heathcote, Hartington, near Buxton, won the junior handling title with a calf from Karl Hancock’s Compstall herd at Marple Bridge, Stockport.

The intermediate winner was 14-year-old Sammy Turnbull, of Coxwold, York, with a bull calf from Adrian and Penny Johnson, while the best senior handler was Thomas Sloane, 17, leading a heifer from Paul Wainman, of Newport, East Yorks.

Results: Unled bull and heifer calves- 1 IH McLaren & Sons, Croughton, Brackley, Northants, 2 PJ&A Turnbull, Coxwold, York, 3 Mrs Maureen Stanley, Halifax.

Led heifers (to Dec 31, 04) – 1 Gordon Brooks, Great Smeaton, Northallerton, 2 Mrs JB Swires, Wilshill, Harrogate, 3 Adrian and Penny Johnson, Yearsley, Brandsby, York.

Led bulls (to Dec 31, 04) – 1 Miss Juliet Swires, 2 Mrs Carolyn Fletcher, Appleby, Cumbria, 3 Mrs PA Holliday, Dacre, Harrogate.

Led heifers (to Jan 17, 05) – 1 J Robert Galloway, Doune, Perthshire, 2 Adrian and Penny Johnson, 3 Mrs Carolyn Fletcher.

Led heifers (to Mar 30, 05) – 1 IH McLaren & Sons, 2 Hamish Sclater, Turriff, Aberdeenshire, 3 Christopher Page, Newport, Brough, East Yorks.

Led heifers (from Apr 1, 05) – 1 & 3 JN&GM Hadwin, Broughton-in-Furness, Cumbria, 2 DB Wellock & WP Hoare, Otterburn, Skipton.

Led bulls (to Jan 31, 05) – 1 J Robert Galloway, 2 Nithdale Country Larder, Kirkconnel, Dumfriesshire, 3 Mrs Carolyn Fletcher.

Led bulls (from Apr 1, 05) – 1 Adrian and Penny Johnson, 2 William Parker, 3 DB Wellock & WP Hoare.

Best pair of animals by same sire – 1 J Robert Galloway, 2 Adrian and Penny Johnson, 3 Frank Roberts.

Junior young handler – 1 Jodie Flower, 2 Tom Quinn, 3 Laura Hancock.

Intermediate – 1 Sammy Turnbull, 2 Melissa Page, 3 Rachel Storey.

Senior – 1 Thomas Sloane, 2 Henry Evans, 3 Stephen Hesleden.

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