Weeton Wins at Borderway Dairy Expo
2012-03-06

The inaugural Borderway UK Dairy Expo event was a triumph for all involved and saw over 6000 spectators attending over the 2 days. The success of this event confirms Harrison and Hetherington’s commitment to the dairy industry by announcing next year’s date as 1st and 2nd March 2013.

Champion of Champions winner Weeton Lheros A Balise
shown by Mike Helliwell.

Taking the overall Grand Champion of Champions and ending a fantastic day of judging was the senior and overall champion Holstein, Weeton LHeros A Balise from Andrew and Pat Wilson from Fife, Scotland.

Highlights included the International Dairy Youth Championships, Global Classic Sale and a Speakers’ Corner.

In an event Harrison & Hetherington can surely be proud of, the seven breeds that were represented and overall some exceptional dairy cattle genetics paraded within the Borderway Exhibition Centre

Understandably David Pritchard, Operations Director of Harrison & Hetherington was delighted that this first Borderway UK Dairy Expo was such a resounding success.

“We saw a tremendous show of world class dairy animals along with a youth show. The cow classes attracted an international audience and I would like to congratulate all participants and deserved winners.”

“When this event was initiated we were determined to show that there was a need for a new Dairy Exhibition in the UK in the early part of the year. From the support and feedback that we have received this was the case and our aim is now to make this an annual event”.

With entries from the UK and Europe the show kicked off on Friday with the International Dairy Youth Championships. Incorporating clipping and showmanship classes all ages were well represented. Champion of the clipping competition was 20 year old James Doherty, a herdsman at Styche Holsteins in Cheshire. This was the first time he had ever entered a competition of this scale and Judge, Erica Rijneveld was very impressed with this talented young competitor and went on to say

“He was a steady systematic clipper, who produced an outstanding result especially as he did not have the easiest calf to clip. Taking into account the quantity of hair that he had to work with I was particularly impressed with the blending and the top liner”

The Showmanship competition separated the girls from the boys with two females taking the top spots. Hannah Slack took the reserve champion spot and Lancashire-based Helen Eastham took the Championship Spot. Helen, who used her own heifer in the competition Tristar Knowledge Tony, born October 2010, started showing about five years ago and this is her biggest win so far. When asked what it meant to her she said;

“All my hard work and practice has paid off, I have been encouraged by my father and have been practicing every morning and evening so I was delighted to receive the Champion rosette.”

As expected the Global Classic Sale held on Friday evening featured some impeccable genetics up for sale. Top price was 10,000gns paid for Sterndale Sterling Jodie Red consigned by Bill and Yasmin Nadin. The sale average £4,350 with animals going to all over the UK.

The title of Grand Champion of Champions went to the Holstein, Weeton LHeros A Balise from Andrew and Pat Wilson of Caskerdo Farm, Fife; they also won Champion and Reserve Champion for their Jerseys.

Andrew who has been showing cattle since he was seven years old farms with his brother James. The pair are currently milking 300 hundred cows and running a herd of 120 beef cows.

“I was absolutely over the moon and it was very unexpected as the Borderway UK Dairy Expo was such a big event. We purchased Weeton as a heifer in milk, she is out of the Balise family and we already have two daughters from her. We are very much looking forward to seeing the development of her progeny.”

“The win was a real team effort and I would just like to pass on thanks to my parents who have always encouraged me to show and Mike Halliwell who has helped with my showing over the last 11 years”.

With over 130 trade stands the variety of stands and breed societies represented were well received by those attending and Ian Oliver, Divisional Sales Manager of Carrs Billington who had a stand shared his thoughts,

“Saturday was the main showcase day and we certainly saw a lot of business especially from the trade point of view. The reason that Harrison & Hetherington initiated this event was because they felt that there was an opening for this type of dairy exhibition in the UK, and from the feedback we have received this has certainly been the case”.

Glyn Lucas, Pedigree Dairy Auctioneer of Harrison & Hetherington provided a final comment,

“Thanks to all exhibitors for supporting the show and putting in the time and effort to visit Carlisle. Congratulations to Andrew and Pat Wilson on winning the first Supreme Champion of the show and congratulations to all of the champions and winners over the weekend. Without the support of all the breeders, commercial and pedigree, the first Borderway UK Dairy Expo would certainly not have been as successful. The feedback we received has been tremendous and our aim in 2013 is to build on the profile of this inaugural year”.

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