Garrowby Farms’ Clive Rowland saw his first prize pedigree Limousin heifer, Garrowby Hiccup,
who turns one-year-old this month, progress to first become female champion, then overall
champion.
Hiccup is a daughter of Glenrock Ventura, bred by 2012 Northern Limousin Extravaganza show
judge Stephen Illingworth, who runs the Glenrock pedigree Limousin herd at Eaglesfield,
Lockerbie, and later sold to Ian Handley’s Gunnerfleet herd in Chapel-le-Dale, before joining
Garrowby Farms.
Ventura was also responsible for Garrowby Farms’ 2012 Skipton supreme champion on what was
their first foray into the peidigree show area just a few years after Mr Rowland first started
breeding pedigree Limousins.
Out of a classy home-bred cow, who is also the grand dam of last year’s victor, the 2013 title
winner was the stand-out performer in the eyes of Scottish show judge Harry Emslie, who runs
the Emslies pedigree Limousin herd at Peterhead, Aberdeen.
He commented: “I could not draw a better heifer. She had the presence, style and extra panache
I was looking for and, while of an equal standard to the reserve supreme champion, showed that
extra sparkle to be overall champion.”
Reserve supreme honours fell to the first prize Limousin-sired commercial heifer and commercial
champion from Cumbrian breeders Julie Sedgewick and Neil Slack, of Plum Tree House, Newby,
Penrith, on what was their first-ever appearance at the Northern Limousin Extravaganza.
Known at home as Watabootie, the 11-month-old daughter of the Irish sire Culnagechan Egbert
was bred by John Richardson at Ghyll House, Dufton, Appleby, and acquired by the Sedgewicks
after becoming champion at Penrith’s ’Spring Spectacular’ fixture. The runner-up is now destined
for further appearances in the Limousin show area, beginning with the following week’s NBA Beef
Expo in Malvern.
Indeed, many of the leading performers in the sixth annual Northern Limousin Extravaganza can
be expected to go on to further excel in the show area. Staged in conjunction with the North East
Limousin Breeders Club, it remains an early season breed highlight, allowing halter-led pedigree
and cross-bred youngsters born the previous year to gain valuable experience in the competition
ring. The majority were making their first appearance.
With a 50-plus entry this year, the male championship was awarded to Millington Limousins in the
Vale of York with their first prize February-born bull Millington Hawk, by the AI sire Wilodge
Vantastic, out of the well regarded Brockhurst Option.
Millington, consistently high performers at the Northern Limousin Extravaganza and extra large
herd champions in the 2012 NELBC herd competition, also won the pedigree pairs show class
with the male champion and Millington Highlight, a second prize winner in one of the heifer
classes.
The reserve male championship was awarded to the first prize March-born bull from the
Barbondale pedigree herd of Morgan and Jill Shuttleworth, of Barbon Fell House in Barbon,
Carnforth. Barbondale Hugo is by their stock bull Gunnerfleet Danny.
Standing reserve female champion was the first prize January-born pedigree heifer, Tomschoice
Hailey, from James and Sarah Cooper, of Dacre, Harrogate, who have achieved multiple
successes at the fixture in past years, notably with progeny of Haltcliffe Vermount, who was also
responsible for their latest success. The dam is Tomschoice Celestial, by Sarkley Topknot.
The Rice family, from Church Garth, Carlton, Yeadon, commercial champions the previous two
years, narrowly missed out on a memorable hat-trick when taking the reserve championship at
this year’s renewal with their first prize Limousin-sired commercial bullock.
Known as The Gloves Are Off, the July-born youngster is, like their 2011 and 2012 commercial
champions, by Rossingal, another quality bull bred in Cumbria by John Richardson. The Rices
continue to show cattle as in interest, raising just a handful on their West Yorkshire smallholding.
For the third year, an open stock judging competition organised by the North East club was run
alongside the Northern Limousin Extravaganza. The under-18’s winner for the second year
running was Myra Priestley, of the Prietec herd in Bentham, with Hannah Brown, of Newton-le-
Willows, successful in the over-18s category.
The Northern Limousin Extravaganza carried a total prize fund of £1,450. Sponsors were the
British Limousin Society, NELBC, Ripon Land Rover, Ripon Select Foods, Yorkshire Agricultural
Society, Bishopton Veterinary Group, AON, Showtime, Tomschoice Limousins, I'Anson, LEBC
Group, Atlas Business, Natural Stockcare, Elite Beef Semen, Yorkshire Grain, Jamesons, New
Lodge Contractors, Carrs Billington and WE Jameson.
The Northern Limousin Extravaganza formed day one of CCM Skipton’s annual two-day Limousin
showpiece, which climaxed with the mart’s premier ‘Craven Limousin Event,’ the annual Spring
show and sale of pedigree Limousin bulls and females the following day. Full results of both are
at www.ccmauctions.com