NEWS
LISGLASS GOLDSTAR CROWNED ‘SIMMENTAL CHAMPION OF EUROPE’! • Fife based breeder Gordon Clark lifts coveted title, and places third in the world, with his 2015 born Simmental bull • Wroxall bull takes the Reserve
Lisglass Goldstar
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he Simmental bull, Lisglass Goldstar, owned by Mr Gordon Clark, Cupar, Fife was crowned as the ‘Simmental Champion of Europe’, before being placed in the highly credible bronze position in the Overall ‘Simmental Champion of the World’ 2020 competition. This annual online event, organised by the Texas, USA based ‘Simmental Breeder’, featured Simmental breeders and entries from countries across all five continents going head to head in both male and female sections in the respective continents before moving on to the Overall World Finals. Judging took place through November and December 2020 with the judging panel comprising of: Heitor Lutti Pinheiro Machado (Brazil); Andrew Masterson (South Africa); Garrett Behan (Ireland); and Garth Rancier (Canada).
Coose Gambler
Lisglass Goldstar 15 was awarded the ‘Simmental Champion of Europe’ title with Irish bred bull Coose Gambler, owned by the long established Wroxall herd of CH Evans & Son, Abbey Farm, Wroxall, Warwickshire, lifting the Reserve Champion prize. In the judge off for the Overall ‘Simmental Champion of the World’ title, Lisglass Goldstar took the bronze position being placed behind entries from South Africa and Canada respectively. The November 2015 born Lisglass Goldstar 15, bred by JL & CJ Weatherup, Ballyclare, Co Antrim, is by Dermotstown Delboy EX 92, and is out of Lisglass Bramble EX 90. He was purchased by Gordon Clark for his 25 head Broombrae pedigree herd at Stirling in 2017. Earlier this year, Lisglass Goldstar 15 took Reserve Overall Male Champion in the British Simmental Cattle Society’s 2020 Virtual Show, which saw just under 750 entries in all, and after having placed first in a class of 57 working bulls from around the UK. As well as winning show prizes, Lisglass Goldstar 15 is producing some first-class progeny. At the recent 2020 October Stirling Simmental bull sale, and from the first calves at auction by Lisglass Goldstar, Broombrae Kojac 19 made 10,000gns when selling to the Keeldrum herd of Mr David Lowry, Newsteadings Farm, Lanark.
British Simmental genetics were also well to the fore in the female sections of the online competition. Taking the bronze medal position in the Miss Europe Simmental section was Kilbride Farm Iris 17F from WH Robson & Sons, Ballyclare, N Ireland. This 2014 born cow is by Crugmelyn Brenin 10 and is out of Kilbride Farm Iris 9A.
Commenting, Gordon Clark said: “It’s obviously been a very unusual year but these online events have been both a bit of fun and very competitive with some terrific entries forward. It’s a very nice accolade for Lisglass Goldstar to be crowned ‘Simmental Champion of Europe’. Mr Clark has entry forward by Lisglass Goldstar aimed at the February 2021 Stirling Sale and is delighted with how the bull is breeding: “The bull’s breeding very consistently and producing fleshy calves with plenty of length that I think are modern types and suited to both the pedigree breeder and commercial producer.”
As well as recognition in the ‘Simmental Champion of the World’ competition, the 2020 year has seen a significant international interest in British Simmental genetics. Exports of breeding females and bulls have been made to the breed’s homeland countries of Switzerland and Austria. Further exports have seen young bulls going to Italy with semen collections thereafter aimed at the USA and China. Simmental embryos have been exported to Australia, whilst UK based AI companies have reported upon the ‘significant and growing demand’ for British Simmental semen in Asian markets.
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www.britishsimmental.co.uk
Kilbride Farm Iris 17F
