Inaugural Glendale competition attracts quality entries

This week’s Glendale Show saw R W and K Telford of Branton East Side Farm announced winners of the first ever Glendale Agricultural Society Herd Competition and also receiving the prize for Best individual animal seen in the competition.

In total nine herds were judged by FW Farmer Focus contributor Robert Neill, Upper Nesbit, Kelso judging the herds not only on their individual breed characteristics but how each individual farm was managed.  

The standard and quality of the herds was very high and in my eyes they were all winners as they were all so very different. The farmers were all making an excellent job with their different breeds, different farms and different terrain. The overall competition was judged on the basis of, it is not what you have, and it is what you do with what you have.”

Taking the champion title, Branton East Side Farm near Powburn in the heart of the Cheviots is farmed by Roly and Kate Telford.  This is very much a family business and they have been farming the 3000 acres since 1985 of which 1400 acres are in the Ingram Valley.  Stocking includes 350 suckler cows with over 50 heifers, mainly Limousin cross and 2500 breeding ewes.

Other winners included

1. 2009 Herd Champion sponsored by Aln Northumbria Vets, HARBRO and Arable Farm Supplies –  R W and K Telford of Branton East Side Farm
2. Reserve Herd Champion –  Lilburn Estate Farming Partnership
3. Best Herd using predominantly a Charolais Bull sponsored by The British Charolais Society Messer’s James Herdman Edlingham Newtown near Alnwick
4. Best Herd using predominantly a Limousin Bull sponsored by The Limousin Cattle Society I Renton and Son,  High Highlaws, Morpeth
5. Best Herd using predominantly an Aberdeen Angus Bull        sponsored by The Aberdeen Angus Society Mrs Fiona Skeen Berry Hill Farm near Berwick upon Tweed
6. Best individual animal seen in the competition  sponsored by EBLEX –            R W and K Telford of Branton East Side Farm