Richard Walker, President, took the chair and welcomed fifty eight members to The Avebury Club for the 15th Annual General Meeting of Holstein South & Wiltshire.

Jeremy Fox gave a report of the club activities during the past year commencing with the visit to Stowell Farms near Pewsey. 

The stockjudging evening was held on a very wet evening at Manor Farm, Compton Bassett, by kind permission of the Reis family and master judge was Jane Targett. Luckily we were able to hold the competition in a covered yard!

The Annual Summer Herd Competition was held in July and very kindly judged by Terry Cox who stood in at the last minute for Dave Norman who had hurt his back. The venue for the Presentation Evening was Longmoor Farm, Gillingham, by invitation of the Rogers family, where members were able to look at the new dairy set-up and the impressive herd. Unfortunately this was poorly attended probably due to the fact that it was a Friday evening.

The ever popular Calf Show was held at Newbury with Andy Cope (Huddlesford) as judge.

The final event of 2013 was an interesting Panel Evening held at The Black Swan, Devizes, the panel members being Mike Miller (Shanael), Mike Butler (Old Mill), George Holmes (Arla) and Neil Darwent who farms Montbeliardes.

Unfortunately Harriet Johnson, the treasurer, was unable to be present so Elizabeth Walker presented the accounts on her behalf.

Caroline Huins gave a report on the HYB activity during the year, including their successes at local and national competitions, culminating with the winning of the trophy for the best stand presentation at ABAB Calf Show.

A presentation was made by Elizabeth Walker on the forthcoming programme which included a visit to the Royal Jersey Herd followed by racing at Windsor, stockjudging at the home of the Miflin family and the Summer Herd Competition with the Presentation Evening to be held at the home of the president elect, Nick Helyer. 

John Stratton gave a vote of thanks to the retiring President and Chairman, Richard Walker and Jeremy Fox, for all their hard work and contributions to the club over the past two years.

 David Williams judged the competition and Richard Francis read a letter from him saying how much 

 he had enjoyed the judging and what a wonderful lot of cattle were put before him and how sorry he was unable to be present at the AGM.

The following cups and awards were then presented:

John Veltom Trophy for group of six cows – B & P. Hann  (Cedcott)

Semex Trophy for group of six heifers – C & S. Rogers  (Longmoor)

Tithe Barn Trophy for best cow – C.B. Cooper Partnership (Noremead) with Noremead Rockafella Present

Stanley Pottow Trophy for best heifer – C & S.Rogers with Longmoor Vekis Elsa  

Eastknook Rising Star Cup for junior member of the year – Toby Woodward-May

Martin Peach Cup for senior member of the year – Imogen Ward

Clearwood Cup for Senior National Stockjudging – Alex Breach

Robert Main Cup for Intermediate National Stockjudging – Heather Limond

NFU Challenge Trophy for Junior National Stockjudging – Toby Woodward-May

Loveday & Loveday Cup for Senior National Linear – Clare Miles

Sadlers Trophy for Intermediate National Linear – Sam Clarke

Dalgety Cup for Junior National Linear – Toby Woodward-May

Stevens Cup for Best newcomer/most improved – Julian Collins

Ciba Geigy Cup for Chairman’s Award for most promising young member – Matthew Limond

The President’s Award for contribution to the Club was presented to Pauline Hann.

Richard Walker closed the business side of the meeting and introduced Judge John Dixon, the speaker for the evening.

John told of his work in chambers and later in Crown Courts at Winchester, Salisbury and Portsmouth.  He had everyone in fits of laughter with his tales, some true and some far fetched!  John Stratton gave the vote of thanks and the evening concluded with a buffet supper and a raffle, both in aid of the HYB.