In July the Western Club were really pleased to help out on refreshments at the National Competitions Day hosted by Joseph Heler Farms, with some of our Members also leading cows.  It was a great opportunity to meet HYB Members and families from other Clubs and to enjoy the superb animals shown by Mark and his team and helpers.  Our own HYB members certainly enjoyed the competition and we were thrilled with how each one performed individually.

For our HYB members the next highlight was the much enjoyed Northern Ireland Weekend Rally where Western won their Field to Photo competition.  This was closely followed by a Washing & Showmanship demonstration kindly hosted by Woodhey Holsteins in August where newer HYB Members were shown a number of “do’s and don’ts” for showing.  There are also plans for a clipping demonstration in the near future and the Club is looking forward to the Combined Calf Show on Saturday 23rd September 2017 at Market Drayton in preparation for the All Breeds All Britain.

The Club enjoyed a new role at Nantwich Show this year by providing an early morning bacon bap to all cattle exhibitors which was much appreciated on a very wet morning – it was good to see the sun coming out later in the day and to watch the competitors in this local show which is also host to the International Cheese Awards.  

July saw a number of competitors entering our Summer Herds Competition and many congratulations go to Ivan, Judy & Richard Shepherd (Budworth) for winning Champion Herd 2017.  An awards dinner is planned for October 2017.

Lastly, we can’t report to the Journal without congratulating, yet again, Mr Dick Stapleton for winning the Holstein UK Lifetime Achievement Award.  Dick’s involvement with the Club goes back many, many years and he is regarded with great fondness and respect by Club members – a very well deserved award.

Rachel Dimelow