Whitebred Shorthorn Association Show and Open Day History

Askerton Castle Open Day

On Tuesday 21st September 1965, the Association held its first open day at Askerton Castle, Brampton in Cumberland by kind permission of Mr R C Robinson a member of the Council.

Representatives from Farmers Weekly, Cumberland News, Farmers Guardian, Border TV and the Tyne Tees Farming Outlook programme were in attendance.

Over 100 breeders attended together with other interested parties to Whitebred Shorthorn bulls and females paraded followed by their Blue-grey progeny.

Mr John Kirkpatrick, the then, Chairman of the Association is quoted as saying;
"There was a big demand for the Blue-Grey at sales in Haltwhistle and Newcastleton and breeders had to provide what the public wanted. The Blue Grey was the ideal suckler cow for the marginal farm and could be crossed with any beef bull without loosing its hardiness."

Mr Roland Johnson, first Chairman of the Association said;
"Border farmers had bred the White Shorthorns for many years without any book data at all, but the Ministry of Agriculture was anxious that a herd book should be compiled in case, at some future date, the general bull licence was discontinued. If there were no general bull licence, we would be automatically cut out."

Animals from three breeders were on view. Bulls included two from G Mitchinson & Sons, Gallowberry, Kirkcambeck - the 6 year old stock bull Gallowberry Merical and the August '64 born Gallowberry Monarch. Mr Robinson paraded Lordstown Lad, a son of Holmhead Rocket and Askerton Statesman an October '64 son of Askerton Baron. G Tailford & Sons, Rinnion Hills, West Hall, exhibited Rinnion Hills Duke a homebred yearling by Rinnion Hills Pioneer.

Askerton Castle Cows & Calves

Broomholmshiels Demonstration

A demonstration of Whitebred Shorthorns was held at Broomholmshiels, Langholm in Dumfriesshire on Saturday 5th October 1968 by permission of G L Bell.

Cowbyers Demonstration

A demonstration was held at Cowbyers Farm, Blanchland in County Durham on 19th September 1974 with cattle from Peter Gordon, Grange of Tundergarth, Lockerbie and Robin Hope, Winterhope, Waterbeck, Lockerbie on view.

Cumberland Show 1975 Champion Whitebred Shorthorn Bull shown by JR & N Graham, Raeburn, Longtown

Information for the above has been extracted from the Association Minute Book and scrapbooks provided by members, special thanks to Ian Robinson Esq., for his contribution. Further details will be added to this page when available.

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