Patronage
After being kindly granted the patronage of the former HRH The Prince of Wales for several years, the Riggit Galloway Cattle Society has been unsure what will happen subsequent to the sad passing of HM The Queen. Your honorary secretary has received a letter advising that all such Royal patronages will be reviewed in due course. Meanwhile, he has spoken to some of the relevant people, and is fairly sure the matter will be satisfactorily resolved quite soon. Stay posted.
Global news from New Zealand
Beth McVerry reports a grand haul of prizes in the 2022 GCSNZ virtual show, including Grand Champion Female with Cherrybank Pizzazz, and Grand Champion bull with Cherrybank Arapuni Pride. Despite this being the first year Riggits have been allowed to compete, Pizzazz went on to win Supreme Champion overall.
This success in turn qualified the pair for the prestigious 2022 Galloway- Champion of the World Competition.
After winning their respective regional rounds, Pizzazz won a bronze in the Champion of the World Miss Galloway class, while handsome young bull Cherrybank Arapuni Pride won the coveted Galloway Champion of the World Gold, making him ‘Mr World’.
This is a very significant moment for the breed, and we all congratulate Beth on this fantastic achievement. (See photo on last page)
Summer Meeting and Tour
Our summer excursion found us in Scotland this year. Several members attended the Wigtown show, near Newton Stewart, Dumfries and Galloway. The Belted Galloway Cattle Society held their centenary show on site, and the show had kindly agreed to also host a Riggit class or two. On the day only one animal was brought forward – the Keiley’s young bull Croft MacDonald - so he could unquestionably be said to be the best Riggit there- and is a very nice bull too! And while he did attract plenty of attention, the real news was the Keiley’s ‘Croft’ belted entries, where they won senior heifer and junior heifer classes, as well as the junior bull class. Croft Bella then took female champion and reserve champion overall. This was part of what proved to be a fantastic run of 2022 successes for the Croft herd.
Croft McDonald
Congratulations to the Keiley clan.
The following day was the first day of the official RGCS tour, which included a farm visit to renowned Belt and Black Galloway breeder Duncan Maxwell, who farms ‘Blairvockie’- several thousand acres of hill above Loch Lomond. Duncan gave generously of his time, and firstly showed members his young bulls grazing a field beside a wildlife reserve. We could soon tell it was a wildlife reserve…as several adders were slithering along the foot of the wall members leant against to admire the bulls.
Duncan then kindly ferried members up onto the flanks of Ben Lomond where, as well as seeing his Galloway cows and blackface sheep, we were treated to some of the country’s most sumptuous landscape views. It fairly took your breath away.
Coming back down to the steading, we saw his outstanding Belted herd, including his splendid new Mochrum bull, and retired to the farmhouse for tea and cake.
Lomond Belted Galloways
Photo courtesy of James Taylor
The following day, members reconvened at Robbie Galloway’s Cardona Farm, near Doune. There stockman Ewen McRobert and his lovely wife Sharon received us in Robbie’s absence. The summer meeting was held on site, followed by lunch kindly provided, then a tour of the famous Cardona Aberdeen Angus herd. These were an arresting sight to behold in their summer glory, grazing amongst the beautiful open Stirlingshire countryside. Fairly blown away by the calibre of the Angus beasts, and then a group of Luings, we moved onto the Cardona Riggit Galloway herd. Robbie has put these together in recent years, bringing White and Black Galloways into the group to build numbers. Members saw a burgeoning herd of very good cattle, again, in fantastic condition. This will surely be a herd to watch.
Photo courtesy of James Taylor
After an afternoon viewing these wonderful cattle, we were spoiled with a superb BBQ at the farm yard.
Thanks must go to everyone who hosted and organised another fantastic summer tour.
Several diehard members then remained in the North for the last of the Belted Society’s events, which culminated in a visit to Old Place of Mochrum, to visit the iconic Mochrum herd. Now managed by gifted stockwoman Helen Ryman, those of us who stayed the distance were wowed by the most fabulous lot of cattle. All credit to Helen, the herd is right on form.
A poignant thought occurred to your secretary later in the day. It’s only the unkind hand of fate that meant we weren’t also seeing the herd of Riggits which might’ve been on hand, but for tragic circumstance. He did get to chat to a Belt though.
Hon. Sec. at Old Place of Mochrum
Gemma and Cliff Bounds
As many of you must know, the Bounds have been unable to continue breeding their one lovely Riggit cow Juno. To replace her, they have travelled down to Dartmoor, and secured a very sound heifer calf from your secretary’s Sherberton herd. This beast has now travelled to live with Alison Bunning’s Hatherland herd. I’m sure everyone is wishing Gemma and Cliff every success with her.
More Show News
Another successful virtual show was held in the summer, with a record 48 entries. Our judge Jennifer Taylor enjoyed the challenge and awarded Champion to Hatherland Lupi, owned and bred by Alison Bunning and Reserve to Stonehouse Harrier owned by Bethan Butler and bred by the Richardsons. All the results can be seen on the website.
Hatherland Lupi, who is still only a yearling, had a very successful year, also picking up Champion and Reserve Interbreed Champion at the National Rare and Minority Breeds Show at Malvern.
Herd book
The herd book is nearing completion and should be available at the winter meeting in February. Meanwhile, past herd books are still available – email alison.bunning@btinternet.com
Winter AGM
The winter meeting - our AGM - has provisionally been set for Wednesday 15th February 2023. This date and the venue will be confirmed shortly. Stay posted.
Happy New Year Riggit folk everywhere
