Page 32 - Britich Blue Year Book 2023

30 www.britishbluecattle.org
THE JF TROPHY
WINNER: ELLEN ELLIOTT
ELLEN ELLIOTT IS THE SOCIETY’S
LATEST ‘YOUNG ACHIEVER’
With a tally of red rosettes and show championships last year, of which many breeders would be envious, 25 year
old Ellen Elliott from Ellonby, Penrith is the latest winner of British Blue Cattle Society’s JF Trophy for ‘the young
person showing outstanding achievement’..
While the award recognises young breeders’
achievements within the Society, some might consider the
fact she has time to do what she does, is an achievement
in itself.
Her enthusiasm for British Blues goes back to her dad
Andrew, buying a cow with ET calf at foot from Kevin
Watret’s Solway View herd. The heifer calf was retained and
subsequently bred from and Ellen says she was impressed
with the breed’s conformation and temperament.
“For my 18th birthday I then went halves on a Rob
Paterson-bred heifer with my dad, and mum Fran, and that
turned out to have been a very good purchase. That was
Auchenlay Kerry and I was advised to put her to Attribut
Du Fond De Bois, the result of which in 2019, was our
Ellglen Olympia and that is the cow with which I did all the
winning in 2023. I had put her to Clinton Du Falgi as a
heifer, again a recommended mating, and she was shown
with her February born heifer calf at foot, Ellglen Touch of
Class.”
Ellen acknowledges the help from family and friends,
which has enabled her to enter all the shows last season.
“I mainly work at home, Askrigg Hall Farm, with our dairy
herd of about 250 Fleckvieh and three-way cross cows, our
Blues, my dad’s pure Texel sheep from which we sell
shearling tups, and my own 30 or so Blue Texels. However,
I also do milk recording for CIS one or two days a week and
work for agricultural merchants T.W. Relph after I have
finished morning milking on a Saturday. I am currently
secretary of Caldbeck YFC and have been involved with the
movement since I was 13. I have always been keen on
stockjudging competitions, including at the English
Winter Fair, so those are the reasons why I need and
appreciate the help I get with showing my Blues.”
Last year’s show season began with the Royal Highland no
less, a show the Elliotts have regularly attended as
spectators.
“However, I thought if we’re going why don’t I take a cow,
so I entered Ellglen Olympia and her calf and I was thrilled
to win the female championship and reserve supreme at
such a prestigious show. Next it was Penrith show and the
duo came away from there with the British Blue
championship and reserve, the overall beef championship
and then the champion of champions.