Around 50 Members and guests attended the annual President’s Weekend hosted by Neil & Mary Gourlay, Auchencheyne, Moniaive, Thornhill, Dumfries. Day One saw a tour of the home farm including the suckler cows, sheep enterprise and pedigree herd of Luings followed by a visit to the wind, hydro and CHP (wood) power generation projects.

Rugby hero Mike Tindall MBE was one of the star guests at Countryside Live, Harrogate 21-22 October 2017 where he was a special judge in one of the competitive classes.

The Club’s final presentation in 2017 was for the Housewife’s Choice Champion at the Ulster Premier Christmas Show, a competition aimed at commercial weight entries to highlight the demand for lighter stock.

Early November saw the Club running a beef ribs demonstration at AgriFest South West at the Devon County Showground.

This year’s winner, Robert Forster - journalist and founding Director of the National Beef Association - was taken by complete surprise when he was announced as the 2017 Trophy winner at the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers annual dinner and conference in late October.

October saw the Club’s return to Countryside Live at the Yorkshire Showground at Harrogate with our beef ribs and saddle of lamb competitions thanks to the invaluable support from regional butchers, Vice President Brian Glaves and David Wright from Boston.

The beef ribs and saddle of lamb competitions were organised by the Club as guests of the English Winter Fair at the Staffordshire Showground.

The National Young Stars Competitions took place at the Three Counties Showground in August at which two Smithfield trophies were presented