THE annual dinner and awards presentation for the North Eastern Holstein Club were held at Allerton Court, Northallerton.

The club has 75 members in an area from Durham to the East coast, through Wensleydale and the Vale of Mowbray, and 30 awards were presented.

The main event is always the summer herds competition and judge John Garnett, of the Milnthorpe herd, Cumbria, made his top herd on inspection as the Miles family from Ellerbeck, Northallerton.

This well-known herd represented the region in the Premier Pedigree herd competition and is run by brothers Peter and David Miles, and Peter's daughter, Lizzie. The herd had five VG heifers and 12 EX cows at last classification and has leading cow families such as the Leann's, Pheasant's, Honey's, Flo's, Lottie's, Sonya's, Rena's and Goldy's in its midst.

In the production and then subsequent production and inspection class, winner of the medium herds was the Clarkson family's Lowthorpe herd from East Witton, Leyburn.

Husband and wife Denis and Eileen farm with sons Kevin and Mark and have 100 cows with a herd average for the qualifying year October 2015 to September 2016 of 10,368kg at 4.29 per cent fat and 3.20 per cent protein.

Runner-up was Matt Bell and Son, of the Semmerdale herd from Marsett, Wensleydale, who supply Wensleydale Creamery.

The other main herd award of the night was scooped by the Scrivin family, of the Southbelle herd from Bellerby, Leyburn, who took top slot in the Management Class. They won the Bishopton Trophy presented by the main 2016 herds competition sponsor Bishopton vets.

The Scriven's – husband and wife, Steve and Sue, and son, David – had enviably low annual averages for bactoscan, somatic cell count and calving interval.

The herd has grown over recent years, and the family have secured their future in milk production by buying the previous county council farm and continually improving its infrastructure.

In total, 13 leading herds secured prizes on the night, as well as a number of young breeders, who have excelled in judging, handling and showing competitions during the year.

The Littlebridge and Studdah herds of the Mile's and Pratt families respectively took the largest amount of silverware at the event.

Results. – Cow on inspection: J Pratt & Son, Studdah Bradnick Dream. Cow over 50 tonnes milk: J L Miles & Sons, Littlebridge R J Honey. Heifer on inspection: T D Goldie & Son, Wiskemanor Shottle Iris 2. Heifer bred by a bull born on 1/7/2009 or later: M Bell & Son, Semerdale Leroy Liesje 27.

Progeny group: J L Miles & Sons, group sired by Picston Shottle. Family group: M Bell & Son, Semerdale Vaakje’s. Futurity Class – 2014 Entrants: Metcalfe Farms, Washfold Shottle Beth. Combined weight of fat and protein over three consecutive lactations: JD & E Clarkson & Son, Lowthorpe Tempting Dawn, 3157kg. Highest yield per day of life: H S Petch & Sons, Aytonian Annie 436, total 28.89kg.

Management class: S, S & D Scrivin, Southbelle Herd. Top herd on inspection: J L Miles & Sons, Littlebridge herd. Production awards based on weighting of fat & protein, medium herds J D & E Clarkson & Son, Lowthorpe Herd. Overall medium herd: JD & E Clarkson & Son, Lowthorpe Herd.

The North Eastern Holstein Club 2016 Young Stock Competition results: Individual heifer in young stock: J L Miles & Sons, Littlebridge Windbrook Sonya. Young stock on inspection: J Pratt & Son, Studdah Herd.

The North Eastern Holstein Club 2016 Winter Classic Competition: Heifer: H S Petch & Sons, Aytonian Signet 623. Cow: H S Petch &Sons, Aytonian Everus 141. Cow over 70 tonnes milk: J Pratt & Son, Studdah Bambam Anna. Group: J Pratt & Son, Studdah Herd.

Young Breeders' Trophies: Judging: senior Stephen Crozier; intermediate Anna Goldie; junior Gayle Robinson. Linear: senior Robert Crozier: intermediate: Anna Goldie. junior Robert Metcalfe.

Calf show: champion J L Miles & Sons; points Metcalfe Farms; novice handler Matthew Bradley; exhibitor bred J L Miles & Sons; champion handler Anna Goldie. Young members point’s competition: senior Lizzie James; junior Anna Goldie.