President

Nick Helyer

Prefix: Clampitt

Contact: ‭07831 381354

For many years, Nick has been an avid and loyal member of Holstein UK, he has witnessed the society's evolution into a strong, influential, and cohesive organisation.

Together with his family, Nick established the Clampitt herd in 1965 with the purchase of a few bulling heifers. Located within 561 hectares, the milking herd has since grown to 230 cows yielding 11,149 litres at 4.22% butterfat and 3.28% protein per year on twice-day milking. The cows are housed all year round and fed on a ration of maize, lucerne and grass silages.

Nick attended agricultural college in the sixties and has been a member of the black and white societies since 1965. In the past, Nick has been President and Chairman of the South and Wiltshire Holstein Club, as well as Chairman of Salisbury NFU and Salisbury Discussion Club. Nick was elected onto  the Holstein UK Board of Trustees in 2004 serving his eight year term until 2012, Nick also sat on the CIS Board from 2007 to 2012, holding the position of Chairman in his last two years.

Nick has continued to be involved with the breed ever since, not only within the confines of his own herd but also within the breed society itself. Nick has always been a champion of the breed society and well known for helping others through his thoughts and ideas and knowledge sharing.

With Nick's passion for furthering the development of the breed, he always finds time to engage with his counterparts. Nick and his wife, Topsy, look forward to meeting members and devoting their time to the society over the next twelve months.

North Midlands

Steve Hill (Chairman)

Committee: Finance

Prefix: Hydaways

Contact: 01827 383900  |  07980 310632

Steve has been a Trustee since 2019 and is on the Finance Committee. He believes he will be able to offer members the opportunity to feedback any suggestions or comments directly to the Board of Trustees and will also be able to directly deliver any news from the Board of Trustees that would be of interest to the members of the Holstein Breeders Clubs.

“The skills that I feel I bring to the Society are that I am a passionate dairy farmer and breeder and a good communicator. I have had two children that have been involved with and benefited from HYB and that is also a passion of mine in encouraging young breeders to develop their judging skills, showing and breeding skills.”

Brief summary of the farm business

The Hills are a small family dairy farm milking 130 pedigree Holsteins on a robotic milking system. They sell fifty pedigree females every year into other herds and also sell a small amount of raw milk from the farm gate.

Achievements and highlights in the dairy industry

They have shown their cattle in the past and amongst the highlights have been Reserve All Britain Summer Calf in 1998 with Hydaways Rudolph Pamela, Champion Exhibitor Bred at the Royal Show with Hydaways Inspiration Pamela in 1998 and also achieving EX95 Dam and Daughter (the first in the UK) with Hydaways Inspiration Pamela and her dam Wiseburrow Jethro Pamela. Hydaways were one of the first UK herds to be featured in Holstein International. They were also awarded Red & White Champion at the last ever RASE Royal Show. “We have had various success with Club Herd Competitions over the years and semen from Hydaways Goldmine (out of the Pamela family) has been sold across the world by Cogent. More recently, we were delighted to be nominated for the All Britain Baby Calf with Hydaways Darlingo Pamela who was Champion Baby Calf at the ABAB Calf Show 2018. I have been Chairman of Staffordshire Holstein Club and we have hosted various stock judging evenings for both the Holstein Club, HYB and local Young Farmers Clubs.  I have also judged herd competitions and shows throughout the UK and Ireland."

Other hobbies and interests

Outside of dairy farming, Steve’s interests are supporting the local community, being active on the Parish Council and supporting Manchester United Football Club, as well as enjoying travelling.

Northern

Andrew Williamson (Vice Chairman)

Committee: Show & Sale

Prefix: Ingleden

Contact: 01768 885497  |  07702 843121

Having been elected on to the Board of Trustees in 2020, Andrew’s aim is to represent the membership in his area and he hopes to drive the Society forward in all areas of technical innovation whilst becoming more relevant to the commercial dairy farmer.

Brief summary of the farm business

Andrew farms in partnership with his wife Jill and son Matthew in Cumbria. The Ingleden herd consists of 220 cows and 180 youngstock with milk supplied to Arla on a 360 contract aligned to Aldi. 

Achievements and highlights in the dairy industry

2019 ABAB Calf Show Champion Calf

Past Chairman and President of Border & Lakeland Holstein Club

Past Coordinator of Border & Lakeland Holstein Young Breeders

Past Chairman of Cumbria Young Farmers

Past Chairman of Cumbria Grassland Society

Other hobbies and interests

In his spare time, Andrew enjoys skiing and rugby.

East Midlands

Matthew Winter

Committee: Finance

Prefix: Corringham

Contact: 07879 456210

Matthew is hoping he can add something to the board with his financial background and his common sense approach. He has been a member of the Society since his HYB days.

Brief summary of the farm

“I’m one of four partners in the family farm where we currently milk 210 under the Corringham prefix. We are farming a total of 800 acres, with 500 acres down to arable. I have been back at home since 2011, having previously been Head of Financial Planning for Eurostar. Before that, I spent around five years working for the Society as an Animal Breeding Analysist.”

Achievements and highlights in the dairy industry

Corringham have been a Master Breeder Herd and were Premier Herd Winners in 2008, along with being runners up three times since.

Far Western

Dawn Coryn

Committee: Operations

Prefix: Typex

Contact: 07977 449914

Dawn joined the board in 2023 and has always encouraged inclusivity and respect for Holsteins and British Friesians alike. Through the full range of services offered by the Society, she hopes to explore ways in which the Society can help members utilize their information. Dawn places a great deal of importance on genomics along with cow sense.

Achievements and highlights in the dairy industry

Dawn won the prestigious Presidents medal in 1998. Her most famous Holstein was Typex Blackstar Fabiola, who won National Grand Champion in 1993 as a heifer, then won the All Time All Britain Heifer title in 2020. She spent a summer in France showing and preparing animals. A highlight for Dawn is working with young people, she especially enjoys doing this at the All Breeds All Britain Calf Show. In her spare time she volunteers at county Country Farming days with 1500 children getting a snapshot of farming.

Other hobbies and interests

Dawn enjoys playing bowls and listening to music in her spare time. She also has a Patterdale Terrier that keeps her very active.

Lancashire

John Hartley

Committee: Show & Sale

Prefix: Roughwood

Contact: 07894 594440

John hopes to help the Society to provide a vibrant and all-inclusive service to all members. He would like government backing to promote our cattle breeding industry in a post-Brexit world. He believes we have the skills, the natural environment and farm structure to become world leaders in efficient production to feed an ever-growing population

John says he will bring youthful enthusiasm, an open mind and a passion for all types of farming to the Society.

Brief summary of the farm business

John farms a 330 acre all-grass tenanted farm in a family partnership with wife Sarah, son Ben and his wife Heather. He milks 220 cows with robotic milkers and has done so for 10 years; they have 150 replacements. Sexed or beef semen is used, including the use of Jerseys for their Arla contract. They are Arla Amba members, supplying Tesco since the formation of the TSDG group.

Achievements and highlights in the dairy industry

John is a member of the local training group, Member Ribblesdale Farmers. 

They were an original Monitor dairy farm for Lancashire which was a very worthwhile project.

Other hobbies and interests

John is a Parish Councillor, is in the YFC Advisory committee, and has recently done a bee-keeping course.

Other relevant information

John says; “Twenty years ago, we had a go at pasteurising, bottling and selling milk which is hard work but the selling is not as difficult as trying to get your money!”

Northern Ireland

Iain McLean

Committee: Operations

Prefix: Priestland

Contact: 07884 268849

Iain joined the board in 2024 and has a huge passion for the breed and the society. He hopes to explore ways in which the Society can help members utilise their information through the full range of services provided by the Society. In his breeding program, Iain gives a great deal of attention to cow families, using genomic sires from renowned breeding families.

Achievements and highlights in the dairy industry

Priestland was home to three EX Shottle granddaughters of James Rose, including Priestland 5446 Shot J Rose EX96-4E – who is a 5-star brood cow and LP100 cow as well as being Champion Holstein at Balmoral Show in 2021 – and Priestland 5235 PS James Rose EX95-3E who is a 16-star brood cow and a very prolific show cow who was awarded Reserve All Britain 4-Year-Old and 5-Year-Old in 2016 and 2017 respectively. The McLean family started showing in 2009 with great success. Over the years they have achieved numerous show wins from Winter Fair, Balmoral Show and the Northern Ireland Calf Show. As well as winning the Northern Ireland Herd Competition in 2019, they have also been runners-up of the RABDF Gold Cup in 2008 and 2009.

Northern Ireland

Wallace Patton

Committee: Operations

Prefix: Greenisle

Contact: 07812197749

Wallace hopes to contribute to the development and promotion of the Holstein breed. A good communication link between the Society and its members is something he is looking forward to maintaining.

Brief summary of the farm business

Wallace and his son Daniel milk 190 cows twice a day at the Greenisle herd, which was established in 2019, having once been a part of the Ards herd. The focus is on breeding strong, hardy cows that can thrive in predominantly housed conditions.

Achievements and highlights in the dairy industry

In 2022 we won the Best Medium Herd in the senior section of the Northern Ireland Holstein Herd Competition.

Other hobbies and interests

Outside of dairy farming, Wallace enjoys following Ulster Rugby and countryside walks.

North Wales

William Williams

Committee: Operations

Prefix: Clwch

Contact: 01407 730964  |  07739 156904

William joined the Board in 2020 and his aim is to maintain good communication links between the Society and its members.

Brief summary of the farm business

Based in Anglesey, William established his Clwch herd in 1992 with 25 cows. Alongside two of his sons, William is now milking 200 cows on a predominantly autumn calving system with all young stock being genomic tested.

Achievements and highlights in the dairy industry

2019 Master Breeder Award winner

Other hobbies and interests

Away from dairy farming, William is kept very busy with his four children and 14 grandchildren and he enjoys escaping to the occasional rock concert to clean the wax from his ears!

North Western

Jane Whittaker

Committee: Science

Prefix: Knowlesmere

Contact: 07786 166192

Jane aims to provide a platform for members to engage with Holstein UK and to give an informed and balanced view to working with Holstein UK.

Jane says: “I worked on the team for the Western region to bring the Holstein Friesian Society and British Holstein Society together. As a pedigree breeder for over 35 years, I have seen many changes. I want to protect our breed and make it profitable for future generations. I have been a past Chairman of Western Holstein Club, and committee members of both the Shropshire and Western Clubs.

Brief summary of the farm business

We held a successful dispersal sale in 2020 of the Knowlesmere Herd.  Along with some of our best families we are now investing in new families:  Knowlesmere  Jones Victoire (Ferme Jacobs Victoire) being All Britain  2022 and Jones Crushtime Patricia (Triple T paige) Champion Emerald Expo 2023 these are with our daughter and son in law Gary and Izzy Jones.  We also work alongside our other daughter Stephanie and her husband James Doherty at home.

Achievements and highlights in the dairy industry

2^nd at the European Championship, Colmar, 2016 with Knowlesmere Destry Dream.

3^rd at the European Championship, Colmar, 2016 with Knowlesmere Adventure Dream.

2016 UK Dairy Day Champion with Knowlesmere Goldwyn Abrakaboom.

2018 ABAB Champion Calf with Knowlesmere Solomon Diamond.

5^th at European Championship, Libramont, 2019 with Knowlesmere Solomon Diamond.

Other hobbies and interests

I take a keen interest in my Local Clubs Shropshire and Western to encourage young members to get involved in HYB activities.  I am also activity involved in my local community in our annual Village Day.

South Wales

Richard Thomas

Committee: Science

Prefix: Churchvale

Contact: 07813 555978

Richard was elected to The Board in 2021 and is a passionate dairy farmer, breeder and a good communicator.

He says: “I aim to voice the opinion and concerns of South Wales club members, and the youth, to the board enabling to secure a promising future within the Holstein breed. My two children, Nia and Iwan, are highly involved in HYB and have both benefited from taking part in events. I was actively involved with hosting the last HYB rally in South Wales and I also enjoy teaching and encouraging YFC and HYB members with their stockjudging and linear and have done for many years.”

Brief Summary of Farm Business

We are a family farm run by myself, wife Bethan and our two children under the Churchvale prefix which is located on the outskirts of Carmarthen town. The herd is currently classified 100% VG or EX, averaging 35 litres a day housed and calving all year round. Milk is sold to dairy partners with maize, whole crop and silage grown as forage.

Achievements & Highlights

As a family we have a great passion for pedigrees and enjoy showing our cattle, having gained various successes over the years. The highlight was being crowned Supreme Interbreed Champion at both the Bath and West Dairy and the Welsh Dairy Show in 2016. 

Won the President’s Medal in 1995.

Member of the Holstein UK National Judging Panel.

Past Chairman of the South Wales club.

Other hobbies and interests

Committee member involved with organising the Welsh Dairy Show.

I also work as a Sales Manager for Semex UK covering the South Wales area. 

Scotland

Jimmie Baillie

Committee: Show & Sale

Prefix: Dalserf

Contact: 01698 881561  |  07919 535298

Jimmie joins the Board of Trustees to represent the Scottish Club members and looks forward to briefing prospective members on the benefits of becoming a member of the Society. Additionally, Jimmie would like to further promote the services provided by the Cattle Information Service, along with the value of classification and the benefits of being pedigree. 

Brief summary of the farm business

Jimmie manages his 250-head herd of cows plus followers with his wife Isabel and two sons James and Gavin in South Lanarkshire. They also grow 180 acres of cereals on their 600 acre unit.

Achievements and highlights in the dairy industry

Jimmie has been on the Holstein UK Judging Panels since winning the Senior Individual Holstein Stock Judging Competition at the Royal Show in 1986. Jimmie has judged at a huge number of shows across the UK, his highlights include judging at the Royal Welsh Show and the Royal Highland Show.

Other hobbies and interests

Jimmie has previously held a number of positions within the industry, including Holstein Scotland South Club Chairman, Scottish Dairy Cattle Association Chairman and Director and Holstein Steward at Agriscot.

Scotland

Sandy Pirie

CIS Board Member

Committee: Finance

Prefix: Killearn

Contact: 01586 810218  |  07713 087462

Sandy is currently on the Operations committee and he is gaining experience of how the machinery of the Society works for members. He believes he will bring a friendly ear, is easy to talk to, and is not scared to ask difficult questions.

Brief summary of the farm business

At home, the Pirie’s milk 200 cows and 160 followers on 170 acres owned and 175 acres rented. They also run 30 texel ewes. 

Achievements and highlights in the dairy industry

Sandy says; “I spent five years on the NFU’s Milk Committee but the highlight for me is being on the Board of Holstein UK.

Other hobbies and interests

Sandy is involved at local and regional level of NFU Scotland and plays golf about once a year.

Southern

Ben Yates

CIS Board Member

Committee: Show & Sale

Prefix: Wowcow

Contact: 07764 465888

Ben joined The Board in 2021 and brings great enthusiasm and passion for the Holstein breed and its members. 

“Having managed several varying dairy systems in my career I believe I will bring a different perspective to the board of trustees. I hope to help maximise the values and potential of the Holstein Society and HYB.”

Brief Summary of the farm business

Ben currently manages Mells Park Estate in Somerset, overseeing a 400-cow unit with a Spring and Autumn block calving pattern, along with managing the 1,000-acre estate.  With his wife and two boys, Ben has a small herd of Holstein animals under the Wowcow prefix. 

Achievements & Highlights

Ben worked at Smiddiehill Holsteins as a youngster, where he first worked with the great Erle family, of which he’s worked with and shown nine generations of the family, with hopefully more to come.

During his time managing the Wyndford Holstein herd in Shropshire, Ben enjoyed success showing animals he’d bred across the UK and Europe. The highlight being winning second place Intermediate Heifer with Wyndford Atwood Grey at The European Show, Colmar 2016. 

Other hobbies & interest

Ben enjoys judging dairy cattle at shows across the UK. Away from cows, Ben enjoys following most sports and is a junior coach at the local rugby club. 

West Midlands

Claire Jones

Committee: Science

Prefix: Wiltor

Contact: 07867 546528

Having previously competed in YMA, Claire has been an active member of Holstein UK for over 30 years and she hopes to bring new ideas to the Society in order to attract new members and retain the current membership. Claire’s focus is also on adding value to being pedigree and making full use of the Society’s services.

Brief summary of the farm business

Claire runs the Wiltor herd along with her husband David and son Matthew where they place a huge emphasis on being strictly commercial but at the same time being passionate about pedigree Holsteins. They undertake a lot of embryo transfer work and genomic test most of their calves. They also gain much pleasure in marketing their animals in the show ring and regularly selling pedigree heifers.

Achievements and highlights in the dairy industry

Without doubt winning The Royal Show in 1997 and especially again in 1999 has left Claire with unforgettable memories. However, in more recent years, the family have enjoyed success at UK Dairy Day, UK Dairy Expo and the Royal Welsh Shows resulting in numerous All Britain Awards. One of Claire’s earliest personal achievements was winning the Stock Judging Competition at the 1989 National Calf Show which resulted in an all expenses paid trip to Canada.

Other hobbies and interests

Claire loves seeing her grandchildren and never turns down a social night out with her family and friends.

Yorkshire

David Lawson

Committee: Science

Prefix: Newbirks

Contact: 07802 186894

David joined The Board in 2021 and has over 40 years’ experience in breeding black and white dairy cattle.

He says: “I would like to see pedigree breeders reap more rewards for providing the commitment to registering and recording pedigree cattle, which then benefits the whole dairy industry.”

Brief Summary

The farm is run by myself, wife Claire, daughter Suzy and her partner Wayne Stead. We currently have 200 pedigree Holsteins plus followers milking through four recently installed Lely A5 robots. 

Achievements & Highlights

Member of the Yorkshire Club since I was a young boy.

Very proud to achieve the Master Breeder Award, 2019 

Our most successful cow family is the home-bred Jazz family, of which we have just registered number 1,955.

Other hobbies & interests

My commitment to cows has left little time for hobbies, but we are hoping the robots will give us a little more freedom.