By Brian Gomm

FARMER Jim Patrick is an outstanding example of a dwindling breed.

His Tyldesley farm is one of the few remaining tracts of countryside remaining on the southeast side of town.

But he has international status as one of the top breeders of Ayrshire cattle.

Jim has just been chosen as new chairman of the Lancashire County Dairy Herds competitions committee.

And the Garrett Hall expertise in the dairy world was underlined on Tuesday this week with the Champion Ayrshire award and three other firsts, plus first, second and fourth in the milk cow class at The Cheshire Show.

All a fitting 41st anniversary present for Jim and his wife, Margaret and the latest feather in the cap for them and their farming partners, son Ian and his wife, Janet.

The famous Garrett Hall herd currently numbers 160 milk cows and heifers plus a contented bull.

The Patricks' Ayrshires will be in the limelight again later this month.

On June 27 a party of international experts will descend on Garrett Hall Farm to glean the Patricks' secrets of success.

Some of the Ayrshire 2000 World Conference delegates will drop in as part of a tour of Britain's top herds. The conference has attracted representatives from the USA, Canada, Russia, Africa and Sweden.

Jim, the ex-Mosley Common St John's and Leigh Grammar school boy who gained a BSc in agriculture at Reading University, explained the family dedication to Ayrshires:

"My father started with the breed in 1947 and in 1958 we were given pedigree status.

"Ayrshires are currently most popular in Sweden. It is a minor breed and most farmers went to black and white and Holstein -- but they don't give quality milk like Ayrshires."

And that's why to the Patricks the breed will always be cream of the crop.