Freezing conditions weren’t enough to dampen spirits at last week’s Northern Ireland young stars event in Dungannon.

The event offers people the opportunity to acquire a top show calf for the showing season ahead. Always packed with quality, this year didn’t disappoint. In fact, the event witnessed record highs.

Topping the event with a call of £8,000 was Alan Veitch’s 10-month-old Limousin-cross heifer. This is said to be a record price for any crossbred animal sold in Northern Ireland.

This stylish young heifer was far from a one-off though, with this the first calf sold out of the record-priced 2012 Welsh Winter Fare £8,200 heifer calf from Brian Jones, while the sire was successful AI bull Lodge Hamlet.

Fermangh breeder Alan Veitch had this to say after the sale: “I always knew at home that she was a fine calf, so I came here with a good feeling. However, the day’s result has absolutely blown me away. I am completely over the moon, it feels totally unreal”

Through phone bidding, the sale-topper was knocked down to an undisclosed showman in the UK, with hopes she will make an appearance on the circuit throughout the year.

A total of eight animals were sold for export at the event, six to Britain and the other two headed south.

For the first time, the event also played host to the highly renowned stars of the future calf show and sale, co-ordinated by the Northern Ireland Commercial Cattle Exhibitors Club.

Judge for the day was James Nesbet from Scotland. James made swift work going through the breed classes to tap his overall champion from the pen of Jack Smyth, Newtownstewart, Co Tyrone.

This black-coated heifer was sired by Gerryguillinane Glen, while the dam was the overall champion at the club show in 2016. She went on to make £4,000 in the sale when selling to Gary Corrie, Newtownards, Co Down.

Reserve overall champion and reserve Limousin champion went to Mark and Shane Doyle from Kilkeel, Co Down.

No stranger to the show ring, this stylish red heifer had previously been awarded calf champion at the Allams Show last December.

Having caught the eye of Aberdeenshire-based Blair Duffton, she was knocked down at £4,100.

Jack Smyth continued his highly successful run picking up both the champion and reserve rosettes in the Belgian Blue ring.

These two full embryo brothers come with a wealth of breeding, with their dam Mojo overall champion at Balmoral. Full brother of the champions Mini Mojo also caused quite a stir on the show scene, picking up the reserve overall commercial championship at the Royal Highland Show in 2016.

Blair Duffton thought the two were too good to separate, so purchased them at £3,100 and £2,000 respectively.

In the Charolais ring, D&R Simpson from Aughnacloy, Co Tyrone, were out in front for the championship. Their yellow beast caught the eye of Paul Woodside who secured the champion for £2,600. The Enniskillen-based Elliot family were close on their heels, with their exhibit claiming the reserve Charolais and breeding heifer championships.

In the native section, David Henderson from Co Fermanagh had a clean sweep when he took champion and reserve champion titles.

Speaking after the event, club chair Robert Simpson said: “This young stars event has grown into one of the best sales in the country and, after this year’s Northern Ireland record price, it won’t be going anywhere soon.”