Records tumble at Carrick's 15th annual winter fair

This year’s annual winter fair in Carrick-on-Shannon will go down as the most memorable yet, with a new sale record price achieved, along with the biggest crowd witnessed at the showgrounds over the two days.

Setting the new sale record was the junior Belgian Blue champion which sold for a massive €10,000.

Brought out by Chris Meehan and Niamh Oliver from Charlestown, Co Mayo, the April 2019-born heifer calf was knocked down just before midnight on Monday.

Sired by Belgian Blue bull EPI, she is out of a Limouisn-bred black cow, with Blue again in the back breeding. This dam was purchased in Northern Ireland at Richardson’s sale a few years back and has already produced two Shorthorn calves which placed first at the winter fair for the last two years.

The high-seller weighed in at 330kg, meaning she sold for over €30/kg. Securing the calf, having awarded her the junior Blue championship the previous day, was judge Blair Duffton from Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Strong trade throughout

Overall, trade can be described as very strong throughout. The sale kicked off at 11am on Monday morning and saw a stint of 13-and-a-half hours in the auctioneer’s box, with three different auctioneers selling over 300 animals.

It proved to be a particularly lucrative sale for the top end of animals, with a total of seven animals making €5,000 or more, up from two last year.

Weanling heifers again proved the most in demand, matching last year’s average of €4.70/kg. They also saw a similar clearance on the year, but the increased number of weanling heifers forward resulted in an extra 30 being sold.

Second-best price was for the overall junior Limousin champion, which sold for €6,300. This Elite Ice Cream heifer is out of a Belgian Blue cow and was brought out by Derrick Forde.

The first of four animals to hit the €5,000 mark was an April-born Charolais heifer calf, owned by TJ Duffy and the Flatley brothers. This orange CF52-sired heifer weighed 372kg and is out of a heifer purchased at Allams fatstock sale two years ago for 6,200gns.

This price was matched shortly after by another Charolais heifer calf, this time from Sean Hughes. Sire behind this January-born heifer was Lanzac and she weighed 553kg.

Charolais-sired calves were flying in Carrick-on-Shannon, with the third to hit €5,000 being another Charolais. Selling this 346kg orange-and-white-coloured heifer was Martin Harold.

Last of the €5,000 bids came for a Limousin-cross heifer from John Kennedy. This stylish 450kg animal is a daughter of Lodge Hamlet.

Another high-seller in the young Charolais heifer calf entries saw the McGowan brothers selling their entry for €4,000. Their yellow heifer was a first-prizewinner in the show on Sunday.

Also selling for €4,000 was a Charolais-cross from E and P Boland with a Fiston-sired heifer.

Older heifers saw a slight decrease in the average price per kg paid, but, on the other hand, had an extra 40 sold on last year.

Top of the lots here was the reserve senior Limousin champion, which, having opened at €3,000, sold for €4,000. Lot 113 weighed 580kg and is sired by Wilodge Joskins.

Top of the older Charolais heifers was lot 43, a powerful 19-month-old heifer from John Clyne, which sold for €3,500.

Weanling bull calves across breeds ranged from €1,000 to €3,300, with an average price just shy of €1,500 for 47 sold.

Topping this section was the first-prizewinner in the Limousin bull calf section from the McPaddens from Rhode, Co Offaly, for their January-born EBY calf. This stylish young bull heads to Wales for breeding.

Second-highest in the section was a bid of €2,700 for the senior Limousin champion from Shane Giltinane, Limerick. This 13-month-old bull weighed 644kg and is a son of Craigatoke Jack.

Other top prices

Young handlers

The young handler class was one of the best on show on the Sunday, with large numbers of spectators looking on.

This interest also followed through to sale day, with dozens of young breeders willing to spend money to acquire the animal of their choice. This gives great reassurance to the industry for the future.

Other champions

Nigel Matchett from Portadown in Northern Ireland awarded the first championship of the day to John Lynch for his Angus-cross heifer.

In the Charolais section, judge Blair Duffton tapped out the Moorhead family’s heifer with two or more permanent teeth as senior Charolais champion.

The junior championship was taken by well-known commercial cattle exhibitor Pearse McNamee with an FWO-sired heifer under 450kg.

Clive Barnett was out in front in the senior Blue championship with his champion bullock.

The Gibbons family from Strokestown continued their successful year by clinching the Simmental championship with a young heifer calf from the 350kg or under class.

Well-known Blonde breeder Michael Creed secured the Blonde championship yet again at the winter fair in Carrick-on-Shannon, with his senior heifer sired by Kilbarry George.