Rain hampered showing conditions at this week’s Fermanagh county show, with a noticeable drop in spectators present around the ring. Despite this, a number of main breeds held finals, which saw good numbers throughout the rings.
The final interbreed championships saw both animals which secured breed championships, and a number of animals who topped the line in a number of age-divided qualifiers. Given the task of judging the final interbreed lineup was Victor Wallace, who runs the Baronagh Angus herd.
After much deliberation, he found his champion in the form of the young Simmental bull Corrick Hamlet (pictured above) from Cecil McIlwaine, Co Tyrone. This stylish 16-month-old bull is sired by Delfur Decider and is out of home-bred Curraheen Tyson daughter, Corrick Dakota. Packed with power, this bull is no stranger to success, having also claimed the junior bull interbreed at Clogher Valley and the breed and reserve interbreed at Omagh this year, from his only three outings. Hamlet is now on track to be making an appearance at the Stirling bull sales in Scotland come October.
Reserve champion
Following close behind, Duncan and Richard McDowell claimed the reserve title with Castlemount Matrix Strawberry (pictured below). This powerhouse of a Shorthorn heifer caught a number of spectator’s eyes when she first entered the ring, with judge Wallace on the same boat. She is sired by the herds’ stock bull, Elliot Matrix.
This bull was purchased privately from Scotland and has bred phenomenally for the McDowell outfit, siring bulls to 13,000gns at the last February Stirling bull sales. Matrix Strawberry herself is also no stranger to success, having won the stars of the future in Scotland last October, as well as numerous breed championships on the summer show circuit as a calf.
Dairy champion
Securing top spot in the dairy ring was Ian McCleans Holstein Priestland 5235 PS James Rose (pictured below). This fourth-lactation cow is sired by show cow breeder Picton Shottle, and is classified EX93. Having calved on 3 February, she is currently giving over 50 litres a day. This comes off the back of a 14,300l lactation.
Again, this cow is no stranger to winning ways, having secured the reserve breed championship at Balmoral, along with seven other show interbreeds this year.