Irish-bred bull claims junior interbreed title at Royal Highland

A Charolais bull bred by Martin Ryan, Thurles, took to the ring to compete with the best genetics in the British Isles at the Royal Highland Show in Scotland last week and came away not just with the Charolais junior championship, but the prestigious junior interbreed title.

Goldstar Hugo stole the show in the junior classes at the Royal Highland and had to overcome superior competition from a number of British-bred bulls to take the top accolade.

A son of Jumper, he is out of a Major daughter called Goldstar Florence, a first prize winner at the 2010 National Charolais Show. Hugo himself was a first prize winner at a number of summer shows around the country last year, but it was at the National Livestock Show in Tullamore where he caught the eye of Gilbert Crawford, Maghera. At just 11-months-old, Hugo was declared the 2013 Charolais male champion at Tullamore. It was there that a deal was struck and the bull later joined the Coolnaslee pedigree Charolais herd based in Maghera, Londonderry, Northern Ireland. He was exhibited last week at the Royal Highland by Gilbert Crawford and came away with a plethora of rosettes.

Undoubtedly, this latest win can only be the start to what is likely to become a wonderful showing career for Hugo going forward. Over the past few years, Irish-bred animals, and indeed Irish bloodlines, have frequently claimed some of the top titles and prices at shows and sales across Northern Ireland and Britain. They are now recognised as a high-quality brand that can compete with the best in the British Isles.

Meanwhile, Andrew Hornall, from the Falleninch Charolais herd in Stirling, took the pairs championship at the Royal Highland last week with Falleninch Ireland and Falleninch Isabella. Born in January and May 2013 respectively, both animals are by the stock bull Dereskit Fernando, bred by Basil Bothwell, Dereskit, Killeshandra, Co Cavan. Fernando was purchased by Andrew Hornall at the 2011 Christmas Cracker sale, where he took the senior male championship.

Limousin

In the Limousin ring, the male champion and overall reserve title went to Jim Quail, Tullyear, Banbridge, Co Down, with his homebred bull Lynderg Hero. Born January 2012, he is by Lynderg Eisenhower (by Guards Boomer) and out of a daughter of Haltcliffe Underwriter. No stranger to winning, Hero also picked up the reserve Limousin title at the Balmoral show earlier in May. Meanwhile, for a second year in a row, the reserve male championship went to the Irish-bred Ardglasson Highlander, exhibited by Dougie McBeath, Stirling, and Sarah-Jane Jessop, Bannockburn. Bred by Fiona Gilsenan, Kells, Co Meath, he is by Fieldson Alfy and out of the homebred Ardglasson Daisy.

Having won the junior male championship at Balmoral in May, James Alexander, Randalstown, picked up the reserve junior male title with Jalex Itsallgood, amid a strong class of 17 bulls at the Royal Highland last week. Born May 2013, he is by Swarland Eddie and out of the dam Tyrone Dulani.