The Northern Ireland Commercial Cattle Club held its second annual Stars of the Future show and sale last Friday 24 February at Dungannon Mart. A total of 40 cattle competed across 13 classes with judge Blair Duffton from Aberdeen in Scotland offering his expertise. Some 38 out of the 40 cattle were sold to an average of £1,180.

The show started with a strong class of Limousin heifers, which saw Judith Linton from Garvagh, Co Derry, edge it out with her young heifer. In second place was Keith Williamson with his Elite Forever Brill-sired heifer, closely followed by Richard Devine. The Limousin male class was secured by Brendan O’Hare with Josh Armstrong in second followed by Sam Matchett in third.

The Limousin championship was clinched by Judith Linton who also went on to claim the joint top price of £3,400, selling to Commercial showman Robert Miller from Moneymore. Having been narrowly behind the champion in the Limousin heifer class, Keith Williamson was awarded the reserve championship, going on to sell his heifer for £3,000.

The next breed to hit the show ring was the British Blues. The heifer class was won by Glen McMahon, with M&J Leonard coming second. M&J Leonard then continued their run of luck to secure first in the male class. The Blue championship was eventually awarded to Glen McMahon, with M&J Leonard claiming the reserve for their male calf.

The Charolais were up next, with the heifer class proving to be very competitive. Alan Veitch from Co Fermanagh edged out the class with his roan-coloured Charolais cross Limousin heifer sired by Ashleigh Admiral. In second was Tara O’Brien and Keith Williamson, followed by Gareth Elliot in third with his Lanzak-sired calf. This trend continued into the Charolais championship with Veitch’s roan heifer claiming the overall and going on to be sold for a joint top price of £3,400. She was purchased by the day’s judge Blair Duffton. Reserve honours were awarded to Tara O’Brien and Keith Williamson who went on to sell their 440kg heifer for £1,330.

The any other breed male class was won by Gordan and Rachel Elliot with their Simmental cross Blue steer by Kilbride Farm Newry. This shapely young calf also went on to win the any other breed championship, with M&J Leonard coming in second and reserve with a Blonde cross steer sired by Ark Diego.

The breeding heifer class proved tricky to judge, with Duffton eventually deciding to put forward S&J Smith from Newtownstewart with their 420kg roan-coloured heifer.

This Limousin heifer sold for £2,000 to Colin Woodside. In close second was Keith Williamson with his Elite Forever Brill heifer, followed by a Charolais cross heifer.

The final two classes to be judged were the unhaltered heifer and male classes. The female class saw large entries, with Damien McKenna in first place, followed closely by Sam Matchett and, finally, Cecil Mcllwanie in third with his Charolais cross heifer. This heifer claimed the top price in the unhaltered section, selling for £1,400. The male unhaltered class was won by Mark Doyle, who went on to win the overall unhaltered champion selling for £1,220. Second place was awarded to Brendan O’Hare, who clinched the reserve title, selling his Limousin male calf at £1,040 to the judge, while third place went to TA & P Paul.

The overall championship and biggest prize on the day was awarded to Alan Veitch with reserve being awarded to Judith Linton. A total of five heifers were exported to Scotland with one heifer being exported to the Republic of Ireland.