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01 February 2017

Shane Murphy on 01 Feb 2017

Successful calf spectacular kicks off 2017

All go at the Northern Ireland Young Breeders Club calf spectacular show held at Ballymena recently, writes Shane Murphy.

Shane Murphy

1 February 2017

Successful calf spectacular kicks off 2017

Overall young handlers champion Louise Allen and reserve overall young handlers champion Victoria Workman are presented with their awards by Bank of Ireland representative Richard Primrose and judge Margaret McQuiston. \ Alfie Shaw

Overall pedigree Limousin champion Ballyhone Missmoneypenny, exhibited by Brian Hall, with Noel Gill of sponsor Norbrook Laboratories. \ Alfie Shaw

Reserve overall pedigree Limousin champion Keadyview Mighty, exhibited by Barny O’Kane, with Thompson’s representative Kieran McCafferty. \ Alfie Shaw

Best exhibitor-bred animal and overall commercial Limousin champion Valentine, exhibited by Stephen and Keith Williamson, handled by Tara O’Brien, with Briege Diamon of sponsor Northern Counties and judge Martin Conway. \ Alfie Shaw

Breeder Brian Mathews, Quarrymount flock, with his champion aged ewe, which also sold for the top price at the annual Beltex in-lamb sale.

The Northern Ireland Young Limousin Breeders Club (NIYLB) experienced yet another successful calf spectacular at Ballymena Livestock Market.Kicking off the morning, eight enthusiastic young breeders aged from eight to 25 years old competed in the young handlers’ competition, which entailed dressing and showing a Limousin calf for the ultimate prize of champion young handler 2017.

The Northern Ireland Young Limousin Breeders Club (NIYLB) experienced yet another successful calf spectacular at Ballymena Livestock Market.

Kicking off the morning, eight enthusiastic young breeders aged from eight to 25 years old competed in the young handlers’ competition, which entailed dressing and showing a Limousin calf for the ultimate prize of champion young handler 2017.

Judge Margaret McQuiston from the Brigadoon Charolais herd has many years of experience dressing and showing cattle around the show circuit and was looking for high standards with regard to presentation and mannerism in the show ring.

The points scored in both elements were combined to reveal the winners. In the junior class, Victoria Workman (11) from Larne caught the judge’s eye to take first place, followed by the impressive Kile Diamond (12) from Garvagh and Joseph McGookin (15) from Ballyclare.

The senior class title winner was Louise Allen (23) from Scotland closely followed by Adam McGookin (19) from Ballyclare and Eamon McGarry (25) from Crumlin.

The two class winners then presented their animals for a final time in the show ring in front of Mrs McQuiston.

After much consideration, Louise Allen was awarded champion young handler for 2017, with Victoria Workman receiving the reserve championship.

Mrs McQuiston congratulated all the young handlers who competed in the competition and complimented the high standard of stockmanship and showmanship that was evident from all competitors throughout the day.

Ballyhone on top in Ballymena

With the young handlers’ classes completed, the calf spectacular got under way. Martin Conway, owner of the renowned Craigatoke Limousin herd in Plumbridge, had the unenviable task of judging an outstanding show of pedigree and commercial Limousin calves.

These calves displayed great style, quality and correctness, which was highlighted particularly by the championship lineup.

The pedigree championship consisted of Keadyview Mighty, owned and exhibited by Barny O’Kane and Sons; Ballyhone Missmoneypenny, owned and exhibited by Brian Hall; Clydevalley Mason, owned and exhibited by Robert and Stephen Clyde; and Deerpark McGregor and Deerpark Massie, owned and exhibited by Connor and Ryan Mulholland.

After careful consideration, Mr Conway finally selected the impressive Ballyhone Missmoneypenny as his overall pedigree champion.

This February 2016 heifer calf is a full sister to Ballyhone Lucas, who was the intermediate champion at the Northern Ireland Limousin Championships at Antrim Show in 2016, and is sired by the popular Ampertaine Foreman.

Reserve pedigree champion was Keadyview Mighty. This stylish January 2016 bull calf is also sired by Ampertaine Foreman and comes from a strong dam line of breeding, consisting of noted sires such as Glenrock Ventura and Ampertaine Abracadabra.

Mr Conway was then tasked with judging the remarkable Limousin commercial classes that demonstrate the strength of the Limousin breed.

Holding her own in the under-400kg commercial calf class was July-born heifer Bexy Boo. Sired by Wilodge Vantastic, she was exhibited by Robert and Leanne Workman.

To follow, Keith Williamson had double success in the over-400kg calf class as his two commercial heifers Valentine and Dakota, both sired by AI bull Elite Forever Brill, stood first and second in their class.

Valentine went on to secure overall commercial champion and winner of the McDonalds of Sprucefield Cup for the best exhibitor-bred animal of the show. This was shortly followed by Dakota taking the reserve commercial championship.

Valentine’s full sister was a winner at last year’s NI Commercial Spectacular Show and the prestigious Scottish Winter Fair.

Special prizes were awarded to several NIYLB members. Frank McAuley from the Carmorn herd won the Leslie Hood Perpetual Challenge Cup for the best heifer of the show, owned by a young breeder member. He received the cup for his second prize Millgate Fame daughter Carmorn Melaine.

Furthermore, Adam McGookin (19) and Kile Diamond (12) won the David Adams Heaslip Memorial Endeavour Trophy for showing dedication to the club throughout the year by competing in stock judging and young handler competitions.

Strong clearance at Beltex sale

The Beltex society recently held its annul in-lamb ewe sale in Tullamore Mart. Trade across all sectors was brisk, with an 87% clearance of the 31 ewes on sale. The aged ewes were met with the highest demand, seeing a 100% clearance to average over €500.

The overall champion on the day came from the pen of Brian Mathews, Tullamore, Co Offaly, for his 2013 aged ewe Quarrymount Twinkle Toes. She sold scanned in-lamb to twins by Headlind Tease Me, the Beltex all-Ireland aged ram champion in 2016. Twinkle Toes went on to sell for the day’s top price of €1,000 to breeder Hugh O’Connor, Cloneycavan, Ballivor, Co Meath.

Reserve championship honours went to the January-born ewe lamb Cormac Bell from TJ Gormley, Tuam, Co Galway. Successful bidder was Colm Curran, Trim, Co Meath, at €440.

The shearling ewes also witnessed a 100% clearance on the day averaging at €400. Ewe lambs were met with a stickier trade, with only 50% finding new homes on the day to average just shy of €380/head.