Balmoral Show: Aughnacloy couple take Hereford championship

This was their first year exhibiting at the event in their own right. The winning animal, Tirelugan Lilly, is a home-bred heifer with tremendous potential.

“She is coming up on two years old and is in calf to our stock bull Solpoll 1 Lone Ranger,” Paul confirmed.

“As a family we have been breeding Hereford cattle for almost 50 years. They are very quiet animals, easy calving and perform well at grass.

“The Hereford breed continues to grow in popularity, both from a pedigree and commercial perspective.

“Lone Ranger also performed very well for us today.”

Another young breeder who can look back at Balmoral Show 2016 with tremendous pride is Ciaran Kerr, from Lurgan in Co Armagh.

His home-bred heifer, Kinnego Loanin Lady, came runner-up to the eventual Hereford champion in their original show class.

“We are delighted with the result,” he confirmed.

“The heifer is in calf to our stock bull, Mullaghdoo 1 Elite.”

The Kinnego herd was established in 2012.

“We have been building up numbers ever since. Our plan is to establish a high-quality polled herd, made up of 15 breeding females and followers,” Ciaran explained.

“And we are getting there. The herd currently features six cows, all calving at the present time; five heifers, three of which will calve in 2016; two bulls and, of course, this year’s calf crop.”

“We have a tradition within the family of keeping suckler cows. Hereford cattle have always appealed to me and when the chance presented itself of buying into some decent pedigree bloodlines four years ago, I took it.”

The Hereford reserve championship was won by Ballygowan breeder John McMordie. His noted Solpoll herd is no stranger to success in show rings throughout the UK.

“It has been a great year so far for Hereford cattle breeders here in Northern Ireland,” he said.

“Demand for stock continues to grow.

“Yes the current Hereford quality beef schemes are helping to boost commercial prices. But it is the temperament of the animals and the way they can fit into any farming system that is boosting demand for the cattle.

“Northern Ireland is now an elite centre of Hereford breeding. This reflects the tremendous investment made by pedigree herd owners over recent years.”

RESULTS SUMMARY, DAY ONE

BEEF CATTLE

British Blue Champion: J & S Martin, Newtownards

Reserve Champion: O McGuinness, Eglinton

Hereford Champion: P & W Beatty, Aughnacloy

Hereford Reserve: J & W McMordie, Ballygowan

Irish Moiled Champion: A & J Baxter, Omagh

Irish Moiled Reserve: N Edwards, Tempo

Limousin Champion Junior Heifer: J & P Rainey. Kilrea

British Blue Classes:

Cow Class: 1st: J & S Martin, Newtownards

Bull class: 1st: W Ervine, Belfast

Senior heifer: 1st: O McGuinness, Eglinton

Junior Heifer: 1st S O Brien, Co Donegal

Hereford classes:

Senior Cow: 1st: J & W McMordie, Ballygowan

Heifer – born 1st half 2014: 1st: P & W Beatty, Aughnacloy

Heifer born 2nd half of 2014: 1st: J & W McMordie, Ballygowan

Heifer, born in 2015: 1st: J & W McMordie

Junior Bull: 1st: C & M Beatty & Son, Dungannon

Senior Bull: 1st: Haire family, Crumlin

Aberdeen Angus classes:

Cow in Calf: 1st: J Porter, Lisburn

SHEEP CLASSES:

Texel Champion: Aiken, Corbett & Cromie, Dromore, Co Down

Texel Reserve: A Gault, Newtownabbey

Beltex Champion: M Burleigh, Enniskillen

Beltex Reserve: M Burleigh, Enniskillen

Zwartbles Champion: L Campbel, Carnlough

Zwartbles Reserve: C & D Cromie, Ballynahinch

Swaledale Champion: E Haughey, Ballymena

Swaledale Reserve: E Haughey, Ballymena

Lleyn Champion: C & A Kennedy, Ballyclare

Lleyn Reserve: C & A Kennedy, Ballyclare