Omagh Show: McLean family clean up host of titles

Bushmills milk producers Iain and Joyce McLean and family certainly had the '˜cream of the crop' in the dairy section at Omagh's 176th annual show, winning the Holstein, Ayrshire and Jersey championships, before going on to score a hat-trick in the inter-breed line-up.
By The Newsroom
Published 3rd Jul 2016, 17:34 BST
Updated 4th Jul 2016, 17:31 BST
Gail Matchett from Portadown with her Aberdeen Angus championGail Matchett from Portadown with her Aberdeen Angus champion
Gail Matchett from Portadown with her Aberdeen Angus champion

It didn’t end there when their home-bred third calver Priestland 5235 PS James Rose EX91 came head to the head with the inter-breed beef winner and was crowned overall champion of champions at the Tyrone Farming Society event.

Judge Archie Hamilton described the beef and dairy leaders as excellent examples of their breed.

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“The Simmental bull is exceptional and has magnificent potential ahead of him, but on the day I picked the Holstein cow for her age and experience. She is the perfect example of a dairy cow, has an excellent udder and good locomotion.”

Victoria Johnston displays some of the rosettes won by her family's Ballymacan British Blonde herd. Pictures by Julie HazeltonVictoria Johnston displays some of the rosettes won by her family's Ballymacan British Blonde herd. Pictures by Julie Hazelton
Victoria Johnston displays some of the rosettes won by her family's Ballymacan British Blonde herd. Pictures by Julie Hazelton

Priestland 5235 PS James Rose is no stranger to the limelight, having won the breed’s honourable mention award at Balmoral Show.

She was Holstein, inter-breed dairy, and supreme overall cattle champion at Ballymena Show in May, and also chalked up numerous accolades at Ballymoney Show.

Runner-up in the dairy section was the McLean family’s Ayrshire cow Marleycote Sea Lily, a maximum score EX94 fourth calver producing 35 litres of milk daily.

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Taking the second reserve award was the Jersey champion Fordwich Saturn Genevive, a third calver classified EX91.

A delighted Robert and Lorna Forde from Tempo, with their supreme Simmental champion and inter-breed beef champion Mullyknock Gallant ETA delighted Robert and Lorna Forde from Tempo, with their supreme Simmental champion and inter-breed beef champion Mullyknock Gallant ET
A delighted Robert and Lorna Forde from Tempo, with their supreme Simmental champion and inter-breed beef champion Mullyknock Gallant ET

Omagh Show also proved to be a memorable day for Robert and Lorna Forde from Tempo, who won the Simmental championship and inter-breed title with their nine-month- old bull Mullyknock Gallant ET.

He is by Anatrim Bodybuilder, and bred from the 2008 Balmoral champion Mullyknock Princess – one of six cows in the herd.

Orkney judge Liam Muir described the home-bred youngster as very smart.

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“He has great style, character, excellent fleshing ability and super locomotion.”

Naomi Hassard and nine-month-old son Jacob, from EnniskillenNaomi Hassard and nine-month-old son Jacob, from Enniskillen
Naomi Hassard and nine-month-old son Jacob, from Enniskillen

Runner-up in the beef section was the Charolais leader Ratoary Lennox ET, an 11-month-old Conval Frank son bred by Sean McGovern from Clogher.

“It’s been a great show despite the rain. I see a lot of NI-bred bulls in Stirling and Carlisle, and they always come to the top. I’ve no doubt these two young bulls are hot prospects for the future.”

Claiming the overall championship plaudits in the hotly contested sheep section which boasted classes for more than 20 breeds, was the Texel leader, a ewe lamb from James Wilkinson’s flock at Cookstown.

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Catching the eye of Scottish judge Archie MacGregor to take the reserve inter-breed award was a North Country Cheviot ewe exhibited by Allister McNeill from Toomebridge. Second reserve honours went to the Lanark Blackface champion shown by Paddy and Veronica Fullerton from Draperstown.

Related topics:OmaghBushmillsJersey