Jersey cow claims championship award at 104th Lurgan Show

The home-bred Potterswalls Action Daisybelle produced her fourth calf in October and is projected to yield over 9,500 litres of milk in her current lactation. She claimed the day’s Jersey title, followed by the interbreed dairy honours, before taking the supreme overall cattle plaudits. Daisybelle was Jersey and interbreed dairy champion at last month’s Balmoral Show.

Securing the reserve overall award was the British Blonde champion and interbreed beef winner Ivaniskey Jaquita, a two-year-old heifer bred by the McElroy family, Ivan, Ruth and William, from Dromara. Sired by the Irish-bred Clondown Eddie, she is a daughter of the herd’s multi award winning show cow Ivaniskey Denise. A first prize winner at Ballymena Show, Jaquita is in-calf to Anahorish Dude.

Runner-up in the interbreed dairy section was the Holstein champion Glasson Shottle JG Gail, a fourth calver bred by the father and son team of Philip and Simon Haffey, Portadown. This was her third successive Holstein championship at Lurgan Show. Calved five weeks ago, she is producing 46 litres of milk per day, and is one of 175 cows in the herd.

Claiming the reserve interbreed beef title was the cross-bred Limousin store heifer Miss Guinness exhibited by Stephen and Jack Smyth, Newtownstewart. She was reserve commercial cattle champion at Lurgan, and also secured the reserve interbreed prize at Ballymena Show.

In the sheep section the interbreed honours went to an aged Charollais ewe from Diane Christie’s Lornbrook flock based at Comber. Securing the reserve supreme title was the Suffolk champion from Philip and Timonthy Lamont’s Triple K flock based at Kells.

Secretary Michele Doran was delighted with the show’s success, and thanked its sponsors for their continued support. “We are indebted to our valued sponsors, without whom this show wouldn’t exist. A massive thank you to our new sponsors ABP Lurgan who have confirmed a three-year commitment to the show.”

Among the thousands of visitors attending the 104th annual show was DUP Lord Mayor Darryn Causby.

He said: “This is one of the biggest event’s in the ABC council area, and it gets bigger and better every year. Lurgan Park is a phenomenal venue, and the organisers are to be congratulated on providing a tremendous family day out. There is something for everyone, including livestock judging, live music, and a variety of trade exhibits and rural craft displays.”

One of the highlights, and a new addition to this year’s show, was the Food Heartland hosted by award-winning chef Simon Dougan from the Yellow Door in Portadown. Featuring local artisan produce, Simon and other local chefs cooked up an array of culinary delights throughout the day. Celebrity TV chef Rachel Allen hosted two masterclass demonstrations which tickled the taste buds of the large audience.

The one-day show attracted an array of farm livestock, equine and poultry exhibits from throughout the Province. Many of the exhibitors are die-hard supporters of the agricultural show scene, but there was strong opposition following the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society’s decision on Friday to stage a four-day show in 2017.

Several exhibitors claimed that the RUAS wasn’t interested in feed-back from exhibitors. One exhibitor stated: “Attending the Balmoral Show in its current three-day format represents significant expense for trade and livestock exhibitors, and adding an extra day is simply going to increase the cost to an already crippled farming industry.

“Shows are an important shop window for our livestock, but the cost of attending Balmoral Show is phenomenal when you take into account entry fees, extra help, travel and in many cases accommodation for the duration of the show.

“The majority of the beef animals are stalled from the Monday evening or Tuesday prior to the show, so we are already attending the show for four or five days, and to add an extra day is simply ridiculous. The livestock entries are a major part of the show, and organisers should be trying to encourage exhibitors rather than discourage them.”

Results from the judging rings at Lurgan Show:

DAIRY CATTLE

O’Hare Perpetual Cup, for the champion dairy cow in show: Fleming Family (Jersey). Reserve: Philip and Simon Haffey (Holstein). Honourable Mention: Sunrise Shorthorns.

Qualifiers for the McLarnon Feeds/NISA Dairy Cow Championship: Fleming Family (Jesery); and Philip and Simon Haffey (Holstein).

Best pair of dairy females, property of exhibitor: Philip and Simon Haffey.

Dairy Shorthorn

Champion: Sunrise Shorthorns

Cow or heifer – 1, Sunrise Shorthorns

Holstein

Champion: Philip and Simon Haffey. Reserve: Philip and Simon Haffey

Maiden heifer – 1, Philip and Simon Haffey.

Cow in-milk, any age – 1, Philip and Simon Haffey.

Jersey

Champion: Fleming Family. Reserve: Amanda Beckett.

Heifer, in-calf – 1, Amanda Beckett.

Cow in-milk, any age – 1, Fleming Family.

BEEF CATTLE

Waugh Family Medal, for the champion beef animal in show: Ivansikey Farm (British Blonde). Reserve: Stephen and Jack Smyth (Commercial)

Qualifiers for the Linden Foods/NISA Pedigree Beef Heifer Championship: WD and JA Connolly (Charolais); Matchett Family (Charolais).

Qualifiers for the Bank of Ireland/NISA Junior Beef Bull Championship: Nigel Glasgow (Simmental); Derek and Joy Bell (Limousin).

Best pair of beef animals, property of exhibitor: Ivaniskey Farm (British Blonde). Reserve: WD and JA Connolly (Charolais).

Beef Shorthorn

Champion: Denise Bailie. Reserve: Denise Bailie.

Cow or heifer – 1, Denise Bailie; 2, C and M Graham.

Heifer, born between 01/09/13 and 31/18/14 – 1, Denise Bailie.

Calf, born on or after 01/09/15 – 1, Duncan McDowell; 2, and 3, Denise Bailie.

Aberdeen Angus

Champion: S and S Matchett. Reserve: Matchett.

Cow, any age – 1, S and S Matchett.

Heifer, born in 2014 – 1, S and S Matchett

Heifer, born in 2015 – 1, Emily Peters

Pair, property of exhibitor – 1, S and S Matchett.

Hereford

Champion: Ciaran Kerr. Reserve:Willie Connolly

Bull, born on or after 01/09/14 – 1, M and L Moore; 2, J and K Taggart; 3, Greer Watson.

Cow, born prior to 01/01/14 – 1, James Graham; 2, David Smyth; 3, J and K Taggart.

Heifer, born between 01/01/13 and 31/08/15 – 1, Willie Connolly; 2, and 3, Ciaran Kerr.

Calf, born on or after 01/09/15 – 1, M and L Moore; 2, Paul and Wendy Beatty; 3, AJ Farms.

Charolais

Champion: WD and JA Connolly. Reserve: Matchett Family

Heifer born on or before 31/12/14 – 1, WD and JA Connolly; 2, Matchett Family.

Heifer, born in 2015 – 1, and 2, WD and JA Connolly; 3,Kate McWilliam.

Calf, born in 2016 – 1, Graham Davidson; 2, Craig Hewitt.

Simmental

Champion: WD and JD Hazelton. Reserve: Shane and Paul McDonald.

Heifer, born between 01/01/14 and 30/06/14 – 1, WD and JA Hazelton; 2, Duncan McDowell.

Heifer, born between 01/07/14 and 31/12/14 – 1, Duncan McDowell; 2, Thelma Gorman.

Heifer, born between 01/01/15 and 31/12/15 – 1, WD and JD Hazelton.

Bull, born on or before 31/12/14 – 1, Barry Chambers.

Bull, born on or after 01/01/15 – 1, Shane and Paul McDonald; 2, Nigel Glasgow; 3, Duncan McDowell.

Young handler – 1, Jason Whitcroft; 2, Louise Wyllee Davies; 3, Conor Loane.

Limousin

Champion: Robert Clyde. Reserve: James McParland.

Heifer, born on or after 01/1/14 and 01/01/15 – 1, Robert Clyde; 2, James McParland.

Heifer, born on or after 01/01/15 – 1, Robert Clyde; 2, Martin McConville.

Junior bull – 1, James McParland; 2, Robert Clyde; 3, D and J Bell.

British Blonde

Champion: Ivaniskey Farm. Reserve: Johnstons Farms

Bull, over one-year-old – 1, Paul McGarry; 2, Johnstons Farms

Heifer – 1, Ivaniskey Farm; 2, Paul McGarry; 3, Ivaniskey Farm.

Bull or heifer calf, under one-year-old – 1, Johnstons Farms; 2, Paul McGarry; 3, Johnstons Farms.

Young handler, under 14-years-old – 1, Eddie Mercer; 2, Matthew Mercer; 3, Sam Mercer.

British Blue

Champion: James Boyd

Heifer, born between 01/10/13 and 31/05/15 – 1, James Boyd.

Commercial Beef

Champion: Keith Williamson. Reserve: Stephen and Jack Smyth

Qualifier for the Ulster Bank Pairs Competition: Nigel and Sandra Cochrane.

Qualifier for the Agri-Care Breeding Heifer Competition: Arthur Callaghan. Reserve: Gareth Elliott.

Suckled calf born in 2016 – 1, Doyle Bros; 2, Nigel and Sandra Cochrane.

Store heifer or bullock – 1, Keith Williamson; 2, Stephen and Jack Smyth; 3, Arthur Callaghan.

Beef heifer or bullock -1, Robert Simpson.

Irish Moiled

Champion: Michelle McCauley. Reserve: Robert Boyle.

Bull, any age – 1, Robert Boyle; 2, Michelle McCauley.

Cow, any age – 1, Robert Boyle.

Heifer – 1, Michelle McCauley.

Maiden heifer – 1, Robert Boyle.

Calf, under one-year-old – 1, and 2, Michelle McCauley.

Dexter

Champion: Arnold Pearson. Reserve: Montgomery and McClenaghan.

Bull, any age – 1, Arnold Pearson; 2, Ryan Lavery; 3, James O’Rourke.

Cow, any age- 1, Montgomery and McClenaghan.

Heifer, any age – 1, Montgomery and McClenaghan; 2, Heather and Ken Briggs.

Calf, under one-year-old – 1, Ryan Lavery; 2, and 3, Montgomery and McClenaghan.

Other Rare Breed

Champion: Arnold Pearson. Reserve: David Ruddell.

Other rare or minority breed – 1, Arnold Pearson; 2, David Ruddell.

Junior Handlers

Dairy handler, between 15 and 25-years-old – 1, Amanda Beckett.

Beef handler, between 8 and 14-years-old – 1, Matthew Graham; 2, David Ruddell; 3, Kate McWilliam.

Beef handler, between 15 and 25-years-old – 1, James Boyd; 2, Jason Whitcroft; 3, Sam Matchett.

SHEEP

Supreme Champion Sheep in Show: Diane Christie (Charollais). Reserve: P and T Lamont (Suffolk).

Qualifiers Danske Bank/NISA Sheep Championship: Rachel Armour (Suffolk); Diane Christie (Charollais).

Qualifiers ISA and Clogher Valley Show Continental Sheep Final: Diane Christie (Charollais); A and J Carson (Blue Texel).

Suffolk

Champion: P and T Lamont. Reserve: P and T Lamont.

Ram, any age – 1, P and T Lamont.

Shearling ram – 1, Rachel Armour; 2, P and T Lamont.

Ewe, any age – 1, Rachel Armour.

Shearling ewe – 1, P and T Lamont; 2, Jack Moses; 3, Mark Herron.

Ram lamb – 1, P and T Lamont; 2, David Ford; 3, Edna McAleer.

Ewe lamb – 1, Mark Herron; 2, David Ford.

Group of three – 1, P and T Lamont; 2, Rachel Armour; 3, Mark Herron.

Pair, property of exhibitor -1, P and T Lamont; 2, Mark Herron.

Hampshire Down

Champion: Peter Stevenson. Reserve: Hannah Robinson.

Shearling ewe – 1, Hannah Robinson; 2, Trevor and Christopher Todd.

Ram lamb – 1, Hannah Robinson; 2, and 3, Peter Stevenson.

Ewe lamb – 1, Peter Stevenson; 2, Hannah Robinson.

Texel

Champion: Nigel Ross. Reserve: Mark and Louise Breen.

Ram, any age – 1, and 2, Nigel Ross.

Shearling ram – 1, Alistair Breen; 2, Stewart Ferris; 3, Martin McConville.

Ewe, any age – 1, Martin McConville; 2, S and J McCollam; 3, James Herdman.

Shearling ewe – 1, Mark and Louise Breen; 2, James Herdman; 3, S and J McCollam.

Ram lamb - 1, Alistair Breen; 2, Mark and Louise Breen; 3, Nigel Ross.

Ewe lamb – 1, and 2, Mark and Louise Breen; 3, Stewart Ferris.

Group of three – 1, Nigel Ross; 2, James Moses; 3, David and James Boyd.

Pair, property of exhibitor – 1, Nigel Ross; 2, Mark and Louise Breen; 3, S and J McCollam.

Best exhibitor-bred lamb – 1, Mark and Louise Breen; 2, Alistair Breen; 3, Nigel Ross.

Ile de France

Champion: M Annett. Reserve: M Annett.

Ram, any age – 1, M Annett; 2, and 3, David Dalzell.

Shearling ram – 1, and 2, M Annett; 3, David Dalzell.

Ewe, any age – 1, M Annett; 2, and , David Dalzell.

Shearling ewe – 1, and 2, David Dalzell; 3, M Annett.

Ram lamb – 1, and 2, David Dalzell; 3, M Annett.

Ewe lamb – 1, and 3, David Dalzell; 3, M Annett.

Group of three – 1, M Annett; 2, and 3, David Dalzell.

Pair, property of exhibitor – 1, David Dalzell; 2, and 3, M Annett.

Rouge de L’Ouest

Champion: S and J Kerr. Reserve: S and J Kerr.

Ram, any age – 1, and 2, S and J Kerr.

Ewe, any age - 1, S and J Kerr.

Shearling ewe – 1, and 2, S and J Kerr.

Ram lamb – 1, and 2, S and J Kerr.

Ewe lamb – 1, 2, and 3, S and J Kerr.

Group of three – 1, S and J Kerr.

Pair, property of exhibitor – 1, and 2, S and J Kerr.

Charollais

Champion: Diane Christie. Reserve: Diane Christie.

Ram, any age – 1, and 2, Diane Christie.

Shearling ram – 1, and 2, Diane Christie.

Ewe, any age – 1, and 2, Diane Christie; 3, William Martin.

Shearling ewe – 1, 2, and 3, Diane Christie.

Ram lamb – 1, 2, and 3, Sabrina Glasgow.

Ewe lamb – 1, and 2, Diane Christie; 3, Sabrina Glasgow.

Group of three – 1, Diane Christie; 2, Sabrina Glasgow.

Border Leicester

Champion: Howard McIlwaine. Reserve: James Aiken.

Ram, any age – 1, James Aiken.

Shearling ram – 1, Howard McIlwaine.

Ewe, any age – 1, Howard McIlwaine; 2, and 3, James Aiken.

Shearling ewe – 1, 2, and 3, James Aiken.

Ram lamb – 1, James Aiken; 2, and 3, Howard McIlwaine.

Ewe lamb – 1, James Aiken; 2, Howard McIlwaine.

Group of three – 1, James Aiken.

Pair, property of exhibitor – 1, James Aiken.

Beltex

Champion: David Brown. Reserve: Cynthia Aiken.

Ram, any age – 1, David Brown.

Shearling ram – 1, and 2, David Brown.

Shearling ewe – 1, Cynthia Aiken; 2, David Brown; 3, Cynthia Aiken.

Ram lamb – 1, and 2, David Brown.

Group of three – 1, David Brown.

Pair, property of exhibitor – 1, Cynthia Aiken; 2, David Brown.

Zwartble

Champion: Melvyn Dorman. Reserve: Catherine McCracken.

Shearling ewe – 1, Melvyn Dorman; 2, Catherine McCracken; 3, Melvyn Dorman.

Ram lamb – 1, Caroline Lyons.

Ewe lamb – 1, Catherine McCracken; 2, and 3, Caroline Lyons.

Group of three – 1, Caroline Lyons.

Pair, property of exhibitor – 1, Melvyn Dorman; 2, Caroline Lyons.

Rare Breeds

Champion: R J McCauley. Reserve: S and J Kerr.

Ram, any age – 1, R J McCauley.

Shearling ram – 1, R J McCauley.

Ewe, any age – 1, R J McCauley; 2, Nathan Hylands.

Shearling ewe – 1, and 2, S and J Kerr; 3, R J McCauley.

Ram lamb – 1, and 2, R J McCauley; 3, Nathan Hylands.

Ewe lamb - 1, R J McCauley; 2, Nathan Hylands.

Group of three – 1, R J McCauley.

Pair, property of exhibitor – 1, S and J Kerr; 2, R J McCauley.

Blue Texel

Champion: A and J Carson. Reserve: Stephen and Jonathan Redmond.

Ram, any age - 1, A and J Carson; 2, Stephen and Jonathan Redmond.

Ewe, any age – 1, and 2, Stephen and Jonathan Redmond.

Ram lamb – 1, and 2, A and J Carson; 3, Stephen and Jonathan Redmond.

Ewe lamb – 1, and 2, A and J Carson; 3, Stephen and Jonathan Redmond.

Pair, property of exhibitor – 1, and 2, Stephen and Jonathan Remond; 3, A and J Carson.

Crossbred/Butchers Lambs

Cross-bred ewe, any age – 1, Rachel Armour; 2, Nathan Hylands; 3, Enda McAleer.

Cross-bred ewe with twin lambs – 1, Rachel Armour.

Cross-bred ewe or ram lamb – 1, Rachel Armour; 2, Nathan Hylands.

Butcher’s lambs, best pair of export quality lambs – 1, and 2, Rachel Armour; 3, Nathan Hylands.

Young Handlers

Champion: Shea Curry.

Handler aged 8 to 10-years-old -1, Shea Curry; 2, P Glasgow; 3, Justin Ross.

Handler aged 11 to 14-years-old – 1, Jack Owens; 2, James Glasgow; 3, Kyle Glasgow.

GOATS

Champion: Roy Colvin. Reserve: Arthur Mullan

Champion milking goat: Roy Colvin. Reserve: Arthur Mullan.

Champion goatling: George McKeown.

Champion kid: Arthur Mullan.

Group of three: Roy Colvin.

Male champion: Roy Colvin.

Pygmy champion: Roy Colvin. Reserve: Gemma Barber.

Female goat in-milk, any age, Toggenburg, British Toggenburg or British Alpine – 1, Roy Colvin; 2, Lindsay Greer; 3, Pauline Weir.

Female goat in-milk, any age, Anglo Nubian or AOV – 1, Arthur Mullan.

Goatling, Saanen, British Saanen, Toggenburg, British Toggenburg or British Alpine – 1, George McKeown; 2, Roy Colvin.

Goatling, Anglo Nubian or AVO – 1, George McKeown; 2, Herbert Lusby; 3, Lindsay Greer.

Kid, Saanen, British Saanen, Toggenburg, or British Alpine – 1, and 2, Herbert Lusby.

Kid, Anglo Nubian or AOV – 1, and 2, Arthur Mullan.

Male goat, any age – 1, Roy Colvin.

Group of three - 1, Roy Colvin; 2, Arthur Mullan; 3,Lindsay Greer.

Pygmy female kid, under one-year-old – 1, Danielle Campbell; 2, Gemma Barber; 3, Roy Colvin.

Pygmy female, over one-year-old - 1, and 2, Gemma Barber; 3, Sharon Hazelton.

Pygmy female, over two-years-old - 1, Roy Colvin; 2, Paddy Gillan; 3, Danielle Campbell.

Pygmy male, under one-year-old – 1, Paddy Gillan; 2, and 3, Gemma Barber.

Pygmy male, over one-year-old – 1, Gemma Barber; 2, Danielle Campbell; 3, Adam Frazer.

Pygmy progeny class – 1, Roy Colvin; 2, Paddy Gillian; 3, Gemma Barber.

Young handlers, under 16-years-old – 1, Riley McClean; 2, Aidan Gillan; 3, Oisin Gillan.