Limousin with the ‘X’ factor wins supreme commercial championship

Editorial Department • Published 3 Sep 2010 09:00 0 Comments

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Clive Hoey, Fivemiletown, won the supreme championship with his heavyweight heifer at the NICCEC 6th annual show, Moira. Adding their congratulations are Gareth Gibson, Corby Rock, sponsor; and Ralph Pickering who presented the Gary Pickering Memorial Trophy.

A Limousin heifer exhibited by Fivemiletown farmers, Clive Hoey, certainly had the “X Factor” at the Northern Ireland Commercial Cattle Exhibitor Club’s sixth annual show at Moira.

Clive’s heavyweight heifer, “Xtra Factor” took the supreme championship at the event, now running for the sixth year and attracting a record entry of livestock.

The supreme champion was selected by Welsh judge, Arfon Jones who travelled over from Anglesey.

The one-day showcase event attracted over 120 entries, with both novice and experienced exhibitors competing for a share of the bumper prize fund.

Clive’s winning heifer was bred from a British Blue cow, and was purchased from Sean McCloskey, Claudy, County Londonderry. She scooped the reserve championship at Ballymena Show in May, and was crowned commercial beef champion at Enniskillen Show a few weeks ago.

A delighted Clive Hoey received the £500 cash prize from Gareth Gibson of Corby Rock Mill, and the prestigious Gary Pickering Memorial Perpetual Trophy from Ralph Pickering, Magherafelt. This much-admired heifer also claimed the Limousin championship ribbons.

“I’d like to thank the organisers for inviting me to judge,” said suckler herd owner and fatstock producer, Arfon Jones. “I’ve had a long journey from Anglesey, but it has been a privilege to judge at this fantastic show. The classes were full of quality cattle and I had difficult decisions to make throughout the day. Congratulations to the winners, and all the exhibitors for putting on such a terrific show of stock.”

Mr. Jones added: “I would like to congratulate all the youngsters who took part in today’s show. It is great to see such enthusiasm, and these young people should be encouraged as they are the showmen and women of the future!”

Runner-up in the calf championship, and winner of the £200 cash award sponsored by AI Services (NI) Ltd was the second prize winning heifer calf bred by Gerry Law who runs a 160-cow suckler herd based at Kesh. This home-bred entry was sired by the herd’s Charolais stock bull, Waterview Victorious, and is out of a British Blue cow.

The award for the best pair of cattle went to a well-matched pair of Charolais heifers shown by McKenna Bros of Clogher.

The breed classes were judged by Gene McCann from Julianstown, County Meath.

“This is a super show with some exceptional cattle,” said Mr. McCann who runs the 30-cow Topnotch Charolais herd alongside a commercial beef cattle enterprise.

The Charolais championship went to a heifer calf owned by Gerry Law, Kesh. Standing in reserve position was a heifer calf exhibited by McKenna Bros.

The reserve Limousin leader was a lightweight steer shown by McKenna Bros. Lauren McKenna has affectionately named this steer ‘Spooks Junior’’, after last year’s overall champion, ‘Spooks’which won numerous championship awards in the south of Ireland for new owners, Connell Bros, County Meath.

A bullock exhibited by Robert Simpson, Aughnacloy, claimed the Beef Shorthorn championship, with the runner-up ribbons presented to a bullock brought out by Jack Smyth, Strabane.

The any other breed champion was a Simmental heifer shown by Gerry Law, Kesh.

The young handlers’ competition was judged by Tom Stevenson from Scotland. He awarded first prize in the under 12-year-old class to Aaron Campbell from Lisburn. The winner of the 12 to 16-year-old class was Louise Breen from Clogher.

John McSorley, Chairman of the Northern Ireland Commercial Cattle Exhibitors’ Club said: “It has been another fantastic event. This year’s show attracted in excess of 120 cattle, which is a record entry for the event. I would like to thank everyone for participating and helping to make this show bigger and better than ever. “

Mr. McSorley added: “A special thank you to our judges for giving up their time; and a big thank you to our sponsors for their generous financial support.”

The club’s assistant secretary, Robert Currie, concluded by thanking Willie Wilson and the staff of R A Noble and Co for the use of the facilities at the Pedigree Sales Arena.

Special Awards;

Gary Pickering Memorial Perpetual Challenge Cup, and Corby Rock Mill £500 cash award, for the supreme overall champion- Clive Hoey, Fivemiletown.

AI Services £200 cash award for the reserve champion calf: McKenna Bros, Clogher.

Dunbia Cup for the best butchers’ heifer: Nigel and Sandra Cochrane, Portadown. Reserve: Alan Veitch, Lisbellaw.

Best pair of animals

owned by exhibitor: McKenna Bros, Clogher. Reserve: Messrs Alexander and McAfee, Bushmills.

Sixmilecross Agri-Supplies Trophies for the top-placed young handlers in each section: Aaron Campbell, Lisburn; and Louise Breen, Clogher.

Young Handlers

Young handler, aged 12 to 16-years-old - 1, Louise Breen, Clogher.

Breed Championships

Charolais champion: Gerry Law, Kesh. Reserve: McKenna Bros.

Limousin champion: Clive Hoey, Fivemiletown. Reserve: McKenna Bros.

Beef Shorthorn champion: Robert Simpson, Aughnacloy. Reserve: Jack Smyth, Strabane.

Any other breed champion: Gerry Law, Kesh.

Weighed Classes

Heifer calf - 1, P J O’Kane, Dunloy; 2, Gerry Law, Kesh; 3, and 4, McKenna Bros, Clogher.

Male calf - 1, McKenna Bros; 2,Nigel and Sandra Cochrane, Portadown; 3, James Alexander, Randalstown.

Lightweight heifer - 1, McKenna Bros; 2, O’Kane Bros, Carnlough; 3, Messrs Small, Kilkeel; 4, Alan Veitch, Lisbellaw.

Heavyweight heifer - 1, Clive Hoey, Fivemiletown; 2, Sarah and Sam Matchett, Portadown; 3, Nigel and Sandra Cochrane, Portadown;

Lightweight steer - 1, McKenna Bros; 2, P J O’Kane; 3, Martin Gallagher, Omagh.

Heavyweight steer - 1, John Killen, Crossgar; 2,Campbell Bros, Lisburn; 3, Law Bros, Ballinamallard.

This event was an ideal indication of the quality of stock on farms across Northern Ireland there farmers and buyers are anticipating the new season of fatstock shows and sales being held throughout Northern Ireland from October to December when many of these animals will be exhibited again.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 02 Sep 10

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