There were great crowds at this year’s Clogher Valley Show as farmers, families and representatives of the agricultural trade travelled from far and wide to attend the annual agricultural event hosted at the Augher showgrounds yesterday (Wednesday.)

Although grey clouds loomed overhead, the rain held off as visitors perused the various trade stands and food stalls.

The show began with the judging of the horses, ponies, sheep, goats and cattle categories.

A highlight for the rare minority breeds category was the showing of Bunlougher Alice, a two-week old black Dexter calf owned by Fintan Murphy from Brookeborough, which took first prize in the calf class.

The little animal proved a hit with spectators in the cattle section. The judge was Kenneth Gracey from Forthill Farms who is a well-known breeder of rare breeds livestock from Tandragee.

At the other end of the scale were the large continental breed, the Charolais cattle.

The Charolais animals were competing in the Northern Ireland Charolais National Championship which attracted a large number of entries from breeders across Northern Ireland. Among those helping were members of the Northern Ireland Charolais Club as well as the President of the British Charolais Society Mr. M.V. Atkinson from Yorkshire. The society’s Vice Chairman Mr. A.P. Drysdale from Perthshire was the judge.

Results:

CATTLE

Aberdeen Angus

Junior Male Champion – S.J. Smyth; Reserve Champion – Moses Irwin

Junior Female Champion – Moses Irwin; Reserve Champion - Adrian and Graeme Parke

Senior Male Champion – Freddie Davidson; Reserve Champion – Alan Cheney

Senior Female Champion – S.J. Smyth; Reserve Champion – Matchett Family

Overall Champion – S.J. Smyth; Reserve Champion – Moses Irwin

Bull born between January 1, 2018 and June 30, 2018 – 1, Freddie Davidson, Banbridge; 2, Alan Cheney, Trillick; 3, Moses Irwin, Fintona

Bull born between July 1, 2018 and December 31, 2018 – 1, Moses Irwin; 2, John and Sandra Blackburn, Clogher; 3, Fiona Troughton, Dungannon

Bull calf – 1, S. J. Smyth, Newtownstewart; 2, Adrian and Graeme Parke, Strabane; 3, Alan and Naomi Morrison, Maguiresbridge

Cow and calf or in milk – 1, S. J . Smyth; 2, Alan Cheney; 3, Alan and Naomi Morrison

Junior cow – 1, Matchett Family, Portadown; J.A. & S.R. Ferguson, Ballygawley

Heifer born before May 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017 – 1, Freddie Davidson; 2, John and Sandra Blackburn; 3, Fiona Troughton

Heifer born between January 1, 2018 and June 30, 2018 – 1, Moses Irwin; 2, Ruth Strain, Caledon; 3, Catherine O’Hara, Ballymena

Heifer born between July 1, 2018 and December 31, 2018 – 1, Adrian and Graeme Parke; 2, J.A. & S.R. Ferguson; 3, Alan Cheney

Heifer born on or after January 1, 2019 – 1,2&3, Adrian and Graeme Parke

Best Aberdeen Angus animal bred by exhibiter – 1, Matchett Family

Best pair of Aberdeen Angus -1, Adrian and Graeme Parke; 2, Freddie Davidson

Charolais

Female born in 2019 – 1, H.C. Stubbs and A.A. Burleigh, Lisnaskea; 2, W.D. & J.A. Connolly, Ballynahinch; 3, Malachy Connolly, Clogher

Female born between September 1 and December 31, 2018 – 1, Gerard McShane, Strabane; 2, W.D. & J.A. Connolly

Female born between May 1 and August 31, 2018 – 1, H.C. & A.A. Burleigh; 2, W.D. & J.A. Connolly; 3, Liam and Margaret Ruddy, Strabane

Female born between January 1 and April 30, 2018 – 1, Jeremey Paynter, Armagh; 2, J.A. Watson & Son, Portadown; 3, Will Short, Omagh

Female born between July 1 and December 31, 2018 – 1, Matchett Family; 2, B McAllister, Ballymena

Female born between January 1 and June 30, 2017 – 1, Matchett Family; 2&3, W.D. & J.A. Connolly

Female born on or before December 31, 2016 – 1, Matchett Family; 2, Jackie Conn & Owen Kerrigan, Strabane; 3, Harry Heron, Newtownards

Bull born in 2019 – 1, Malachy Connolly; 2, William McCrory, Ballymena

Bull born between September 1 and December 31, 2018 – 1, K & A Veitch, Lisbellaw

Bull born between May 1 and August 30, 2018 – 1, S&D Bothwell, St. Angelo; 2, George Nelson, Rosslea; 3, J.I. & R Elliott, Newtownstewart

Simmental

Champion – W.D. & J.D. Hazelton; Reserve Champion – Keith & Andrea Nelson

Bull – 1, K & A Veitch; 2, W.D. & J.D. Hazelton, Dungannon

Heifer born in 2017 – 1, W.D. & J.D. Hazelton; 2, Andrew Clarke, Armagh

Heifer born in 2018 – 1&3, Keith & Andrea Nelson, Rosslea; 2, Julie Stinson, Springfield

Calf – 1, Andrew Clarke

Limousin

Champion – Crawford Brothers; Reserve Champion – Chris Johnston

Cow – 1, Stephen Crawford

Heifer born in 2017 – 1, C&R Mulholland, Aghalee; 2, Stephen Crawford

Heifer born in 2018 – 1&2, M&K Diamond, Garvagh; 3, William Nesbitt, Armagh

Senior bull – 1, Stephen Crawford

Junior bull – 1, James McParland, Newry; 2, M&K Diamond

Bull or heifer calf – 1&3, Chris Johnston, Fivemiletown; 2, Crawford Brothers

British Blonde

Champion – Savage Brothers & Son; Reserve Champion – Johnston Farms

Cow – 1&3, Johnston Farms, Clogher; 2, William McElroy, Dromore, Co. Down

Pair of cattle – 1, Savage Brothers, Ballynahinch, 2&3, Johnston Farms, Clogher

Blonde calf Championship – 1,2&3, Johnston Farms

Commercial cattle

Suckler heifer calf born in 2019 – 1, K&A Veitch; 2, Declan McKenna, Clogher; 3, JCB Commercials, Newtownards

Store heifer any breed – 1&3, JCB Commercials; 2, Declan McKenna

Beef heifer any breed – 1, JCB Commercials; 2, Simpson Hawkes, Aughnacloy; 3, Robert Miller, Moneymore

Suckler male calf born in 2019 – 1, S.J. Smyth; 2&3, Robert Miller

Store bullock – 1, K&A Veitch; 2, Harriett McClelland, Katesbridge

Beef bullock – 1, Robert Miller; 2, Declan McKenna

Commercial male Championship – S.J. Smyth; Reserve Champion – Alan Veitch

Commercial female Championship – Alan Veitch; Reserve Champion – Declan McKenna

Overall Commercial Champion – Alan Veitch; Reserve Champion – Declan McKenna

Beef Young Handlers

Junior handler 8-12 years – 2, Padraig Kelly, Clogher; 3, Reuben Lynd, Ballygawley

Senior Handler 12-16 years – 1, Molly Bradley, Armagh; 2, James Graham, Portadown; 3, Serena Murphy, Portadown

Traditional, Minority and Rare Breeds

Champion – N&M Moiles; Reserve Champion – Arnold Pearson

Calf under one year – 1, Fintan Murphy, Brookeborough

Bull – 1, N&M Moiles, Castlecaulfield

Heifer – 1, N&M Moiles; 2, Arnold Pearson, Newtownards; 3, Fintan Murphy

Cow – 1, Arnold Pearson; 2, Fintan Murphy

Beef Shorthorn

Champion – R&F McKeown; Reserve Champion – D.D. McDowell

Junior bull – 1, D.D. McDowell, Newtownards

Heifer born in 2017 – 1, R&F McKeown, Ballyclare; 2, S.P. Fitzgerald

Heifer born in 2018 -1, S.P. Fitzgerald; 2, Kenneth Lynd, Ballygawley

Calf born in 2019 – 1, Rachel Jordan, Waringstown