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
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