Two Fermanagh-bred pedigree Charolais cattle topped the Show and Sale at the annual Spring Sale at Swatragh recently.

Trevor Phair from Florencecourt exhibited the leading priced animal, Brogher Trump, at 9,200gns, while the Overall Champion was exhibited by S. and D. Bothwell, from St. Angelo, with Killadeas Trevor.

At the sale, 19 bulls sold to a top price of 9,200gns with an 83 per cent clearance to an average of £5,620 – a whopping £1,370 up on 2023.

The pre-sale show was skilfully judged by mother and son duo Leanne and Jamie Workman.

Trevor Phair trumped the sale with Brogher Trump, a Whitecliffe James son going back to Blelack Digger, and out of the Mornity Nero-sired Brogher Ripple.

This October, 2022-born son sold for the top price of 9,200gns to W. J. Fraser & Sons, Ballindalloch, Scotland.

The reserve intermediate champion, Drumacritten Toby (ET), from George Nelson, was next at 9,000gns, selling to C. McDonnell, Glenariff, Co. Antrim.

Out of Drumacritten Jessie, this bull was also sired by Whitecliffe James, and carried two copies of F94L.

The Senior Champion, Male Champion and Overall Champion was awarded to S. & D. Bothwell’s, Killadeas Trevor, a Cloonglasna11 Padraig son out of Killadeas Octavia, who also carried two copies of F94L.

This August, 2022-born champion was snapped up by J. & G. Smith, Stromness, Orkney for 8,000gns.

The intermediate champion, Glencoe Thanos, born in October, 2022 from Mr. P. & Mrs. V. McDonald, made 6,800gns, and went to the home of M. Johnston, Toomebridge, Co. Antrim.

This Liscorran Magic son is out of a Clyth Diplomat-sired daughter, Beechdale Lupin.

N. Blair, Limavady, Co. Londonderry, paid 5,800gns for T. Phair’s Culmvale Novello son, Brogher Tyson, out of Brogher Fancygirl, born in October, 2022, whilst G. & J. Armstrong, Florencecourt, Co. Fermanagh paid 5,600gns for a bull out of the same stable, Brogher Trader – this time, a myostatin-free November, 2022-born bull sired by Goldies Icon, and out of Brogher Pamala.

Matching the top female bid of 3,500gns was Mr. K. C. Veith’s Drumlone Sonia by Fury Action, out of Drumlone Edwina; she was sold in-calf to Drumlone Navigator to Mr. W. McElmurray, Pomeroy, Co. Tyrone.

Topping the trade of Mr. W. Short’s draft at 3,400gns was July, 2022 Woodpark Tara, by Deeside Gulliver, and out of the prolific Woodpark Ermintrude, who is still going strong at 14 years of age.

She went to E. & C. McCloskey, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry. Drumlone Tina from Mr. K. C. Veitch – a Simpsons Gregg daughter out of Drumlone Nora – found a new home with pedigree breeders W. D. Connelly, Ballynahinch, Co. Down, for 3,300gns.

The Northern Ireland Charolais Club and the British Charolais Cattle Society would like to thank all the vendors for supporting the sale, and all the staff at Swatragh Market for their kind hospitality and hard work.

A special thank-you to Leanne and Jamie Workman for judging the classes, and to all the stewards, committee, and helpers for such a successful Show and Sale.

CLASS RESULTS

Class 2 – Senior bulls born on or between July 7 and August 10, 2022: 1st, Killadeas Trevor, S. & D. Bothwell; 2nd, Woodpark Tinker, Mr. Will Short; 3rd, Killadeas Thunder, S. & D. Bothwell.

Class 3 – Intermediate bulls born on or between August 22 and September 30, 2022: 1st, Drumacritten Toby, Mr. George Nelson; 2nd, Fury Turbo, Mr. P. Hackett; 3rd, Killadeas Troy, S. & D. Bothwell.

Class 4 – Intermediate bulls born on or between October 1 and October 23, 2022: 1st, Glencoe Thanos, Mr. P. & V. McDonald; 2nd, Woodpark Toronto, Mr. Will Short; 3rd, Brogher Trump, Mr. Trevor Phair; 4th, Brogher Tyson, Mr. Trevor Phair.

Class 5 – Junior bulls born on or between October 31 and December 1, 2022: 1st, Ashview Texas, Mr. V. & S. Keys; 2nd, Brogher Trader, Mr. Trevor Phair; 3rd, Stranagone Tucker, Mr. Robert McWilliams.

Class 6 – Junior bulls born on or between December 16, 2022 and February 2, 2023: 1st, Mountain Tommy, Mr. L. Johnston.

Class 7 – Heifers born on or between May 27, 2021 and January 28, 2023: 1st, Ashview Upmarket, Mr. V. & S. Keys; 2nd, Drumlone Tina, Mr. K. Veitch; 4th, Drumlone Sonia, Mr. K. Veitch.

Supreme Champion: Killadeas Trevor, S. & D. Bothwell.

Reserve Supreme Champion: Glencoe Thanos, Mr. P. & V. McDonald.

Overall Male Champion: Killadeas Trevor, S. & D. Bothwell.

Res. Overall Male Champion: Glencoe Thanos, Mr. P. & V. McDonald.

Senior Male Champion: Killadeas Trevor, S. & D. Bothwell.

Reserve Senior Male Champion: Woodpark Tinker, Mr. Will Short.

Intermediate Male Champion: Glencoe Thanos, Mr. P. & V. McDonald.

Res. Int. Male Champion: Drumacritten Toby, Mr. George Nelson.

Junior Male Champion: Mountain Tommy, Mr. L. Johnston.

Res. Junior Male Champion: Stranagone Unrivaled, Mr. Robert McWilliams.