A fantastic turnout of calves and yearlings were forward at Dungannon Farmers Mart on Saturday 22nd November for the NI Aberdeen-Angus Club’s Annual Calf, Yearling and Young Handlers Show.

Judge Iain McGillivray, stock manager of the Eastfield herd, Kelso, Roxburghshire, awarded his first major championship of the day to Trillick-based Alan Cheney who won the yearling heifer championship with the January 2013-born Lana Lady Happy N421.

This Nightingale Playfair K527 daughter is out of the Blackhaugh Easy papa G782 daughter Lana Lady Happy K647. This one was champion calf at last year’s show and was a first prize winner at Enniskillen Show this year and is due to calve in March to the home bred sire Lana Knight N476.

Securing the reserve yearling heifer championship was Tommy Jackson, Saintfield, with Ashvale Blackbird N633. Born September 2013, this one was bred by the McKeown family and is the first foundation female to be purchased for Tommy’s herd. She’s by Eden Vale Black Magic K275 and is out of the Woodvale Roscoe Y054 daughter Ashvale Blackbird C674. This one was in the able hands of show man Allen Shortt and will likely make an appearance at Balmoral next year with plans then to flush her.

Then in the yearling bull championship, top place went to Co Fermanagh-based Fintan Keown with the July 2013-born Home Farm Evan N594. By Spangager Tommy Boy, he’s out of the Nakkeg Nord 913 daughter Home Farm Ebony Swinger G393, just one of the three cows that make up the Home Farm herd. He has won tickets at Omagh, Clogher and Fermanagh Shows this year and will be forward for sale in February.

Standing reserve to him and adding to a strong prize haul on the day was Portadown-based Sam and Sarah Matchett’s October 2013-born Rosscarberry Lord Harvey N934. This was the first time out in Northern Ireland for this bull, which is by the Matchett’s stock bull Carrigroe Fred. He’s been shown successfully in the South and was purchased as an additional junior sire earlier in the year.

The Matchett family then reigned supreme by scooping both the champion and reserve champion tickets in the heifer calf championship. Going one better than her herd mate was Birches Lady Jane P446, an April 2014-born daughter of Bunlahy Philip K248, a bull used for one year in the Birches herd. She’s out of Birches Lady Jane L912, making her a grand daughter of the successful show cow Carrigroe D Lady Jane.

Reserve to her was her half sister, Birches Lipstick P435. Again by Philip, this March 2014 heifer is out of the Lissard Mark daughter Drumcrow Lima G266. She stood second in the class for the brother and sister team who alongside parents Nigel and Gail run 16 breeding females in the herd.

Securing the bull calf and overall calf championship was Adam Armour at the halter of parents Alwyn and Carol Armour’s March 2014-born Woodvale Kool Jaguar P633. By the homebred Woodvale Lord Jaguar M455, he’s out of Friarstown Kinannie H076, herself a S A V Net Worth 4200 daughter. This bull was calf champion at Clogher Valley Show, as well as a first prize winner at Castlewellan and was also named best bull calf in the 2014 NI Club herd competition for the Dromora-based herd.

Clinching the reserve bull calf championship was the Matchett family again, this time with Birches Lord Jock P575. This five-month old Birches Lord Henry L945 son, is out of the Loughlynn Ace daughter Carrigroe E Lady Jane 8234.

Completing a great day for the Matchett family, they won the championship pairs class, with Colin White standing reserve and then stood reserve champion commercial with their Aberdeen-Angus cross heifer Sophie, by Bunlahy Philip K248.

Winning the commercial championship was Banbridge, based Freddie Davidson with his Old Glenort Earl K632 sired steer Earl, out of a first calving Limousin cross heifer.

Commenting after his judging stint, Mr McGillivray said: “It was an honour to be asked to judge this great event and the quality was strong throughout. Congratulations to all exhibitors, particularly the championship winners who brought fantastic calves and yearlings out in front of me.”

Winner of the junior young handler class was 14-year old Sam Matchett of the Portadown-based Birches herd. Sam has won this class previously and was a first prize winner at this year’s Youth Development Final in Northern Ireland.

Then winning the intermediate class was 18-year old Adam Armour of the Woodvale herd, Dromora. This is the second year Adam has been showing and is now at home working on the family farm.

Meanwhile, the senior winner was 21-year old Donal Keown, a previous intermediate young handler winner.

Winning the futurity heifer class for a heifer born in 2012 with first natural calf at foot was Neville Forsythe with Coltrim Evana M367. By the Hoff Limited Edition son Curragh David J513, she’s out of the Wedderlie Net Profit E916 daughter Coltrim Evana K516. This was the first time shown for Evana and was shown with her October-born bull calf at foot by the herd stock bull Wedderlie Ergo M574, purchased in Stirling two years ago.

Standing first in the intermediate yearling heifer class was Sam and Sarah Matchett’s Birches Lady Holly N391. Born July 2013, this is another by the previous herd sire Bunlahy Philip K248 and was shown at the foot of successful show cow Mogeely Lady Hilda H967 and was a class winner at Lurgan Show.

Winner of the senior heifer calf class was Alan Cheney with Lana Jana Erica P767. Shown on her first outing, this Nigtingale Playfair K527 daughter is out of the Mosston Muir Lord Ronaldo B044 daughter Lana Juana Erica H043, herself calf champion at Dungannon in 2008.

Meanwhile, securing the top place in the junior/baby heifer class was the Armour family with the May 2014-born Woodvale Nelamerica P714. By Woodvale Lord Jaguar M445, she’s out of the Woodvale Kool Papa K062 daughter Woodvale Nelamerica M147. This one has been shown at the foot of her dam where together they won champion at Newry and Clogher Valley and Castlewellan Show this year.

Standing top of the line in the senior bull calf class was Enniskillen-based Stanley Smith with Allwood Perry P342, a January 2014-born Rawburn Rommel E423 son out of the Fordel Eisenhower Y423 daughter Allwood Pringles J272. It was a first time outing for this bull calf, but he made it a hat trick of wins for Stanley in this class with the help of Alan Morrison who showed him.

Maguiresbridge-based Alan Morrison was back on the halter of the first prize baby bull calf, this time his won Drummeer Popper P584. By Blelack Evermore J231, he’s out of the Jeremy Eric of Bridgefoo daughter Drummeer Poppy G311, herself a previous reserve yearling heifer champion in 2008, while the grand dam, Allwood Polly D106 was yearling heifer champion in 2005.

The NI Club would like to thank the following sponsors who contributed to the success of the day and without them, the event wouldn’t be able to take place: Barclays, Norbrook, Thompsons, Irish Aberdeen-Angus Association, Aberdeen Angus Quality Beef, Alan Carson Services, Orl Den Livestock Products, Natural Farm Health, Crosskeys Genetics, Parkview Veterinary Clinic, Ergana Corn Mill, Dovea Genetics, Taylors (Fyfin) Ltd, Ballygawley Vet Centre, Fane Valley Stores, Mac Roberts Bros Hoof Trimming, Chris Johnston and AI Services. 

 
Class Results:
 
Junior Young Handlers (8-13 years old)
1, Sam Matchett
2, Joe Mallon
3, James Morrison
 
Intermediate young handlers (14-18 years old)
1, Adam Armour
2, James Rea
3, David Rea
Jnt 4, Kathryn Clingen
Jnt 4, Diane Forsythe
 
Senior young handlers (19-24 years old)
1, Donal Keown
 
Futurity heifer class
1, Neville Forsythe’s Coltrim Evana M367, by Curragh David J513
 
Senior yearling heifer
1, Alan Cheney’s Lana Lady Happy N421, by Nightingale Playfair K527
2, Messrs A and C Armour and Sons’ Woodvale Lady Jane N504, by Wedderlie Net Profit E916
3, Robert F Davidson’s Ember Paris N687, by Old Glenort Earl K632
4, Frank Moore’s Crieve Petal Evermore N114, by Blelack Evermore J231
 
Intermediate yearling heifer
1, S and S Matchett’s Birches Lady Holly N391, by Bunlahy Philip K248
2, Neville Forsythe’s Coltrim Lady Jane N706, by Coltrim Eric J332
3, Fintan Keown’s Home Farm Eva N583, by Blackhaugh Time F610
 
Junior yearling heifer
1, Tommy Jackson’s Ashvale Blackbird N633, by Eden Bale Black Magic K275
2, Alan Cheney’s Pollyanna N675, by Blackhaugh Easy Papa G728
3, Geoffrey Hawthorne’s Carrigroe K Victory, by Aughnamona Gionn
4, Samuel Clingen’s Ballybrook Black Holly N192, by Woodvale Trademark L257
 
Intermediate yearling bull
1, Fintan Keown’s Home Farm Evan N594, by Spangager Tommy Boy
2, S and S Matchett’s Birches About Time N376, by Cloghogue Future
 
Junior yearling bull
1, S and S Matchett’s Rosscarberry Lord Harvey H934, by Carrigroe Fred
2, Neville Forsythe’s Coltrim Edgar N791, by Curragh David J513
3, Mr and Mrs R Strain’s Creevy Earl Josamo N337, by Netherton Mr Rader J527
 
Senior heifer calf
1, Alan Cheney’s Lana Jana Erica P767, by Nightingale Playfair K527
2, Frank Moore’s Crieve Petal P243, by Old Glenort Evolution L295
3, S and S Matchett’s Birches Bell P413, by Birches Lord Henry L945
 
Intermediate heifer calf
1, S and S Matchett’s Birches Lady Jane P446, by Bunlahy Philip K248
2, S and S Matchett’s Birches Lipstick P435, by Bunlahy Philip K428
3, S and S Matchett’s Birches Bonne Bell P505, by Borches Lord John M052
 
Junior baby heifer
1, Messrs A and C Armour and Sons’ Woodvale Nelmerica P714, by Woodvale Lord Jaguar M445
2, Colin White’s Derrypgue Doris P795, by Netherton Mr Brazilian E377
3, Colin White’s Derryogue Lady Tesse P784, by Rawburn Transformer
4, Adrian Parke’s Coolermoney Roxi P456, by Rosemead Karona J957
 
Senior bull calf
1, Stanley Smith’s Allwood Perry P342, by Rawburn Rommel E423
2, Robin Lamb’s Richhill Fiddler P517, by Friarstown Prairie Chief M228,
3, Alan Cheney’s Lana Demetri P701, by Nightingale Playfair K527
4, Alan Cheney’s Lana Eleazar P782, by Nightingale Playfair K527
 
Intermediate bull calf
1, Messrs A and C Armour and Sons’ Woodvale Kool Jaguar P633, by Woodvale Lord Jaguar M445
2, Robert Davidson’s Ember Patrick P934, by Old Glenort Earl K632
3, Robert Black’s Racrane Premier Edge P321, by Perkhill Joy Edge M150
4, Fiona Troughton’s Tullybryan Rosette P663, by Coolermoney Rossiter M246
 
Junior bull calf
1, S and S Matchett’s Birches Lord Jock P575, by Birches Lord Henry L945
2, Robert Davidson’s Ember Lord Jack P956, by Blelack Duke J262
3, Neville Forsythe’s Coltrim Lord Jimmy P894, by Curragh David J513
4, Adrian Parke’s Coolermoney Patriot P445, by Rosemead Karona J957
 
Baby bull calf
1, Mr A and Mrs N Morrison’s Crummeer Popper P584, by Blelack Evermore J231
2, Mr J and Mrs G J Ferguson’s Granabeg Keefu P166, by Goulding Jumbo King K436
 
Pair of pedigree calves
1, S and S Matchett
2, Colin White
 
Commercial calf born in 2014
1, Freddie Davidson’s Earl, by Old Glenort Earl K632
2, A and N Morrison’s Blackbud, by Oakchurch Dictator F031
 
Commercial heifer or bullock born in 2013
1, S and S Matchett’s Sophie, by Bunlahy Philip K248