‘Victorious’ day for Old GlenortAberdeen Angus herd at Balmoral
By Julie Hazelton
The Aberdeen Angus classes at the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society’s 157th Balmoral Show were judged by Scotsman Graeme Fraser.
“It has been a great show with strong classes and some fantastic Aberdeen Angus cattle. I was particularly impressed with the top end of the females,” said Mr Fraser, who was judging for the first time in Northern Ireland.
Defending his title to secure a second successive breed championship was Old Glenort Victorious Y514, the four-year-old herd sire at Bill and James Porter’s 60-cow-herd at the Gillhall Estate near Dromore, County Down. The estate is also home to a 60-cow pedigree Shorthorn herd and a commercial suckler enterprise.
This home-bred bull was sired by Carlhurlie Gentilex, and is out of the home-bred Old Glenort Victoria N511. His great grandam Shade Pond Victoria V1 was one of the herd’s foundation females – herself a supreme Balmoral champion at the old King’s Hall venue in 2000.
“The overall champion is a big powerhouse of bull and a tremendous example of the breed. He oozes breed character and has great ring presence,” commented the judge. This bull was champion at the NI Aberdeen Angus Club’s National Show at Clogher in July 2025.
Claiming the reserve championship was Old Glenort Victoria Z155, a junior cow brought out by the Rodgers family from Dromora, County Down. She was accompanied by her November-born Orbliston Jury Eric X245 heifer calf, Mosside Victoria B586.
Bred by Bill and James Porter, this three-year-old cow was purchased for 4,600gns at the Old Glenort Herd’s inaugural on-farm production sale in March last year. A Blelack Dakota U898 daughter, she hails from the proven Victoria line – the same cow family as the supreme champion.
Graeme Fraser added: “The reserve champion is a lovely, stylish young cow with a beautiful head and good locomotion. She is doing a wonderful job rearing her growthy heifer calf.”
The junior championship ribbons went to Coltrim Evana B661, a fourteen-month-old heifer from Ivan Forsythe’s herd at Moneymore. Sired by the herd’s stock bull, Island Farm Master Missie X854, her dam is the home-bred Coltrim Evana N625. This heifer stood first in a very strong class of 12 heifers.
“Another lovely sweet heifer, full of breed character. She is well fleshed and very correct on her legs and feet,” added the judge.
Runner-up in the junior championship line-up was Woodvale Mr Amazon B556, a fourteen-month-old bull bred by Alwyn and Carol Armour and Sons, Dromore, County Down.
He was sired by the home-bred Woodvale Trucker X941, and is out of Woodvale Miss Annie W856 – whose dam, Woodvale Miss Annie U436, was Aberdeen Angus and interbreed champion at Balmoral in September 2021. The show was held four months later due to the covid pandemic.
Graeme Fraser said: ”This is a super young bull, growthy and well fleshed for his age. He has good feet and legs, a nice head, and is full of promise for the future.”
The supreme and reserve champions were joined by the second placed heifer, Lisduff Philly Z121 owned by Cherryvalley Farms, to secure the reserve interbreed native group of three award.
Aberdeen Angus cattle also claimed the native interbreed team award. The five winning team members included, Old Glenort Victoria Z155, Lisduff Philly Z121, Bill and James Porter’s second placed bull Old Glenort Euro Z656, and first placed Old Glenort Black Lass A671, accompanied by James McCullough’s second placed Woodvale Delia A427.
Results from the showring:
Specials
Aberdeen Angus Perpetual Challenge Cup for the champion: Bill and James Porter’s Old Glenort Victorious Y514. Reserve: Rodgers Livestock’s Old Glenort Victoria Z155.
M&S Award for the junior champion: Ivan Forsythe’s Coltrim Evana B661. Reserve: Alwyn Armour’s Woodvale Mr Amazon B556.
WJ Carson Memorial Perpetual Challenge Cup for the exhibitor-bred champion: Bill and James Porter’s Old Glenort Victorious Y514.
JD Templeton Memorial Perpetual Challenge Trophy for the best yearling bull: Alwyn Armour’s Woodvale Mr Amazon B556. Reserve: Andrew Fletcher’s Glen Cowie Baronet B636.
Drumlister Trophy for the best of opposite sex to the champion: Rodgers Livestock’s Old Glenort Victoria Z155.
John Thompson and Sons Crystal Awards for the best pair of heifers, owned by exhibitor: Ivan Forsythe’s Coltrim Evana B661 and Coltrim Blackbird B742. Reserve: Bill and James Porter’s Old Glenort Jewiot Erica B231 and Old Glenort Edwina B301.
CLASSES
Cow, born on or before 31/12/22 – 1, Bill and James Porter, Old Glenort Pepsi V716 by Carlhurlie Gentilex S124; 2, John and Ann Henning, Drumcorn Lady Ida U526 by Blelack Prince J165.
Cow or heifer, born in 2023 – 1, Rodgers Livestock, Old Glenort Victoria Z155 by Blelack Dakota U898; 2, Cherryvalley Farms, Lisduff Philly Z121 by Liss Buster S621; 3, Bill and James Porter, Old Glenort Poppy Z306 by Carlhurlie Gentilex S124; 4, Ian Colville, Clontead Blackbird Z416 by Cheerbrook Profit V138.
Heifer, born between 01/01/24 and 31/12/24 – 1, Bill and James Porter, Old Glenort Black Lass A671 by Blelack Dakota U898; 2, James McCullough, Woodvale Delia A427 by Woodvale Roscoe Y054; 3, Alan and Naomi Morrison, Drummeer Blackbird A817 by Liss Masterstroke W013; 4, Ivan Forsythe, Coltrim Diana A322 by Stouphill Paddi X358.
Heifer, born on or after 01/01/25 – 1, Ivan Forsythe, Coltrim Evana B661 by Island Farm Master Missie X854; 2, Fintan Keown, Home Farm Lady Heatwave B152 by Home Farm Erne Y802; 3, Bill and James Porter, Old Glenort Edwina B301 by Bruno of Spittal Shore; 4, James McCullough, Ballydavey Priba B156 by Laheens U Boss Hogg.
Bull, born prior to 01/01/25 – 1, Bill and James Porter, Old Glenort Victorious Y514 by Carlhurlie Gentilex S124; 2, Bill and James Porter, Old Glenort Euro A656 by Old Glenort Victorious Y514; 3, Andrew Fletcher, Rathmoss Priam Z012 by Blelack Lord Blackthorn S825.
Bull, born on or after 01/01/25 – 1, Alwyn Armour, Woodvale Mr Amazon B556 by Woodvale Trucker X941; 2, Andrew Fletcher, Glen Cowie Baronet B636 by Glen Cowie Allegro Y087; 3, Bill and James Porter, Old Glenort Black Landrover B345 by Orbliston Jury Eric X245; 4, William Dodd, Glenbrae Red Mighty B936 by Glenbrae Red Maverick Y772.
Pair, property of exhibitor – 1, Bill and James Porter, Old Glenort Black Lass A671 and Old Glenort Euro A656; 2, Bill and James Porter, Old Glenort Pepsi V716 and Old Glenort Victorious Y514; 3, Andrew Fletcher, Glen Cowie Baronet B636 and Rathmoss Priam Z012.
