Fintona Charolais championships
The tenth anniversary of the NI National Charolais Show at Ecclesville Equestrian Centre, Fintona saw Co.Fermanagh breeders walk off with the major titles when Adrian Richardson from Maguiresbridge took the supreme female of the show title and Stewart and David Bothwell from Ballinamallard were awarded the supreme male title.
Judge, Alaisdair Houston from the Gretnahouse herd first selected his supreme female champion, Hillviewfarm Bonnie, an Allanfauld Vagabond daughter out of Coolnaslee Regina.
Adrian Richardson purchased the dam from Gilbert Crawford’s herd at Maghera and her first calf took the female championship at a club show and sale in Dungannon, while a bull calf from this dam took the junior championship at the NI Charolais Club sale in Dungannon in May of this year and sold for 4200gns.
Standing in reserve female champion place was the reserve junior female champion, Burnside Bimp from Brian and William McAllister’s herd at Kells. This Mowbraypark Paramount daughter is out of Burnside Timp which took the supreme female title at Fintona for two years in succession, the only female to achieve this in the 10 years history of the show.The senior female championship was awarded to Martin Donaghy of Dungannon for Crannon Beauty an Icare daughter which was the junior female champion in the Dectomax finals at Clogher Valley Show two years ago.
Reserve senior female champion was Bassingbourn Amethyst from Gilbert Crawford’s herd which was Interbreed champion at Clogher Valley Show.
The supreme male champion , Killadeas Barney, from Stewart and David Bothwell’s herd had already shown his prowess in the ring when, at just over a year old, he took the Charolais championship, the Intermediate Interbeed championship and the overall Interbreed championship at Enniskillen Show. He is by the Killadeas stock bull Dunlon Ulick and is out of a Harestone Nighthawk daughter.
The NI Charolais Club was pleased to see a new breeder featuring in the championships when Brian Jordan from Benburb took the senior male and reserve supreme male championship with Celtic Bigboy. This Celtic Vichy son was the Irish National Champion at Carrick on Shannon and is a new bloodline in the province. Celtic Bigboy has already taken the Charolais championship at Armagh show.
The reserve junior male was Fred Elliott’s Mullaghbane Brett, a Doonally New son which is a full brother to Mullaghabne Ulliott which sold for 10,000gns two years ago in Perth.
Harold Stubbs and Stephen Hunter from Lisnaskea carried off the reserve senior male championship with Tedd Braveheart by Prime Roberto.
The commercial classes certainly highlighted the ability of the Charolais breed to provide the beef cattle for today’s discerning market and judges, Sammy Allister and Ivan White from Co. Monaghan had their work cut out for them in choosing a commercial champion of the show. They eventually chose a heifer from Stephen Shortt and Sons’ herd at Omagh for their champion and in reserve place a heifer from McKenna Brothers at Clogher.
The show, organised by the NI Charolais Club in conjunction with Omagh District Council, was a major success and in addition to Charolais catle featured a number of fun events for children as well as a treshing demonstration, a wood carver and a black smith.
Speaking after the event, John McGrath chairman of the NI Charolais Club thanked Omagh Council for their sponsorship and for providing such excellent premises for the show. He also thanked the large number of major sponsors who had ensured a generous prize fund for all nineteen classes in the show and thus encouraged the breeders to exhibit an excellent turnout of Charolais cattle
Championships
Junior female champion, Supreme female champion of the show and winner of the Desmond Anderson Trophy presented by Omagh District Council –Adrian Richardson, Maguiresbridge, Hillviewfarm Bonnie, (Allanfauld Vagabond)
Reserve junior female champion and reserve supreme female champion – Brian McAllister and Son, Kells, Burnside Bimp (Mowbraypark Paramount)
Junior male champion, Supreme male champion of the show and winner of the Robert Scott shield – S & D Bothwell, Ballinamallard, Killadeas Barney (Dunlon Ulick)
Senior male champion and reserve supreme male champion – Brian Jordan, Benburb, Celtic Bigboy ( Celtic Vichy).
Reserve Junior Male champion – Fred Elliott, Florencecourt, Mullaghbane Brett (Doonally New).
Reserve senior male champion – Harold Stubbs and Stephen Hunter, Lisnaskea, Tedd Braveheart (Prime Roberto)
Senior female champion – Martin Donaghy, Dungannon, Crannon Beauty (Icare)
Reserve senior female champion – Gilbert Crawford, Maghera, Bassingbourn Amethyst ( Alwent Ulysses).
Ulster Bank Commercial champion of the show –Stephen Shortt and Sons, Omagh
Reserve commercial champion – McKenna Brothers, Clogher