Four month old Angus calf wins interbreed at Clogher Valley

As exhibitors at Clogher Valley Show prepared their stock this morning, many wouldn’t have been placed bets that a four month old Aberdeen Angus heifer calf would walk away with the interbreed silverware, but as many of you know anything can happen in judging.

But, in front of interbreed judge Harry Emslie came a certain young heifer that caught his eye and many others round the ring. Knockadrinan Bell from Tom Reynolds, Co Leitram, is homebred on both sides and is by Knockadrinan Precise out of the Bell line. Although Tom has been showing since the 1950’s and has won Carrick on Shannon some 14 times, this is likely to rank as one of his greatest moments in his showing career.

Previous to the interbreed he was tapped out as champion of the Northern Ireland National Angus Show under judge William McLaren who had nothing but praise for this animal.

Taking the reserve beef interbreed spot was the Charolais leader Coolnaslee Countess from Gilbert Crawford, Co Londonderry. This one is by Allanfauld Superscot out of Coolnaslee Tyrella.

In the Limousin lines it was Crawford Brothers who yet again dominated most of the classes under judge Mary Cormack. The champion ticket was given to Erne Cinderella, a July 2007 born heifer by Millbrook Vic out of Holybank Valerie. Leading the way in the Belgian Blue classes was the aptly named Faughanvale Champion, a Black Du Baty son out of Jeune Chardeneux, while picking up the tickets in the Simmentla classes was David Hazelton with his February yearling heifer Ranfurly Weikel, sired by Hillcrest Champion out of a South Park bred female.

In the Hereford classes James Graham, Co Armagh, won with Graceland 1 Colin, a February 2006 son of Bos Tona.

The fiercely competitive and tough commercial classes were won by an Aberdeen-Angus x Belgian Blue x Simmental heifer Black Beauty 1 from James Alexander and shown by John Lynch jnr. This one has already picked up a first prize ticket at Omagh Show and also caught the eye of Harry Emslie who purchased the heifer for showing back home in Scotland.