Standard high at Angus calf show

A tremendous show with a high standard of entries was seen at the  Northern Ireland Aberdeen Angus Club’s 6^th Annual Calf Show, Moira.

Under the scrutiny of Scottish judge, Alastair Fraser, the Matchett family, Portadown, County Armagh, notched up a string of successes at the one-day show. Their accolades included the yearling heifer championship, the reserve heifer calf championship, the bull calf championship, the commercial championship and the pairs championship.

Scooping the yearling heifer championship was the much admired Knockadrinan Bell J460. Born in March 2009 she is by the Gigginstown House Drew E300 son, Knockadrinan Precise G398. This one was the All-Ireland Champion at Clogher Show in 2009, and was purchased privately from Irish breeder Tom Reynolds.

Runner-up in the yearling heifer championship was the September 2009 born Friarstown Ellen Erica J161, exhibited by club chairman, Robin Lamb, and sons, Stuart, Ben and Peter from Richhill, County Armagh.  Sired by Aynho Rossiter Eric B125, and bred from a Rawburn dam, she was purchased recently at a draft sale from Jerry Henchy’s herd in Kilmallock, County Limerick.

Top honours in the yearling bull section went to the father and son team of Adrian and Graeme Parke, Strabane, County Tyrone. The March 2009 born Coolermoney Rochester J955 was sired by the home-bred Rawburn Eventer 2^nd son, Coolermoney Rossiter F734. He won his class at several shows throughout the summer and was breed champion at Ballymoney and Newry.

The reserve yearling bull championship went to John and Avril Robson, Augher, who exhibited the May 2009 born BJ’s No Limits 15S son, Glenjoy Limitless J167..

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The runner-up was Knockadrinan Bell K496 – a six-month-old calf owned by Sarah and Sam Matchett. She is a recent acquisition from Tom Reynolds’ Bornacoola-based herd, and is from the same family as the yearling heifer championThe April 2010 born Birches Abbot K864, secured the bull calf championship for Sarah and Sam Matchett. Sired by the popular Coneyisland Legend E112, this entry is the first home-bred calf shown by the sister and brother team.

Standing in reserve position was Home Farm Ebony Ahead K894, a March 2010 born Rawburn Rommel E423 son, exhibited by Fintan Keown, Belleek, County Fermanagh.  He was bred from the Nakkeg Nord daughter, Home Farm Ebony Swinger G393 – one of six cows in the herd which was founded in 2007.

A new introduction to this year’s show was a class for commercial Angus-sired calves born in 2010. Claiming the championship ribbons was the six-month-old Jalex Black Beauty VI, shown by Sarah and Sam Matchett. This super heifer calf was bought privately from commercial suckler farmer and fatstock producer, James Alexander, Randalstown, and was sired by the Jalex herd’s stock bull, Lisduff Duke.

The reserve championship award went to Jack Smyth, Strabane, for his March 2010 born Cheeklaw Eirwyn heifer calf, Bessiebell Bell.

The Matchett family also claimed the Mossbrook Cup, presented by David Dickson, Moneyreagh, for the best pair of 2010 born calves, owned by exhibitor. The winning duo included the bull calf champion, Birches Abbot K864, and the reserve heifer calf champion, Knockadrinan Bell K496.

Claiming the reserve spot were the heifer calf champion, Coolermoney Rachel K051, and the third prize winning intermediate bull calf, Coolermoney Rocky K047, exhibited by Adrian and Graeme Parke.

NI Aberdeen Angus Club chairman, Robin Lamb, was delighted with the success of the event which attracted visitors from as far afield as Aberdeen and Cork. “It’s been a tremendous show, with a bigger and better entry than previous years. I’d like to thank everyone who contributed to the success of the event, especially the sponsors, without whom the show would not be possible. Thanks also to R A Noble and Co for the use of the premises, and Dungannon Farmers’ Mart who produced the catalogue.”