Big money for Ulster champ
Big money for Ulster champ
THE supreme champion at the Ulster primestock show earned owner Chris Courtney a £2000 sale ring bid to add to £1500 worth of prize money.
Mr Courtneys Charolais heifer Smarty Pants, from his farm at Birches, Portadown, was by the top primestock sire Allanfauld Vagabond and was his second Ulster title holder. He won the award with a similarly bred heifer in 1996.
This years show saw Charolais-sired cattle dominate the top awards with a cross-bred steer from Mrs A McCrea, Dungannon, Co Tyrone landing the top butchers ticket and another Charolais-sired steer standing reserve for Sharon Millar, Coleraine. They realised £1450 and £1050, respectively. Both were bought by Harry Marquess for his butchery business in Co Antrim.
Threequarter-bred Beltex lambs weighing 20.5kg apiece lifted the prime lamb championship for brothers Jonathan and Jeremy Aiken, Dromara. The lambs sold for £190 each to Choice Cuts, Ballymoney.
Reserve lamb champs were April-born Charollais entries from Drew Cowan, Banbridge, realising £130 each to Jim Quail, Banbridge. *