BALLINALARE FARM NIKITA’S WIN AT 2025 NI SIMMENTAL NATIONAL SHOW SECURES ‘FAMOUS’ DOUBLE HAT-TRICK!

• Ballinalare Farm Nikita wins Individual Interbreed Overall Reserve
• Ranfurly Weikel 56^th R5 takes Overall Reserve, and Junior Champion

The all-conquering first calved heifer Ballinalare Farm Nikita from Joe & Alan Wilson, Newry, with her twin calves at foot, swept to a third consecutive NI Simmental National Show Overall Supreme title today at Clogher Valley Show. Judging the Simmental classes and Championships was John Barlow of the noted Denizes herd, Lancashire.

Overall Supreme & Female Champion Ballinalare Farm Nikita

The win for this February 2022 born Simmental female saw her complete a unique and remarkable double-hat trick having now won the Overall Supreme on three consecutive years at both the RUAS Balmoral Show, and the NI Simmental National Show.  On her way through to the Championship at Clogher Valley she firstly also lifted the Female Championship. This first calved heifer is by the prolific Saltire Impressive and is out of Ballinalare Farm Ilyssa, a Denizes Fantastic daughter and herself a twin to a female.   Another prolific show summer has seen Nikita win multiple interbreed titles at NI shows and she was again on the rostrum at Clogher when placing Overall Individual Interbreed Reserve in front of the judge Andrew Anderson, Smallburn Farms, Elgin.

Of his Overall Supreme Champion, the judge John Barlow said:  “What a tremendous cow this is and a very worthy winner on the day.  She’s just in tremendous condition with a fantastic bag of milk on her for a first calved heifer, doing her twin calves really well, and is back in calf again. With great width and a good top, she’s the perfect size and not too big, is very correct, and very mobile. Very much a super Simmental female.”

Judge John Barlow in action.

Also in attendance at the NI Simmental Natioanl Show was BSCS General Manager Iain Kerr who commented on the Ballinalare herd’s achievement:  “On behalf of all at British Simmental, massive congratulations are extended to the Wilson family.  To win the Championship award three years in a row at Northern Ireland’s two premier Simmental Shows, as a maiden heifer through to today as a first calved heifer, is a remarkable achievement.  Along the way she’s been up against some fantastic cattle in both the Simmental classes and then the Interbreeds.  A terrific example of the modern Simmental she has firmly secured her place in the pantheon of Simmental breed history.”

Taking the Overall Reserve, Reserve Female, Performance Recorded Heifer, and Overall Junior Champion was Ranfurly Weikel 56th R5 WD & JD Hazelton, Cohannon House, Dungannon. March 2024 born, this heifer is by the 20,000gns Annick Talisker, and is the second calf out of the Team Celtic 11 daughter Ranfurly Weikel 37th L3 ™ VG 8.  The Weikel family, established in 2003, has been one of the most influential dam lines in the 17-cow Ranfurly herd.  The day’s Champion, and Ranfurly Weikel 56^th R5 in Reserve, matched the final results at this years RUAS Balmoral Show held in May.  Weikel 56^th R5 has been shown four times this year at Balmoral, Omagh, Castlewellan, and now Clogher, and has been unbeaten in her class.  Plans at this early stage are to show her again next year as a senior heifer.  Confirming another good day, the Ranfurly herd also won the junior heifer class with the stylish September 2024 born Ranfurly Jade.  Full of breeding this calf is by the 16,000gns Ranfurly Limelight and is out of Raceview Mindy Hibernia, bought for the herd due to the back pedigree featuring the noted Raceview Misty Jade. A prolific show and sale herd, the Ranfurly herd won the Overall Supreme, and Reserve Overall at the 2019 NI Simmental National Show and when Michael Barlow, John’s father, was judging!

Ranfurly Weikel 56th, Overall Reserve, Junior Champion, & Reserve Female Champion

Speaking of the 2025 reserve Overall Ranfurly Weikel 56^th, John Barlow said:  “This heifer carried lots of style, had a real presence in the ring, and was show fit. Full of correctness with good mobility, she was a heifer that was hard to fault.”

Proving to be a knockout in the bulls was the July 2024 Bridgewater Farm Rocky (P), from Nigel Glasgow, Cookstown, Co Tyrone who lifted the Male Championship and also the Reserve Junior award.  This young heterozygous polled bull is by the AI sire Ranfurly Klinker, a Team Celtic son, and is out of the homebred Bridgewater Farm Phyliss 4^th, an Atlow Dixon 12 EX 91 daughter going back to Anatrim Bodybuilder.  Of his Male Champion, John Barlow commented:  “This was a standout Male Champion.  With lots of class and style he’s a growthy bull and I think he’s a big prospect for the Spring Sales next year.”  In addition to the Male Championship at Clogher, Bridgewater Farm Rocky (P) has had class wins at both Omagh, and Armagh Shows and collective results that have put him firmly in the running to be the NI Simmenal Male of the Year.  The 30 breeding female Bridgewater Farm herd has a good track record at both shows and sales and including a Reserve Supreme at Balmoral, and a Junior Champion at the Stirling Bull Sales.  Speaking afterwards, Nigel Glasgow confirmed that Bridgewater farm Rocky (P) will be aimed at Stirling in February 2026.

Male Champion & Reserve Junior Champion, Bridgewater Farm Rocky

Making a fantastic NI Simmental National Show debut was Ryan Gilmour, Dungannon, Co Tyrone, who won the largest class of some ten young bulls on the day, before going on to take the  Reserve Male Championship, with the September 2024 born Gillview Rocket.  Another Saltire Impressive son, Rocket is out of the second calver Gillview Lady Lauren, a Kilbride Farm Bantry 10 embryo daughter going back to Hillcrest Champion, and whose first heifer calf is retained in the herd.  Unbeaten in his show classes to date, this was only Gillview Rocket’s second show outing having previously being judged first in his class at Castlewellan Show.  For the ten breeding female Gillview herd this is their biggest show accolade to date and speaking afterwards, a delighted Ryan Gilmour said:  “He’s a bull calf with style, power, and a lovely head, and we’ll now give a little thought to forward plans for him and taking aim at the Spring Sales in 2026.” Ryan is also the NI Simmental Club’s Secretary, and works full time for the NI Department of Agriculture.

Reserve Male Champion, Gillview Rocket

Echoing Ryan’s thoughts on Gillview Rocket, John Barlow said:  “This was a big class of bulls and both the first and second prize winners have big futures ahead.  The Gillview bull had real length to him, was soft fleshing, had a tremendous breed head, and carried a lot of show presence.”

Taking second in this class was Lisglass Real Deal from JL & CJ Weatherup, Ballyclare, Co Antrim.  Another Saltire Impressive son, this September 2024 born bull out of Lisglass Klassy, a Dermotstown Delboy ET EX 92 daughter, was crowned Male Champion at the 2025 RUAS Balmoral in May.     The Lisglass herd enjoyed a top day at Clogher with a class win for their Intermediate heifer Dermody Royal Lucy, and wins in both the Pairs, and Group of Three classes.

The Simmental judging was rounded off with two well supported and terrific classes for Young Handlers.  Showing loads of enthusiasm and great abilities the respective classes were won by Lewis Dodd (Craigy Herd); and Rhys Rodgers (Hiltonstown Herd).

Overall Championship presentation Ballinalare Farm Nikita & Ranfurly Weikel 56th R5

Female Championship presentation Ballinlare Farm Nikita & Ranfurly Weikel 56th R5

Junior Championship presentation Ranfurly Weikel 56th R5 & Bridgewater Farm Rocky

NI SIMMENTAL NATIONAL SHOW RESULTS 2025

Judge: John Barlow, Denizes Herd, Lancashire

CLASS 162 (COW OR HEIFER IN MILK)

1^ST BALLINLARE FARM NIKITA (429)

CLASS 164 (INTERMEDIATE HEIFER 1/07/23 – 31/12/23)

1^ST DERMODY ROYAL LUCY (431)

Dermody Royal Lucy 

2^ND BRIDGEWATER FARM WISTERIA 4^th  (430)

CLASS 165 (JUNIOR HEIFER 01/01/24 – 30/04/24)

1^ST RANFURLY WEIKEL 56^TH R5 (434)

2^ND CRAIGY BEATRICE R1 (432)

3^RD MULLYNOCK RITA (436)

4^TH MULLYNOCK RUTH (437)

CLASS 166 (JUNIOR HEIFER 01/05/24 – 31/08/24)

1^ST BALLINALARE FARM RITZ (438)

Ballinalare Farm Ritz 

2^ND LISGLASS ROSE (439)

3^RD BALLINALARE FARM REGAL (440)

CLASS 167 (JUNIOR HEIFER 01/09/24 – 31/12/24)

1^ST RANFURLY JADE 2^ND R13 (441)

Ranfurly Jade 2nd Class 167, Junior Heifer born on or between 1st September and 31st December 2024

2^ND HAYSTAR BEAUTY 4 (443)

CLASS 168 (HEIFER CALF BORN IN 2025)

1^ST COOLCRAN LADY SHAKIRA (445)

Coolcran Lady Shakira 

2^ND MULLYNOCK SUSIE (447)

3^RDGORTDONAGHY SHE’S THE ONE (448)

4^TH MULLYNOCK SALLY (446)

CLASS 169 (HEIFER PERFORMANCE RECORDED)

1^st RANFURLY WEIKEL 56TH

CLASS 170 (CHAMPION FEMALE)

FEMALE CHAMPION – (429) BALLINLARE FARM NIKITA

RESERVE FEMALE CHAMPION – (434) RANFURLY WEIKEL 56^TH R5

CLASS 172 (JUNIOR BULL 01/01/24 – 30/04/24)

1^ST HAYSTAR ROMEO (449)

CLASS 173 (JUNIOR BULL 01/05/24 – 31/08/24)

1^ST BRIDGEWATER FARM ROCKY (453)

2^ND HAYSTAR ROUND ONE (451)

3^RD HILLHEAD FARM REDEMPTION (452)

CLASS 174 (JUNIOR BULL 01/09/24 – 31/12/24)

1^ST GILLVIEW ROCKET (460)

2^ND LISGLASS REAL DEAL (455)

3^RD DRUMSAMNEY RORY (454)

4^TH COOLCRAN RAFIKI (457)

5^TH GILLVIEW RANGER (461)

6^TH HILTONSTOWN RIPTIDE (458)

CLASS 175 (BULL CALVE BORN IN 2025)

1^ST MULLYNOCK SCORPIO (466)

Mullyknock Scorpio Class 175 Bull Calf born in 2025

2^ND DRUMSAMNEY SAMSON (465)

CLASS 176 (DANI ROSEBOWL PERFORMANCE RECORDED BULL)

1^ST COOLCRAN RAFIKI

Coolcran Rafiki Class 176 & Dani Rosebowl Performance Recorded Bull

2^ND HILLHEAD FARM REDEMPTION

CLASS 177 (MALE CHAMPIONSHIP)

CHAMPION MALE – (453) BRIDGEWATER FARM ROCKY

RESERVE CHAMPION MALE – (460) GILLVIEW ROCKET

CLASS 178 (JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP)

JUNIOR CHAMPION – (434) RANFURLY WEIKEL 56^TH R5

RESERVE JUNIOR CHAMPION – (453) BRIDGEWATER FARM ROCKY

CLASS 179 (OVERALL SIMMENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP)

OVERALL CHAMPION – (429) BALLINLARE FARM NIKITA

CLASS 180 (PAIRS)

1^ST LISGLASS

Lisglass Pairs winners

2^ND MULLYNOCK

3^RD BRIDGEWATER FARM

4^TH RANFURLY

5^TH GILLVIEW

CLASS 181 (GROUP OF 3)

1^ST LISGLASS

Group of 3 Winners Lisglass

2^ND GILLVIEW

CLASS 182 (YOUNG HANDLERS 8-12)

1^ST LEWIS DODD

Young Handlers 8 to 12, Lewis Dodd

2^ND CHARLIE CAHOON

3^RD TIMOTHY RAINEY

4^TH LUCY HAZELTON

CLASS 183 (YOUNG HANDLERS 13 – 18 )

1^ST RHYS RODGERS

Young Handler 13 to 18 Rhys Rodgers

2^ND LEXIE WILSON

3^RD JAMIE DODD