Balmoral Show – McDonald’s win first-ever Simmental championship

By Julie Hazelton
A small show of qualify stock was how judge, Gerard Brickley, Portlaoise, described the Simmental entry at Balmoral Show.

“Despite the small numbers forward I was pleasantly surprised by the standard and calibre of the cattle at this year’s event. All entries were well presented and displayed great locomotion,” said Mr Brickley who runs the noted Celtic herd.

Top honours went to brothers, Shane and Paul McDonald, Tempo, who claimed their first-ever supreme Simmental championship. The County Fermanagh duo established the Coolcran herd in 2006 and currently own nine breeding females.

Claiming the female and supreme championship ribbons was the fifteen-month-old Raceview King daughter, Clonguish Bambi, purchased privately earlier this year from Joe McGarry and Sons, County Longford.

This much admired entry is one of two heifers purchased from the McGarry family. Her herd mate, Clonguish Brooklyn by Dripsey Super King, stood second in the junior heifer class behind the champion. They teamed up to win the award for the best pair of Simmentals on show at Balmoral, instantly qualifying for the Ivomec Super Simmental Pair of the Year competition.

Clonguish Bambi is no stranger to show success, having won the junior heifer calf championship at Virginia Show, and the breed championships at Oldcastle and Mohill shows in 2010. “We couldn’t decide between the two heifers, so we bought both of them,” said Paul McDonald.

“The champion is a stylish and eye-catching heifer. She is an early maturing animal, very wide and exactly the type of animal we should be breeding,” stressed the judge.

Gerard Brickley awarded the male and reserve supreme championship ribbons to the junior bull class winner, Ranfurly Barrister, shown by David Hazelton, Dungannon. This January 2010 born Whitemire King Kong son also scooped the exhibitor-bred championship award.

“The reserve champion is a very powerful and uniform bull. He has good locomotion and is wide through the shoulder and topline,” added the judge.

The senior cow class was led by Jonathan Farrell, Markethill, who brought out the five-year-old Kilbride Farm Newry daughter, Woodford Tulip.

David Hazelton also won the junior cow class with the home-bred first calver, Ranfurly Weikel 3rd. This Hillcrest champion daughter was accompanied by her November born Blackford Harvester heifer calf. “It’s good to see a cow working hard. This is a big framed cow with a good udder and a nice heifer calf at foot,” said Gerard Brickley.

The intermediate heifer class was won by Barnattin Amanda, a September 2009 born Seepa Tee Jay daughter brought out by Derek Costello who made the trip to Belfast from Drogheda in County Louth. The judge added: “She is a nice feminine heifer, very correct and smooth throughout.”

Leading the senior bull class was the October 2008 born Saltire Talent son, Auchorachan Wizard, shown by Joe Wilson and Sons, Newry, County Down. Gerard Brickley added:”This bull is very long and has great hindquarters. He walked out well and has obviously been working in the herd. He should develop and mature into a big powerful bull.”

Specials

British Simmental Cattle Society Award for the supreme champion: Shane and Paul McDonald. Reserve: David Hazelton

Bobbie Dickson Perpetual Trophy, for the supreme champion: Shane and Paul McDonald.

Imex Perpetual Cow Bell, and Bangor and Six Road Ends Farmers’ Union Perpetual Trophy, for the female champion: Shane and Paul McDonald. Reserve: David Hazelton.

Bobbie Gamble Perpetual Challenge Trophy for the best heifer: Shane and Paul McDonald.

William Black Memorial Perpetual Cup, and NI Simmental Club Trophy, for the male champion: David Hazelton. Reserve: Joe Wilson.

News Letter Shield, for the junior champion: Shane and Paul McDonald.

NI Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club Silver Award for the exhibitor-bred champion: David Hazelton.

Classes

Cow, born before 1/1/08, in-calf or with calf at foot – 1, Jonathan Farrell, Markethill, Woodford Tulip by Kilbride Farm Newry.

Cow or heifer, born in 2008, in-calf or with calf at foot – 1, David Hazelton, Dungannon, Ranfurly Weikel 3rd by Hillcrest Champion; 2, Derek Costello, Drogheda, Barnattin Whitney by Gretna House Supersonic.

Heifer, born between 1/7/09 and 31/12/09 – 1, Derek Costello, Barnattin Amanda by Seepa Tee Jay.

Heifer, born on or after 1/1/10 – 1, Shane and Paul McDonald, Tempo, Clonguish Bambi by Raceview King; 2, Shane and Paul McDonald, Clonguish Brooklyn by Dripsey Super king; 3, Mrs Thelma Gorman, Armagh, Woodford Bluebell by Sacombe Edgar.

Bull, born on or before 31/12/09 – 1, Joe Wilson, Newry, Auchorachan Wizard by Saltire Talent; 2, Raymond Wallace, Florencecourt, Broomfield Awesome by Delfur T-Bone.

Bull, born on or after 1/1/10 – 1, David Hazelton, Ranfurly Barrister by Whitemire King Kong; 2, Raymond Wallace, Feenagh Brendan by Freighduff Brendan.

Pair, property of exhibitor – 1, Shane and Paul McDonald; 2, David Hazelton; 3. Raymond Wallace.