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

by Iain | May 11, 2011 | Uncategorised

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.

Elite Simmental Sale Tops at 12,000 Guineas

by Iain | Aug 23, 2010 | Uncategorised

Prices reached a ceiling of 12,000gns, and 20 lots sold to average £3,654 per head, at the 40th Anniversary Elite Female Show and Sale, held at Omagh.
The event, hosted by the Northern Ireland Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club, attracted numerous breed enthusiasts from throughout England, Scotland, Wales, and the north and south of Ireland.

Hitting the headlines, and setting a new record for a Simmental female sold in Northern Ireland, was the much-admired Cleenagh Avon bred and exhibited by Adrian Richardson, Maguiresbridge.

She caught the eye of judge, Hector Macaskill from Dunbar, East Lothian, to take the supreme championship honours at the pre-sale show. “This is an excellent heifer,” explained Mr Macaskill, who is president of the British Simmental Cattle Society. “She is long and clean, and has fantastic shape. I can’t fault her in any way.”

Born in March 2009, she was sired by the Corrick Kentucky Kid son, Omorga Murray, and is out of the prize winning Raceview King daughter, Cleenagh Trudie. She made her debut at Armagh Show in June, where she stood first in a class of eight heifers, and went on to win another red rosette at Omagh Show, before scooping the runner-up title in the prestigious NISA Ulster Bank Beef Heifer Championship. This heifer attracted considerable attention prior to the sale, and won many admirers at the Omagh Anniversary event.

Auctioneer, Noel Erskine, secured an opening bid of 5,000gns, and after a bidding frenzy she was knocked down to Ronnie Wilson from Garvary, Enniskillen, who had fought off strong competition from ringside bidders and an eager telephone bidder.

The reserve supreme championship was awarded to Kilbride Farm Dora 34a, a February 2009 born heifer exhibited by breed stalwart, Billy Robson OBE, and sons, Michael and Norman, from Doagh, Ballyclare. Described by the judge as ‘a stylish heifer’, she was sired by the herd’s 15,000gns stock bull, Cairnview Snazzy, and is bred from a dam by Seaview Prince Charming. She came under the hammer at 6,000gns, selling to pedigree breeder, David Donnelly, who runs the Atlow herd based in Derbyshire.

The Robson trio sold three heifers from their long-established Kilbride Farm prefix to average £3,955 per head. Next best from the Robson stable at 3,200gns was Kilbride Farm Dora 36a, a March 2009 born heifer by the highly successful AI sire, Kilbride Farm Newry. She is out of a home-bred Milnafua Graduate daughter, and was snapped up by Colin Inglis from Fife, Scotland.

Third highest price of the day, 5,100gns, went to David Hazelton, who sold five heifers from the Ranfurly herd based at Dungannon to average £3,612 per head.

Leading the Ranfurly offering at 5,100gns was the second prize winning Ranfurly Lady Diana 13th. Born in September 2009, she was one of the youngest heifers catalogued, and is a Seabank Flint daughter bred from a dam by Carnkern Titan. The successful bidder was new breeder, Chris Traynor from Armagh.

Following close behind at 5,000gns was the second reserve champion, Cleenagh Alexis, also forward from Adrian Richardson. Born in September 2009 she is by the Raceview King son, Dripsey Super King, and is out of a home-bred dam by Omorga Murray. This one joins the Solitude herd owned by John McMordie, and sons, William and Andrew from Ballygowan, County Down.

Next best at 4,800gns was David Hazelton’s Ranfurly Weikel 5th, an unplaced June 2009 born Balist daughter bred from the herd’s prolific brood cow, South Park King Kong Weikel 2nd – who has bred sons to a top of 9,000gns. This heifer is a half sister to the 2010 Reserve Female of the Year, Ranfurly Weikel 3rd, and was snapped up was Brendan McNamee, who is establishing a new herd at Sixmilecross, County Tyrone.

Cecil McIlwaine, and sons, Scott and Neil, from Newtownstewart, realised 4,000gns for the first prize winning Corrick Amber 2nd. Born in May 2009 she is by the Sterling Flint son, Omorga Tarbuck, and is out of a home-bred dam by Carnkern Titan. The successful bidder was Chris Traynor, Armagh.

Omorga Tarbuck was also behind the breeding of Corrick Amanda 09, which realised 3,400gns for the McIlwaine family. This July 2009 born heifer is bred from Corrick Trixie-Bell – a daughter of the herd’s record priced 21,000gns Corrick Kentucky Kid. She joins the noted Curaheen herd owned by David Wall, Newcastle, County Dublin.

The first lot into the salering was Ranfurly Kleeb 22nd, a September 2008 born Whitemire King Kong daughter, bred from a Balist dam. She realised 3,300gns for vendor, David Hazelton, and was snapped up by pedigree breeders, Alan and Ann Kennedy who run the Lurgill herd based at Upper Ballinderry, Lisburn.

Breed society president, and pre-sale judge, Hector Macaskill, congratulated the Northern Ireland Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club, and its members, on a successful event. “I am delighted and honoured to have been invited to judge at this special event in the breed’s history. It has been a great event, with some very strong classes. The top end in each class were outstanding, and it is definitely as good a show of cattle as you would get anywhere in the UK.”

The Northern Ireland Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club is indebted to its sponsors, without whom this event would not have been possible. They include: Irwins Feeds, Eglish; Woodcraft Kitchens, Kilrea; John Thompson and Sons Ltd; Redrock Machinery; McGirr Haulage Ltd, Tempo; Millburn Concrete Ltd, Cookstown; and Lafarge Cement.

Other leading prices include:

Robin Boyd, Portglenone, 2,800gns for the fourth prize winning Slievenagh Angel by Curaheen Tyson, to Jim and Patricia Goldie, Newbie Mains, Dumfries.

Kenneth Stubbs, Irvinestown, 2,700gns for the second prize winning Drumbulcan Alesha by Omorga Regan, to Gerry Lenehan, Easkey, County Sligo.

David Hazelton, Dungannon, 2,400gns for the third prize winning Ranfurly Blende 3rd by Knox Haped, to Patrick Murray, Lurgan.

Andy Weatherup, Larne, 2,200gns for the third prize winning Ballyvallough Alison 2nd by Lisglass Trident, to Noel Kilpatrick, Banbridge.

W H Robson and Sons, Doagh, 2,100gns for Kilbride Farm Dora 35a by Cairnview Snazzy, to Les Pennington, Lancashire.

Archie Reaney, Mowhan, 2,100gns for the fourth prize winning Cladymore Angel by Borness Troy, to D and J Todd, Portadown.

Leslie and Christopher Weatherup, Ballyclare, 2,100gns for Lisglass Abigail 2nd by Raceview Stanley, to Nigel Glasgow, Cookstown.

Results from the judging ring include:

Heifer, born between 27/09/08 and 09/01/09 – 1, David Hazelton, Dungannon, Ranfurly Kleeb 22nd by Whitemire King Kong; 2, Kenneth Stubbs, Irvinestown, Drumbulcan Alesha by Omorga Regan; 3, David Hazelton, Ranfurly Blende 3rd by Knox Haped.
Heifer, born between 25/01/09 and 29/03/09 – 1, Adrian Richardson, Maguiresbridge, Cleenagh Avon by Omorga Murray; 2, W H Robson and Sons, Doagh, Ballyclare, Kilbride Farm Dora 34a by Cairnview Snazzy; 3, W H Robson and Sons, Kilbride Farm Dora 36a by Cairnview Snazzy; 4, Robin Boyd, Portglenone, Slievenagh Angel 09 by Curaheen Tyson.
Heifer, born between 03/04/09 and 12/06/09 – 1, Cecil McIlwaine, Newtownstewart, Corrick Amber 2nd by Omorga Tarbuck; 2, Cecil Charters and David Farrell, Lisbellaw, Lakeside Amanda 2nd by Omorga Rega; 3, Andy Weatherup, Larne, Ballyvallough Alison 2nd by Lisglass Trident; 4, Archie Reaney, Mowhan, Markethill, Cladymore Abigail by Glebefarm Tyson.
Heifer, born between 09/07/09 and 08/10/09 – 1, Adrian Richardson , Cleenagh Alexis by Dripsey Super King; 2, David Hazelton, Ranfurly Lady Diana 13th by Seabank Flint; 3, William and Keith Stubbs, Irvinestown, Rehall Amy by Delfur T-Bone; 4, Archie Reaney, Cladymore Angel by Borness Troy.

Dungannon Spring 2010 – Easter Success for Simmental Breeders

by Iain | Apr 6, 2010 | Uncategorised

It was standing room only at this years N.I. Simmental Cattle Breeders Club Spring Show and Sale in Dungannon Farmers Mart on Tuesday 6th April 2010. A packed ringside witnessed an outstanding show of both pedigree and commercial Simmental cattle.

Judge Kenneth Veitch from Lisbellaw awarded the Northern Bank Supreme Championship to the June 2008 born bull Drumbulcan Waterfall, from County Fermanagh breeders Harold Stubbs and Andrew Burleigh. Bred by Kenneth Stubbs, this popular champion was sired by Omorga Regan, out of the Barnattin Larry dam Drumbulcan Risotto. The judges choice was justified when Waterfall topped the sale at 4000 gns selling to Malcolm Fleming from Magherafelt.

Camus Ascot 09 picked up the Reserve Championship for breeder Joe Campbell from Strabane. Sired by Brinkton Brilliant and out of the Hillcrest King cow Camus Polly, this January 2009 born bull sold readily for 3100 gns to John Blair from Moneymore.

The award for the best opposite sex to the champion went to Drumagarner Annabelle, exhibited by Eammon McCloskey from Kilrea. This yearling Derrycallaghan Hamilton daughter was knocked down for 2100 gns to P Ward from Strabane. Top price in the pedigree female section was 2900 gns for Cladymore Tinkerbell, a January 2006 Dirnanean Nugget cow with bull calf at foot, shown by Archie Reaney from Armagh and selling to M McDonnell of Omagh.

The highlight of the sale, however, was the outstanding demand for commercial heifers, with buyers eager to acquire Simmental genetics as a foundation for their suckler herds resulting in a complete clearance. Cecil McIlwaine topped this section with a 470 kg heifer selling for £1750 to R McConnell from Newtownstewart, closely followed by M Fegan’s £1700 for 460 kg to W Fleming of Magherafelt. R N Weatherup’s 560 kg heifer made £1600 selling to M Fleming, Magherafelt, while Adrian Richardson averaged £1340 for 5 heifers with an average weight of 500 kg.

Two young cows with calves at foot averaged £1550 for Seamus Casey. 36 commercial heifers, weighing 437 kg, averaged £1075 each in this commercial section, generously sponsored by Connons General Merchants, Ballymena.

Leading prices – Bulls
Drumbulcan Waterfall – 4000 gns
Corrick Admiral 09 – 3500 gns
Omorga Admiral 09 – 3400 gns
Camus Ascot 09 – 3100 gns
Omorga Alex 09 – 2800 gns
Kilbride Farm Action 09 – 2600 gns
Omorga Wagner – 2600 gns
Templefyn Wilbur – 2500 gns

27 bulls averaged 2244 gns

Leading prices – Females
Cladymore Tinkerbell – 2900 gns
Drumagarner Annabelle – 2100 gns
Drumagarner Ace – 2000 gns
Rehall Wilma – 1900 gns
Drumagarner Whisper – 1800 gns
Knockreagh Wilma – 1800 gns

7 heifers averaged 1807 gns
1 cow and calf 2900 gns

Show Results
Class 1: 1st Drumbulcan Waterfall; 2nd Templefyn Wilbur; 3rd Ashdale Wilson

Class 2: 1st Camus Ascot 09; 2nd Corrick Admiral 09; 3rd Camus Action 09

Class 3: 1st Cleenagh Ashley 09; 2nd Omorga Alex 09; 3rd Omorga Admiral 09

Class 4: 1st Kilbride Farm Action 09; 2nd Kilbride Farm Armoy 09; 3rd Longbeach Almighty 09

Class 5: 1st Drumagarner Whisper; 2nd Edenbann Wispa; 3rd Edenbann Wallflower

Class 6: 1st Drumagarner Annabelle; 2nd Drumagarner Ace; 3rd Rehall Wilma

Junior Stockjudging Training Day

by Iain | Mar 21, 2010 | Uncategorised

Dargill Farm, Crieff, Perthshire by kind permission of Mr J. McLaren

Hockenhull bow out on a top note

by Iain | Sep 22, 2009 | Uncategorised

By Fiona Sloan

After nearly 40 years of breeding Simmental Cattle, Hugo, Geraldine and James Arnold saw their beloved herd go to new homes. Hugo’s impending retiral had forced the sale of a herd, which was renowned throughout the breed both here and overseas and around 1000 people turned up to witness the event and take the last chance of buying a Hockenhull female. As Hugo said at the conclusion of the sale, “every story has a start middle and end ….and this is the end!” It was the end of the Hockenhull Herd but a beginning for several new herds as well as many established herds, when 78 buyers bought the 102 lots on offer to a top of £17500 for cow and her first calf from the famous Snow Queen line.

Mrs Hayley Clarke, The Croft, Hevingham, Norwich paid 10,000gns for the Popes Laird bred Hockenhull Snow Queen 35th out of Snow Queen 25th by the Herd Stock bull for many years Blackford Harvester, to join her Williams Herd. Harvester will retire with the family and was not at the sale. Her heifer calf Snow Queen 40th, by Dirnanean Solomon, sold for7,500gns to DW &CE Jones Wiltor Lodge, Wilcrick, Magor, Gwent . This calf was one of several at the sale by Dirnanean Soloman, another of the successful stock bulls at Hockenhull.

Hockenhull Juliet 10th took the individual top price when she sold for 14,000gns with her Hockenhull Red Rum calf, Juliet 13th at foot to new breeder Mike Frazer, Ballyclare Road, Templepatrick, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland, one of three lots bought by Mr. Frazer. Juliet 10th is a 2006 cow by Hockenhull Norman out of the Harvester daughter Juliet 3rd who was sold in calf again to Red Rum.

Tony and Anne Jukes, Swallowhill, Sandhurst, Kent added the first of the in calf heifers, Trudy 36th to their Swallowhill Herd for a bid of 11,000gns. A January 2007 heifer by Hockenhull Norman, she was sold in calf to the current stock Bull Hockenhull Red Rum and will undoubtedly be closely watched on the show circuit next summer.

The first of several Scottish purchases went to The Greenhill Family, Craighall, Duntrune, Dundee when they paid 10,000gns for Snow Queen 39th. This 14 month old heifer is by Red Rum and out of the Blackford Harvester bred Snow Queen 19th.

David and Lesley Sapsed from Heathbrow Herd Codicote, Hitchin Hertfordshire went to 9,000gns to secure one of their three lots, Hockenhull Girlie 22nd. Girlie 22nd is from another famous line at Hockenhull and is a daughter of the Dovefields Gallant bred Girlie 13th that went to Findlay and Judy McGowan at Incheoch earlier in the day for 5,800gns and was dam of several outstanding lots in the sale. Girlie 22nd that is again by Harvester was sold with her 4th calf at foot, Girlie 49th by Dirnanean Soloman. David and Lesley had previously purchased the 5th calver Susanna 9th earlier in the sale for 7,000gns. Susanna 9th is out of Susanna 4th F37 and is again by Harvester and was sold with her bull calf Hockenhull Alaska 09 at foot by Red Rum.

Stuart Stronach, Berryleys, Grange, Keith, waited to later in the day to add Girlie 41st to his Islavale Herd. By the 17,000gns Glenturk Rolex she was an ET daughter of Girlie13th and sold for 8,000gns. She sold with a sire index of +31 and a Self replacing index of +39.

Hayley Clark added to her earlier purchase when she bought yet another Girlie 13th daughter, Girlie 47th for 7,500gns. Again by Rolex, she had a +35 Self Replacing Index to go with her.

Neill McGeoch was happy to bring his 7,000gns purchase Juliet 12th home to the Hazelden Herd based at Easter Blacklaw, Stewarton, Ayrshire. Juliet 12th is a February 2008 heifer by Solomon and out of Juliet 5th by Harvester.

Another 7,000gns purchase headed north, when Brian Grant, Druid Temple, South Inverness, bought Sarah 20th with her July born Red Rum Bull calf at foot. Sarah 20th is a third calving Harvester daughter out of Sarah 10th by Woodhall Dynamite.

Joe and Rachael Ede, Stone Leys, Four Trees, Checkley, Stock on Trent, spent 6,800gns to secure their choice, Deborah 11th , with her March born Red Rum bull calf at foot, Adjutant 09. Deborah 11th is by Hockenhull Norman and out of a Balmano Hitman daughter Deborah 7th.

M. Hind, Bungehurst, Newick Lane, Mayfield, East Sussex, paid 6,200gns for Snow Queen 37th to join their Ravensdale Herd. A Harvester daughter, she was sold with her first calf at foot, Snow Queen 41st by Red Rum and in calf again to Red Rum.

No less than four lots made 6,000gns. The first of these was another from the Snow Queen line, the Hockenhull Kojac daughter, Snow Queen, 26th who was out of the very successful Snow Queen 8th. She is a fourth calver and was sold with her April born Harvester calf Snow Queen 42nd at foot. She sold to Richard Storer Smith, to join his herd at Spath Farm, Utoxeter.

Robin and Rory Bell, Roxburgh Mains, Kelso, paid 6,000gns for Hockenhull Sarah 22nd, a second calving daughter of Hockenhull Norman out of Sarah 17th. Her Bull calf Abadan 09 by Harvester was sold separately to Barry Harding, Cornerfields, Holly Bush Lane, Bucks for 4,800gns giving a 10,800gns tag for the outfit. The very next lot in the ring also sold for 6,000gns and again headed north. This time to Mrs. Margaret Addison’s Lartington Herd at The Keld, Kings Meaburn, Penrith, when she purchased Juliet 5th, an April 05 Harvester daughter, with her March born Dirnanean Soloman bull calf, Achilles 09 at foot.

Mr. W. J. Hollingsworth, High Midhope Hall, Midhopestones, Sheffield also paid 6,000gns for Deborah 12th. An April 07 daughter of Red Rum and out of a Harvester daughter, Deborah 6th, she was sold in calf to Hockenhull Kramer.

The Stock Bull, Hockenhull Red Rum, sold for £6000gns to Paul Gunther, Fir Covert, Felthorpe, Norwich, to join his Fircovert Herd.

Semen from Hockenhull Magnum sold to 80gns to Jimmy and Vikki Wood, Popes Farm, Dutton, Longridge. The same buyers paid 65gns for Magnum’s sire’s semen from Overhall Hivy, both hugely influential in the success Hockenhull herd.

There was never any doubt that the sale would be a huge success but it exceeded all expectations when the 102 lots sold averaged a massive £4447!

Tributes were given to the Arnold family at the end by Dan Evans from the Wroxhall Herd, a life long friend and fellow breeder and the family were presented with the First Edition of the new Border Fine Arts Simmental Cow and Calf which comes out in January and is modelled on one of the Hockenhull cows.

A presentation was also given by the Society General Secretary, Claire Rowbotham to Fiona Sloan, their Development Manager who leaves the Society this month after 5 years.

OTHER AVERAGES
Cows without calves at foot 13 £4079
Cows with calves at foot 44 £4704
Bull Calves 6 £3413
Heifer Calves 4 £4909
In Calf Heifers 18 £4632
Maiden Heifers 13 £4232
Stock Bull 1 £6300
Young Bulls 3 £2940