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

by | May 11, 2011


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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.

The Balmoral Show qualifiers for the Ivomec Super Pair of the Year were Clonguish Bambi and Clonguish Brooklyn shown by brothers Shane and Paul McDonald, Tempo

The female and supreme overall Simmental champion was Clonguish Bambi shown by Paul McDonald, Tempo

David Hazelton, Dungannon, exhibited Ranfurly Barrister, the male and reserve supreme Simmental champion, and reserve interbreed beef bull performance class winner.

Alan Wilson, Newry, exhibited Auchorachan Wizard, the first prize senior Simmental bull and reserve male champion

Jonathan Farrell, Markethill, exhibited the first prize winning senior Simmental cow, Woodford Tulip

The first prize junior cow and reserve female champion was Ranfurly Weikel 3rd, owned by David Hazelton, Dungannon.

Thelma Gorman, Armagh, with her prize winning Simmental heifer, Corhammock Makelda

Irish Simmental Cattle Society members, Hugh Murray and Garrett Behan, keep an eye on the judging

Joe Campbell, Strabane, keeps an eye on the Simmental judging

Balmoral Simmental judge, Gerard Brickley, Portlaois

Simmental supporters Joanne and Lexie Heatrick, Portadown, with Elaine, Hanna and Robert Wilson, Newry

Keeping an eye on the Simmental judging at Balmoral Show are Robert MacGregor, Perth; Neil Shand, general secretary, British Simmental Cattle Society; Nigel Glasgow, vice-chairman, and Pat Kelly, chairman, NI Simmental Cattle Breeders' Club

Three-year-old Hanna Wilson, Newry, with dad, Keith

Robin Boyd, Portglenone, and Leslie Weatherup, Ballyclare, keep an eye on the Simmental judging

Judge, Gerard Brickley, Portlaoise, places the junior Simmental heifer class

Spectators around the showring during the Simmental judging

DATE: 11th May 2011 JUDGE: Mr G Brickley
CLASS & POSITION NAME OF ANIMAL SIRE DAM EXHIBITOR
Supreme & Female Champion CLONGUISH BAMBI RACEVIEW KING CLONGUISH LEE S P McDONALD
Reserve Supreme & Male Champion RANFURLY BARRISTER B1 10 WHITEMIRE KING KONG RACEVIEW MANDY BEAUTY MR W D HAZELTON
Reserve Male Champion AUCHORACHAN WIZARD SALTIRE TALENT RAVENSWORTH MADIE MR J WILSON
Reserve Female Champion RANFURLY WEIKEL 3RD W2 HILLCREST CHAMPION SOUTH PARK KING KONG WEIKEL 2ND MR W D HAZELTON
Junior Champion CLONGUISH BAMBI RACEVIEW KING CLONGUISH LEE S P McDONALD
Reserve Junior Champion CLONGUISH BROOKLYN DRIPSEY SUPER KING ET MONADUFF NUA S P McDONALD
Pair of Animals 1. CLONGUISH BAMBI RACEVIEW KING CLONGUISH LEE S P McDONALD
1. CLONGUISH BROOKLYN DRIPSEY SUPER KING ET MONADUFF NUA S P McDONALD
2. RANFURLY BARRISTER B1 10 WHITEMIRE KING KONG RACEVIEW MANDY BEAUTY MR W D HAZELTON
2. RANFURLY WEIKEL 3RD W2 HILLCREST CHAMPION SOUTH PARK KING KONG WEIKEL 2ND MR W D HAZELTON
3. BROOMFIELD AWESOME ANTHONY MR R WALLACE
3. FEENAGH BRENDAN MR R WALLACE
Ivomec Super Pairs Qualifiers 1. CLONGUISH BROOKLYN DRIPSEY SUPER KING ET MONADUFF NUA S P McDONALD
1. CLONGUISH BAMBI RACEVIEW KING CLONGUISH LEE S P McDONALD
Cow, born before 01.01.08 in calf/milk,had at least one calf 1. WOODFORD TULIP KILBRIDE FARM NEWRY WOODFORD PAULA MR J FARRELL
Cow or Heifer born in 2008, in calf/at foot calved by 3 yrs 1. RANFURLY WEIKEL 3RD W2 HILLCREST CHAMPION SOUTH PARK KING KONG WEIKEL 2ND MR W D HAZELTON
2. BARNATTIN WHITNEY MR D COSTELLO
Heifer, born on/after 01.07.09 & on/before 31.12.09 1. BARNATTIN AMANDA MR D COSTELLO
Heifer born on/after 01.01.10 1. CLONGUISH BAMBI RACEVIEW KING CLONGUISH LEE S P McDONALD
2. CLONGUISH BROOKLYN DRIPSEY SUPER KING ET MONADUFF NUA S P McDONALD
3. WOODFORD BLUEBELL SACOMBE EDGAR WOODFORD PAULA MRS T H GORMAN
4. CORHAMMOCK MATILDA CAMUS FRONTIER WOODFORD SNOWDROP MRS T H GORMAN
5. LISGLASS BLOSSOM 2ND CARNKERN TITAN RACEVIEW SUNSHINE HEUGENIE J L & C J WEATHERUP
Bull born on/before 01.01.09 1. AUCHORACHAN WIZARD SALTIRE TALENT RAVENSWORTH MADIE MR J WILSON
2. BROOMFIELD AWESOME ANTHONY MR R WALLACE
Bull born on/after 01.01.10 1. RANFURLY BARRISTER B1 10 WHITEMIRE KING KONG RACEVIEW MANDY BEAUTY MR W D HAZELTON
2. FEENAGH BRENDAN MR R WALLACE