THE Northern Ireland Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club has raised more than £30,000 for Air Ambulance Northern Ireland.
Fund raising activities included a raffle, BBQ and auction in memory of its highly esteemed club member Thelma Gorman, who died last year as the result of a tragic farm accident.
Club chairman Conrad Fegan said: “We have been overwhelmed by the response to this year’s fund raising efforts. Donations are still coming in, but so far the total raised is in excess of £30,000. This amount exceeds our initial expectations, but it is testimony to the popularity of our former club chairperson and long-standing committee member Thelma Gorman.
“Thelma was a great ambassador for the Simmental breed, and well-known on the show circuit. It was humbling to see so many pedigree breeders from other beef clubs coming together to support our annual BBQ.”
Almost 250 people, including Simmental breeders from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, attended the BBQ and auction in Dungannon.
One of the highlights of the night was the charity raffle which boasted a top prize of £2,000 or the pedigree in-calf heifer Drumbulcan Honeybee, generously donated by Kenneth and Avril Stubbs and family from Irvinestown.
The winning tickets were drawn by Peter Gorman, and the prize winners include:
1, Pedigree Simmental Heifer or £2,000 – Marilyn Leonard, Enniskillen.
2, LG 43” Full HD LED TV – Nicolas Watt, Newtownhamilton.
3, One night B&B for two people at Galgorm Resort and Spa, Ballymena – Georgina McCrea, Limavady.
4, SFS Plastic one tonne portable meal bin – Brian Ervine, Ballyclare
5, Millwood Crafts wooden farm set – Fergal Shanks Sligo.
Conrad Fegan added: “A big thank you to the Stubbs family for donating the September 2016 born heifer Drumbulcan Honeybee. She was on display at five shows during the summer, which helped to raise the profile and boost ticket sales for our charity raffle. “
The charity auction attracted more than 50 lots. Topping the auction at £1,200 were three straws of semen from the popular bull Raceview King, kindly donated by Peter and Marion O’Connell from County Cork.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the various businesses and individuals who pledged items for our charity auction. Thanks also to the bidders. We appreciate everyone’s generosity and support. “
Air Ambulance Northern Ireland was launched in July 2017, and 10% of its emergency call outs have been to farm accidents in the rural community.
Speaking at the BBQ, Rodney Connor, AANI trustee highlighted the importance of the emergency helicopter service which got off the ground after a 12-year lobbying and fundraising campaign.
“Speed is crucial and the Air Ambulance team can be in the air within four minutes of an emergency call. Based at the Maze, the helicopter can reach anywhere in Northern Ireland within 25 minutes, and with a highly skilled doctor and paramedic on board it is effectively bringing the hospital to the patient. “
Rodney Connor outilned running costs of £5,000 per day, meaning the charity must raise £2m each year to remain operational.
He concluded: “I would like to congratulate the Simmental Club on a fantastic BBQ and fund raising campaign. Thank you for choosing to support Air Ambulance Northern Ireland. “
Firstly I would like to thank the RWAS for the kind invitation to judge the Simmental classes at their prestigious event. It was a privilege and honour. The hospitality, friendliness and welcome shown by the show, the Welsh Simmental club and exhibitors was greatly appreciated by myself and Fiona.
In the first class, the senior bulls exhibited three great examples of the Simmental breed. It was a difficult class to judge and I finally placed Blackford Galaxy first, thinking to myself that it was going to take something very special to beat him in the championship. Curaheen Drifter was a close second and Camus Harold third.
There was only one entry in class two, Williams I of the Tiger, a well grown correct bull that received the first prize.
In class three the Williams herd was doing the business again with a real fleshy young bull, Invincible, who was placed first. Following in second place was Storersmith Infared.
As the male championship commenced, Galaxy led the first prize animals into the ring. To me he was the obvious male champion. The reserve went to Curaheen Drifter, the bull that stood second to him in his class.
The first of the female classes, class 4, saw two cows enter the ring both rearing calves. I placed Sterlings Petras Cairo first. As soon as she walked into the ring her power and show presence was impossible to go past. Second was Woodhall Erica owned by Richard McCulloch. A hard working cow with a great udder, making a tremendous job of her heifer calf.
In class 5 first place went to Popes Rhona, a well grown and classy heifer. Second went to Overhill house Hesse, a stylish dark red heifer.
Cwarre Rosies Hyacinth won class 6, a sweet heifer with lots of character, followed closely by Sterlings Ellies Heidi.
Class 7 had six entries. An easy first was Jimmy MacMillans Sterlings FCUK Impulse. Second was Popes Nellys Ilia and a very close third was Storersmith Iredessa.
The female championship went to Sterlings Petras Cairo, with Sterlings FCUK Impulse in reserve.
The Overall championship was a very impressive line-up, with two really good examples of the breed, but on the day the cow, Sterlings Petras Cairo for the Borlaise family shone out as my champion. With Michael Barlows Blackford Galaxy as reserve.
I would like to congratulate everyone who took part in the show and thank everyone who made it a very memorable day.
DATE: 23rd July to 26th July 2018
JUDGE: Mr S Stronach
CLASS & POSITION
NAME OF ANIMAL
SIRE
DAM
EXHIBITOR
Best Cow with Calf at Foot, Female Champion & Overall Champion
I was greatly honoured to be invited by the Royal Highland & Agricultural Society and the Simmental Society to judge the classes at the Royal Highland Show. To be invited by one’s peers to place their entries at such a prestigious event is a great vote of confidence to any livestock breeder.
At the time of writing this report, our herd is in the process of being prepared for dispersal, but this in no way reduces my enthusiasm for the breed or confidence in a very exciting and progressive future for Simmentals and their breeders. After thirty-one years of involvement with this breed at all levels, placing the cattle at the Highland Show is indeed the icing on the cake.
As a breeder of commercial cattle for over fifty years, I have always been very conscious of the qualities that lead to ease of management and profitability. I hope that my placings of the many quality cattle paraded before me went some way to bear this out.
As always at the ‘Highland’, the eleven classes led off with the youngest female class, yearling heifers. There were nine heifers forward with the eventual first place going to Frank Gwynne’s Chestermann Empire Stella. A very stylish young heifer who moved really well and has the potential to grow into a very impressive cow. Second was the Green’s Corskie Inita and third was Richard McCulloch’s Overhill House India.
The next age class was well supported with thirteen of the sixteen entries forward. The winner of this class was Jimmy McMillan’s Sterling FCUK Impuls – a very long, clean, whole coloured heifer with lots of style and beautifully shown. Perhaps not quite perfect behind but nevertheless a worthy winner. Second was Heather Duff’s Pitmudie Florin 2nd and third was Jim & Patricia Goldie’s Newbiemains Impressive.
The July to December 2016 class was again well supported with twelve entries forward. The Green’s Corskie Herlande came out top in this strong class, A very sound, good moving heifer who went on to be Best Junior Female and eventually Best Junior Animal of the breed. Second and Reserve Junior Female was Gerald Smith’s Drumsleed Hilight. She also followed the first prize winner through to become Reserve Overall Junior Champion. Third in the class was Michael Durno’s Auchorachan Letta H1.
The class for heifers born between 1st January and end of June 2016 was slightly smaller but of a very high standard. The eventual winner of a very close-run decision was Heather Duff’s Pitmudie Havana, beating Jimmy & Vikki Wood’s Popes Rhona. Havana showed more breed character through her head and front end and went on to be Female Champion and Reserve Overall in a very strong female section. Third in this class to these two impressive animals was Corskie Harp from the Greens.
Heifers born in 2015 was a strong class with the older animals nursing calves. The winner was Gerald Smith’s Drumsleed Gretel. A well grown heifer with a tidy udder, making a good job of rearing her calf. Second was Andy Wilson’s Cairnview Tilly 4th. Not quite as strong as the first prize winner but correct in every way and rearing a classy calf very well. This combination went on to win the prize for the Best Cow & Calf, judged as a pair. Third in the class was a younger heifer from Richard McCulloch, Overhill House Giggle.
The junior cow class had only three forward with Woodhall Erica in first place. A well grown dark coloured young cow from Richard McCulloch, nursing a good calf. A cow who will have a great future when she matures. Second was Gerald Smith’s Drumsleed Farina and third was Tom Henderson’s Annick Trixibelle 15th.
The senior cow class was the smallest in the female section with only two forward but was won by the very impressive Sterling Petra’s Cairo. This seven-year old cow was nursing a well reared calf but is starting to show signs of age in her locomotion. She went on to be Reserve Female Champion. Second was Dargill Cassie, also seven years old and in her working clothes, nursing a bull calf very well.
The bull classes were not quite so well supported as the females. The junior class of bulls had seven forward out of thirteen entries and was won by Corskie Infinity, a yearling bull from the Greens. A very free moving and growthy bull with all the right attributes to be a good herd sire. Second was Frank Gwynne’s Chestermann Imran and third was Skerrington Iceman from the Goldies.
Intermediate bulls was a little better filled class with twelve forward, to be led by Blackford Iolair. A red and white bull with exceptionally good fleshing and thickness throughout who went on to win the Interbreed Beefbreeder/Breedplan championship the following day. Second was Heather Duff’s Pitmudie Inverurie and third was Gerald Smith’s Drumsleed Iceman.
The first senior bull class had only two entries forward and was won by Camus Harold, a two-year old bull from the Woods. Very well fleshed, plenty of width and a great mover. Second was Overhill House Hercules from Richard McCulloch.
The last class of aged bulls only had two, but they were very impressive. Winner of the class was Blackford Galaxy from Michael Barlow. On his second visit to Ingliston under new ownership, he surpassed last year’s successes and went on to win the Male Championship and the Overall Breed Champion. He is a big bull carrying a lot of condition but still moved actively and freely. The second bull was Richard McCulloch’s Curaheen Drifter, an extremely thick, well fleshed bull also but did not move so freely as the first.
After placing all the seventy-two animals in the classes it was very satisfying to have all the first prize winners line up in a very pleasing show of top-class cattle. Blackford Galaxy making an outstanding Overall Champion with Pitmudie Havana a very worth Reserve.
I would just like to conclude by thanking and congratulating all the exhibitors for presenting such a fine show of cattle on a day when the weather was perfect for the event. Also, a big thank you to the directors, stewards and Scottish Simmental Club who, as always, excelled in their organisation of the judging, the welcome and the hospitality extended to Kate and myself on what will always be a memorable day.
Thank you.
DATE: 21st June to 24th June 2018
JUDGE: Mr J Dykes
CLASS & POSITION
NAME OF ANIMAL
SIRE
DAM
EXHIBITOR
Best Bull, Breeder of Best Bull & Overall Champion
Ballymena Mart was the venue for the NI Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club’s evening show and sale of pedigree and commercial livestock.
Bulls reached a ceiling of 3,100gns, while pedigree females sold to a top of 2,200gns. In the commercial section cows with calf at foot peaked at £1,300 twice, and maiden heifers sold to a top of £1,200 twice.
Topping bull trade at 3,100gns was the reserve male and reserve supreme champion Drumlone Inmate TSI +77 SRI+89 bred and exhibited by Kenneth Veitch, Lisbellaw. This fifteen-month-old Carnkern Titan son was bred from the Raceview King daughter Corbally A1 Kate, and is a full brother to Drumlone Fabulous, sold at Stirling in February 2016 for 10,000gns. Buyer was pedigree breeder Kenneth Stubbs from the Drumbulcan Herd in Irvinestown.
Judge James Alexander from Randalstown awarded the male and supreme overall championship ribbons to the February 2017 Shacon Invincible TSI+91 SRI+91. Bred by Brian Dooher, Donemana, he was sired by Kilbride Farm Delboy, and is out of the Anatrim Bodybuilder daughter Celtic Eve – one of six cows in the herd, founded in 2011. In the breed’s top 5% for eye muscle area +5.5, he sold for 2,200gns to Eric Connor from Maghera.
James Alexander commented” The champion is a long powerful bull with good bone and breed characteristics. The reserve champion is another good bull, long and correct, and slightly lighter boned.”
Four lots came under the hammer at 2,000gns each.
First to go was the February 2017 Cladymore Invincible TSI+50 SRI+56 from Archie Reaney’s herd in Markethill. This third prize winner was sired by Hillcrest Valentine, and is bred from the Omorga Murray daughter Ballinlare Farm Favourite Lady. Buyers were H and S Griffin, Portglenone.
Kilbride Farm Warren was behind the breeding of the February 2017 Cleenagh Ivory TSI+91 SRI+108 bred by Adrian Richardson, Maguiresbridge. This fifth prize winner was bred from Cleenagh Eyeful – a daughter of the 12,000gns Stirling champion Drumlone Anchor.
Next best at 2,000gns was the first prize winning Hiltonstown Ike ET TSI+80 SRI+94 bred by Richard Rodgers, Portglenone. Born in March 2017, he is by the 2014 and 2015 Balmoral Show breed champion Dermotstown Delboy, and is out of a home-bred dam by Woodhall Premier.
Also selling at 2,000gns was the fourth placed Kilbride Farm Idris TSI+56 SRI+43 from the Robson family at Doagh. Sired by stock bull Corskie Damario, he is out of the Cairnview Snazzy daughter Kilbride Farm Fanni 40E – full sister to the 12,000gns Kilbride Farm Bantry.
Pedigree females peaked at 2,200gns, paid to Leslie and Christopher Weatherup, Ballyclare, who offered an unled draft from their 35-cow Lisglass Herd. Leading the offering was the October 2016 Lisglass Hope, a daughter of herd sire Dermotstown Delboy. She is out of a home-bred Woodhall Premier dam.
The female champion Castlemount Angela 2nd came under the hammer at 1,850gns for Duncan McDowell from Newtownards. This thirteen-month-old heifer was sired by Kilbride Farm Bantry, and is out of a Slievenagh-bred dam from the 12,000gns Dovefields Gallant.
Mr McDowell also realised 1,800gns for the seven-year-old cow Drumagarner Cute. Sired by Barnattin Wally, she is out of a dam by Lisglass Python. Included in the price was her March born Kilbride Farm Escalop bull calf Castlemount Jetliner.
In the commercial section, cow and calf outfits sold to £1,300 twice, and £1,200 twice, paid to Frank Cunning from Glarryford.
Maiden heifers peaked at £1,200, paid to Nigel Glasgow and Malcolm Thom, both from Cookstown. Other leading prices include £1,180 and £1,100 twice.
The NI Simmental Club is indebted to its sponsors, Animax and Connon General Merchants, for their generous continued support.
Results from the judging ring:
Bull, born between 15/09/16 and 22/12/16 – 1, Ian Davidson, Stewartstown Harry by Dripsey Super King; 2, Robin Boyd, Slievenagh Harvester by Kilbride Farm Delboy; 3, Kenneth Stubbs, Drumbulcan Heartbeat by Drumacritten Callum.
Bull, born between 02/01/17 and 22/01/17 – 1, Kenneth Stubbs, Drumbulcan Ivor by Drumacritten Callum; 2, Andrew Clarke, Breaghey Ironman by Breaghey Diamond; 3, Joe Campbell, Camus Icon by Curaheen Apostle.
Bull, born between 05/02/17 and 20/02/17 – 1, male and supreme champion, Brian Dooher, Shacon Invincible by Kilbride Farm Delboy; 2, reserve male and reserve supreme champion, Kenneth Veitch, Drumlone Inmate by Carnkern Titan; 3, Archie Reaney and Sons, Cladymore Invincible by Hillcrest Valentine.
Bull, born between 04/03/17 and 20/04/17 – 1, Richard Rodgers, Hiltonstown Ike by Dermotstown Delboy; 2, Adrian Richardson, Cleenagh Idle by Kilbride Farm Warren; 3, Leslie and Christopher Weatherup, Lisglass Icon by Dermotstown Delboy.
THE Northern Ireland Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club is organising a charity raffle in aid of Air Ambulance Northern Ireland.
First prize is an in-calf pedigree Simmental heifer generously donated by Kenneth and Avril Stubbs and Family from Irvinestown, County Fermanagh.
The September 2016 Drumbulcan Honeybee was sired by the Clonagh Tiger Gallant son, Drumacritten Callum, and is out of the home-bred Omorga Baldwin daughter Drumbulcan Errin.
The 20-cow Drumbulcan prefix was founded by Kenneth Stubbs in 1976. He said:” We are delighted that Air Ambulance Northern Ireland is the Simmental Club’s chosen charity for 2018.
“Last year we lost our very dear friend Thelma Gorman in a tragic farming accident. She was a stalwart of the club and a great ambassador for the Simmental breed. Living in a rural community we are fully aware of the vital service that Air Ambulance Northern Ireland provides, and we are pleased to donate Drumbulcan Honeybee or £2,000, as first prize in the charity raffle.”
Club chairman Conard Fegan thanked the Stubbs family for their generous donation. “Thelma Gorman was a highly esteemed Simmental breeder, and a long-standing committee member and former club chairman. In memory of Thelma, the proceeds from this year’s BBQ, auction and raffle will be donated to Air Ambulance Northern Ireland. “
Tickets are priced at £5 each or three for £10. The winning ticket will be drawn at the club’s annual BBQ in Dungannon Rugby Club on Friday 10th August.
Drumbulcan Honeybee will be visiting a number of the Provincial agricultural shows over the next few months – Armagh, Omagh, Castlewellan, Clogher Valley and Fermanagh County Show. Tickets will be on sale at these events and are also available from NI Simmental Club committee members.
Conrad Fegan added:” Our raffle features a number of great prizes, and we are indebted to the various local businesses for their generosity.”
Second prize is a 43” LG Full HD LED TV; third prize is one-night B&B for two at the award winning Galgorm Resort and Spa near Ballymena; fourth prize is an SFS Plastic one ton portable meal bin; and fifth prize is a hand-crafted wooden farm set from Millwood Crafts.
Air Ambulance Northern Ireland, in partnership with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, provides a helicopter emergency medical service, and responds to seriously ill or injured patients, seven days a week, for twelve hours a day.
From its base near Lisburn, Air Ambulance Northern Ireland can reach any part of the Province in approximately twenty-five minutes. Its primary role is to deliver advanced critical care, benefitting those whose lives are at serious risk following significant injury or trauma, by bringing urgent medical assistance directly to the patient at the scene.
Gary Wilson, AANI area fundraising manager for Fermanagh and Tyrone said: “We are delighted that the Stubbs Family and the NI Simmental Club are raising funds to support the work of Air Ambulance Northern Ireland.”
“Since its launch in July 2017 Air Ambulance Northern Ireland has been tasked over 300 times to every County in Northern Ireland. To ensure the service is sustained we need to raise £2 million annually, so public support is crucial.”
Firstly, I would like to thank the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society for inviting me to judge the Simmental classes at their 150th Centenary Show, it was a great honour and a privilege for me to do so.
I was on my first visit to Balmoral Show and I have to say I was most impressed by their showground and their fantastic new cattle building and judging rings where the cattle were presented to me on a bright and beautiful day.
Numbers were not high but still the Simmental exhibitors should be applauded for putting forward some quality youngstock before me which were a credit to our breed and all well presented.
We kicked off the day with the Junior heifer class for heifers born in 2017. Top of the line was Cleenagh Ivy, a very sweet heifer with real presence and femininity, she was very eye catching and had drawn me to her as soon as she came into the ring. Following her was another heifer with real style which was Whitdrum Lady Della, she was giving away quite a bit of age and just carrying enough cover for her age but a worthy runner up. Cleenagh Ivy and Whitdrum Lady Della went on to be my Female and Reserve Female Champion respectively. The other two heifers in the class will go on to do a good job, just lacking the style of the first two heifers.
The second class of the day was for heifers born from 1st July 2016 to 31st December 2016 and we had six strong entries forward. Leading the way for me in this class was Lisglass Helena with her stablemate Lisglass Honey in 2nd and Cloone Hilda in 3rd. There was little to split my first and second placed heifers both very fleshy with plenty of style about them. Lisglass Helena just won through on locomotion and length over Lisglass Honey and Cloone Hilda was again a sweet heifer but just lacked the scale of my first two.
Onto the senior heifer class for heifers born from 1st January 2016 to 30th June 2016 where we had three entries. My clear winner in this class was Ranfurly Weikel 18th H2, a big powerful heifer, she has great length and scale to her and handled herself very well. Castlemount Modesty 3 took 2nd place and Lummin Hattie was 3rd. Both my second and third prize heifers were good examples of the breed but were just overpowered on the day by the 1st placed heifer.
Male entries were disappointing, and we had just one class of yearling bulls. However, my winner of this class, Ranfurly Impeccable 17 lived up to his name and definitely stole the show, going on to be Male and Overall Champion and following that with Interbreed Champion Performance recorded bull. A very well grown bull for his age, he has great style and presence about him as well as great length and clean lines, truly a credit to his breeders. Lisglass Impressor 17 stood second and followed on for Reserve Male Champion. He was also a strong bull for his age but just lacking the sheer scale of the winner with Woodford Iceberg 17 in a very creditable 3rd place.
My Overall Champion had to be Ranfurly Impeccable 17, as I said earlier, a bull with real power and class and an easy winner on the day. Following him was my Female Champion, the very sweet and correct Cleenagh Ivy who is a young heifer with a bright future.
In conclusion I would like to thank all the exhibitors for an excellent show of young cattle they put in front of me as well as my ring stewards and the Northern Ireland Simmental Club and the Royal Ulster Show Society for the wonderful hospitality shown to me.
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