‘REGAL’ RANFURLY LADY DIANA 41ST WINS 2026 NI SIMMENTAL NATIONAL SHOW!

Ranfurly Lady Diana 41st wins Overall Supreme
Ballinalare Farm Ritz places Reserve Overall Female
Hiltonstown Serenity wins Junior Championship
Corrick Spartan crowned Male Champion

The classy rising five-year-old cow, Ranfurly Lady Diana 41st M14 VG from David & Jonny Hazelton, Cohannon House, Dungannon, swept all before her to win the 2026 Northern Ireland Simmental National Show, held within Clogher Valley Show, on Wednesday 29^th July.  Judging what was a high-quality show of 40 Simmentals was BSCS President Chris Martindale, who runs the noted Forsdale herd at Coedfa, St Martins, Oswestry.

Overall Champion & Female Ranfurly Lady Diana 41st

Ranfurly Lady Diana 41st is by the noted AI sire Auchorachan Hercules 16 (ET) EX 92, who himself was bred from a Ranfurly embryo, and is out of Ranfurly Lady Diana 33rd J5 18 EX 92, a Raceview King daughter, and whose pedigree goes back to the renowned Salisbury Guinevere, the foundation female of that line. Lady Diana was shown with her November 2025 born bull calf at foot, Ranfurly Standout S10 25, a Curaheen Bandit son.

Commenting, the judge Chris Martindale said: “Firstly it was a great honour to be invited to judge the NI Simmental National, and what a great show of top-quality cattle were on parade, good enough to grace any show in the UK. My champion came from the very first class of the day. She entered the ring with great presence and stood out as a great example of the breed Full of breed character, she was level over the top and with tremendous width over the plates. Lady Diana walked easily and was shown with a great bull calf. What an outfit and a very worthy champion.”  Come Individual Interbreed time and Ranfurly Lady Diana 41^st took the Second Reserve Overall in front of Karl Connell, Carrickmore.

NI National Show judge Chris Martindale casting his eye.

For the Ranfurly herd, prolific over the years at both shows and sales, it was a second Overall Supreme having won the 2019 NI National Show and having placed Reserve in 2024.  No stranger to the show ring herself, back in 2023 as a young heifer, Ranfurly Lady Diana 41st was the Reserve Overall Supreme at the RUAS Balmoral Show and has previously been a first prize winner at both the 2022, and 2024 NI National Shows.  This year her only other outing was at Antrim Show where she won the Simmental Championship and where she was Reserve Interbreed Beef Cow.

Speaking afterwards a delighted Jonny Hazelton said: “This is the biggest show of Simmentals in the year in Northern Ireland, and it really is a great honour to win such a prestigious show and within such a strong line up from our fellow exhibitors.  This is her last show of the year and very much a high point to finish on.  Her calf will be weaned off soon and then Lady Diana 41^st will be enjoying a well-deserved rest”!

It was an all-round top day for the Hazeltons who in addition to their Overall Supreme title also won the Simmental Pairs with Ranfurly Weikel 56th, and Ranfurly Jade 2nd. Unbeaten in Simmental Pairs this year, this dynamic duo also won the Beef Interbreed Pairs at RUAS Balmoral this year.  Lady Diana 41^st then joined the pair to secure a win in the Group of Three.  Rounding off the day, Jonny and Julie Hazelton’s young daughter Lucy Hazelton (10) also took first prize in the young handlers aged 8 to 12 years old on show day. Top work Lucy and the whole ‘Team Ranfurly’, what a day, and what a week!  These wins came hard on the heels of Ranfurly Weikel 55^th taking the Simmental Overall Reserve Supreme at the Royal Welsh Show.

Reserve Female Champion Ballinalare Farm Ritz

With a mighty track record at recent NI National Shows, and RUAS Balmoral Shows, Joe & Alan Wilson, Newry, Co Down were again ‘putting on the Ritz’ when winning the Reserve Overall Supreme and Reserve Female Championship with their May 2024 born heifer Ballinalare Farm Ritz.  Shown in-calf to Camus Brandy, Ballinalare Farm Ritz is by Bighill Magic, and is out of the Denizes Fantastic sired Ballinalare Farm Ladybird. Of Ballinalare Farm Ritz, who was also a class winner at last year’s NI National Show, the judge Chris Martindale said: “My Reserve Champion was just another super heifer. Full of flesh she again had a great top and plates and really showed herself off. Both the Champion and Reserve were terrific animals and led what was a fantastic show of Simmental females.”

Ballinalare Farm Tikita

The all-conquering Ballinalare Farm Nikita has made quite the impression in recent years and whilst not shown at Clogher, her April 2026 born calf Ballinalare Farm Tikita was and picked up a first in the baby heifer class.  Sired by Raceview King, Chris Martindale commented: “This is a lovely baby heifer and I am very sure she has a great future ahead of her.”

Junior Champion Hiltonstown Serenity

Continuing the theme of ‘super Simmental females’, the Overall Junior Champion came in the shape of Hiltonstown Serenity from Richard & Rhys Rodgers, Portglenone, Co Antrim.  Entirely homebred and got by AI, the July 2025 born Serenity is by the 20,000gns Hiltonstown Matrix, and is out of Hiltonstown Jet EX 92, a Cairnview Snazzy daughter. Of his Junior Champion the judge said: “What a flashy young heifer this is.  She is so sweet and has so much potential to make a top-quality cow in the future. Keep an eye out for her next year.”  Also speaking after the show, Richard Rodgers said: “Serenity was shown last weekend at Antrim Show and where she won her class.  We are really delighted for her to now come and win the Junior Championship at our National Show. Her mother who is classified EX 92 has now bred five daughters of a type!  Serenity is what I’d call a very typical Hiltonstown heifer who we’ll breed from and with a view to keep moving the quality of the herd forward”.

Male Champion & Reserve Junior Champion Corrick Spartan

Moving into the bulls and winning the Overall Male Championship, and Overall Reserve Junior was Corrick Spartan from Cecil & Scott McIlwaine, Newtonstewart, Co Tyrone.  April 2025 born, Spartan is by the well-known Saltire Impressive and is out of a polled bred cow Corrick Joan (P), a Curaheen Gunshot (P) daughter.  The Corrick herd typically show at Clogher and Omagh as part of bringing through bulls for sale and have been good supporters of previous National Shows.  Bulls show at previous Nationals have gone on top sales at both Swatragh and Dungannon with Corrick Patriot setting what was then a record price of 7200gns at Dungannon.  Corrick Spartan had previously been shown this year at Omagh and where he stood first in his class.  Of hi Male Champion the judge said: “Corrick Spartan is a very long, clean bull and again, well fleshed throughout. He paraded on a great set of legs and feet and was an easy winner. A bull with lots of potential, he’s one to look out for in February at Stirling.” Confirming that Corrick Spartan will be aimed at Stirling, Neil McIlwaine went on to say: “With a strong showing of young bulls at Clogher on the day, and at various ‘stages’ of their maturity, it was great to be awarded the Male Championship and we’re extremely pleased. We think Spartan has key modern day Simmental traits with exceptional width through his top, length and correctness, coupled with a very docile temperament.”

DANI Rosebowl winner Corrick Showman

Making it a ‘nifty double’ the May 2025 born Corrick Showman won the Dani Rose Bowl Bull Performance title awarded through a selection of EBV indexes and visual characteristics. Previously shown at Omagh where he was breed Male Champion, Showman went on to take the County Tyrone Interbreed Homebred Championship at just 13 months of age. Out of Corrick Molly (TF), who is full of home bred breeding, this Coose Lincoln sired bull is in the top 5% for Terminal production indices plus, 200 and 400 day weights.  Showman will also be destined for the February Spring Sales in 2027.

Reserve Male Champion Omorga Shogun

Taking the Overall Reserve Male Championship, and winner of his junior bull class, was HJW & JC Moore, Beragh, Omagh, Co Tyrone.  September 2025 born, Omorga Shogun is by the herd’s 20,000gns stock bull Denizes Monty, and is out of Crossane Perfect One, described as ‘a very nice type of Kilbride Farm Bantry cow with a lovely temperament”. Perfect One’s dam was the well-known Irish Show winning heifer Lissadell Just the One. Commenting on Omorga Shogun, who was being shown for the first time, the judge said: “My Reserve Male, Omorga Shogun, is a very modern young Simmental who should go on to be an impressive bull in the coming months”.  Standing third in the same class was Omoraga Saracen, another Denizes Monty son and a full brother to Omorga Rocky sold at Stirling in February this year for 13,000gns.  Of these two bulls going forward John Moore said: “From here, and all being well that these bulls keep going on and developing, we’ll be aiming them for sale ‘across the water’ in due course.”

By comment consent it was a terrific show of Simmentals and with Chris Martindale rounding off by saying: “Well done again to all of the exhibitors. I had a hugely enjoyable day judging some high-quality Simmental cattle.  With the quality of stock that was put before me today I can very much say that the Simmental breed is in safe hands in Northern Ireland.”

With the prizes well spread round here are the herds that featured as first prize winners and in the special awards:

Ballinalare; Ballydavey; Bridgewater; Carrowcladagh; Coolcran; Corrick; Hiltonstown; Omorga; and Ranfurly

Well done to all of the Northern Ireland breeders, sponsors, and NI Simmental Breeders Club, for putting on a fantastic 2026 NI Simmental National Show at Clogher Valley, and please see the full results here:

Overall Champion, & Female Champions

Junior Female Champions

Female Champions

Male & Junior Male Champions

Junior Champions

Pairs – Ranfurly

Team of 3 – Ranfurly

Well done to all of the Northern Ireland breeders, sponsors, and NI Simmental Breeders Club, for putting on a fantastic 2026 NI Simmental National Show at Clogher Valley, and please see the full results here:

2026 NI SIMMENTAL NATIONAL SHOW RESULTS
Clogher Valley Show
Judge: Chris Martindale

CLASS 144: PEDIGREE SIMMENTAL COW OR HEIFER IN MILK OR IN CALF SPONSORED BY THREE VALLEYS
1st Ranfurly Lady Diana 41^st

CLASS 145: PEDIGREE SIMMENTAL SENIOR HEIFER BORN BETWEEN 01/01/24 & 30/06/24 SPONSORED BY CAMPBELL CONTRACTS
1st Ballinalare Farm Ritz
2nd Ranfurly Weikel 56th
3rd Mullyknock Ruth

CLASS 146: PEDIGREE SIMMENTAL INTERMEDIATE HEIFER BORN BETWEEN 01/07/24 & 31/12/24 SPONSORED BY FARM VET SERVICES
1st Ranfurly Jade 2nd
2nd Broomfield Super Little D

Ranfurly Jade 2nd

CLASS 147: PEDIGREE SIMMENTAL JUNIOR HEIFER BORN BETWEEN 01/01/25 & 30/04/25 SPONSORED BY SKIP SERVICES ENNISKILLEN
1st Rathnashan There She Goes
2nd Lisglass Sapphire
3rd Lisglass Silverbell
4th Ballyrory Skye

CLASS 148: PEDIGREE SIMMENTAL JUNIOR HEIFER BORN BETWEEN 01/05/25 & 31/08/25 SPONSORED BY CARLAND MILL
1st Hiltonstown Serenity
2nd Mullyknock Sunshine

CLASS 149: PEDIGREE SIMMENTAL JUNIOR HEIFER BORN BETWEEN 01/09/25 & 31/12/25 SPONSORED BY COUNTRYSIDE SERVICES
1st Carrowcladagh Stella
2nd Gillview Sally Charlotte
3rd Gillview Susie

Carrowcladagh Stella

CLASS 150: PEDIGREE SIMMENTAL HEIFER CALF BORN IN 2026 SPONSORED BY MILLBURN CONCRETE
1st Ballinalare Farm Tikita
2nd Ballinalare Farm Tequila
3rd Coolcran Heidi’s Tigerlilly
4th Derrycallaghan Topgirl
5th Mullyknock Twinkle

CLASS 152: CHAMPION FEMALE SIMMENTAL
Champion – Ranfurly Lady Diana 41st
Reserve Female Champion – Ballinalare Farm Ritz

CLASS 154: PEDIGREE SIMMENTAL JUNIOR BULL BORN BETWEEN 01/01/25 AND 30/04/25 SPONSORED BY M KEYS TRANSPORT
1st Corrick Spartan
2nd Ballyrory Simba

CLASS 155: PEDIGREE SIMMENTAL JUNIOR BULL BORN BETWEEN 01/05/25 AND 31/08/25 SPONSORED BY IRWIN FEEDS
1st Bridgewater Farm Superstar
2nd Mullyknock Scorpio
3rd Hiltonstown Sirocco
4th Corrick Showman
5th Drumsamney Sylvester
6th Drumsamney Samuel

Bridgewater Farm Superstar

CLASS 156: PEDIGREE SIMMENTAL JUNIOR BULL BORN BETWEEN 01/09/25 AND 31/12/25 SPONSORED BY YARA
1st Omorga Shogun
2nd Ranfurly Standout
3rd Omorga Saracen
4th Lisglass Showman
5th Bridgewater Farm Starsky

CLASS 157: PEDIGREE SIMMENTAL BULL CALF BORN IN 2026 SPONSORED BY EXCEL GENETICS
1st Coolcran Titan
2nd Derrycallaghan Tyson

Coolcran Titan

CLASS 158: PEDIGREE SIMMENTAL DANI ROSEBOWL BULL PERFORMANCE AWARD SPONSORED BY FRC RECRUITMENT & CONSULTANCY
1st Corrick Showman
2nd Hiltonstown Sirocco
3rd Ranfurly Standout

CLASS 159: CHAMPION MALE SIMMENTAL
Male Champion – Corrick Spartan
Reserve Male Champion – Omorga Shogun

CLASS 160: JUNIOR CHAMPION SIMMENTAL SPONSORED BY AHV
Junior Champion – Hiltonstown Serenity
Reserve Junior Champion – Corrick Spartan

CLASS 161: OVERALL SIMMENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Ranfurly Lady Diana 41^st

 CLASS 162: PEDIGREE SIMMENTAL PAIRS, PROPERTY OF EXHIBITOR SPONSORED BY T MET
1st Ranfurly
2nd Corrick
3rd Hiltonstown

CLASS 163: PEDIGREE SIMMENTAL GROUP OF 3 SPONSORED BY GEORGE HAMILTON MACHINERY
1st Ranfurly
2nd Lisglass
3rd Ballinalare Farm

 CLASS 164: YOUNG HANDLERS AGED 8 TO 12 YEARS OLD ON SHOW DAY SPONSORED BY PROVITA
1st Lucy Hazelton

Winning young handler Lucy Hazelton (10)

CLASS 165: YOUNG HANDLERS AGED 13 TO 18 YEARS OLD ON SHOW DAY SPONSORED BY BOYD FEEDS
1st Lexi Heatrick
2nd Rhys Rodgers
3rd Timothy Hamilton