N.I. LIMOUSIN BULLS TAKE TOP 4 PLACES IN I.A.W.S ALL- IRELAND BULL DERBY
William Smith wins Ulster Bank Heifer Derby for Second Year
Exhibitors, the Irish Limousin Cattle Society, the Northern Ireland Limousin Club and the event sponsors, Ulster Bank and I.A.W.S, were all in agreement that the All-Ireland Derby provided a spectacular showcase of top quality Limousin cattle in Ireland and had possibly even surpassed last year’s inaugural Castlewellan event.
The All-Ireland Bull & Heifer Derby was held at the Virginia Show, County Cavan, Republic of Ireland on Wednesday 20th August 2008 and Judge Mr Matt Ridley from the noted Haltcliffe Herd, Hesket New Market, Cumbria had a very difficult job selecting his top cattle as the depth of quality in both the bulls and heifers was, according to Mr Ridley, as good as he had ever seen at a show. He said that he had known that Ireland had a great history of cattle breeding but the quality of cattle on show was really magnificent.
After a lot of deliberation between the top 4 bulls which were of tremendous high quality, Matt Ridley selected as his Champion Fedneyhouse Callum, ably shown by David Jardine for John and Margery Adams, Banbridge. This was the icing on the cake for John and completed a very successful show season for the Fedneyhouse Herd. Callum is by Mr Adams’ stock bull, the Mas Du Clo sired ‘Elite’ French bull, Ulm, and out of his homebred Opus cow, Fedneyhouse Sally. The judge commented: “My Champion was a worthy winner – he had tremendous hind quarters and second thigh, good breed character and would be an excellent choice as a breeding bull for either a pedigree or commercial herd.”
In Reserve place was Millgate Caesar from Michael Loughran, Cookstown, and shown by his daughter Christine. Caesar, despite being the youngest of the NI bulls, had the highest Beef Value (LM+40) and was eagerly admired by the judge who added that this bull was: “All of a type, a lovely bull, great legs and tremendous quality.”
Matt Ridley went on to say that Peter Murphy in third and Laurence McEldowney in fourth completed a group of 4 top bulls which were of tremendous quality. Peter had 2 bulls in the final with a Pacha son, Carrickaldreen Cracker, out of a Dauphin cow and just having the edge on his other bull Carrickaldreen Celtic. Laurence McEldowney completed the NI quartet with Carntogher Crackpot, a Woodhouse Vince son, and out of Carntogher Rascal – a Daim daughter.
With a very large crowd eagerly watching the judging, it was the turn of the top females in Ireland to come under the critical eye of Matt Ridley. Again the competition was fierce, especially as the heifers shown by the President of the Irish Society and the Chairman of the NI Club were pulled out in the judge’s first draw of 8 heifers.
All eyes were focused on William Smith and Milbrook Baby, a two year old Brookmill Usefill daughter, to see if he could repeat his success from Castlewellan last year. It wasn’t long until the cheers went up and William gave a smile as his ‘Baby’ stood proudly at the top of the line to be crowned as the Ulster Bank Champion All-Ireland Heifer for 2008. A stylish feminine heifer, she was a worthy winner.
Again, as with the bulls, the top heifers were of tremendous quality and Bryan McElroy with Bridgeford Brooke in second place and Pat Greaney with Tom Bailey’s heifer Baileys Countess in third should not be too disappointed.
This ended a very long day for NI exhibitors who returned home knowing that they had some of the very best young Limousin bulls and heifers in Ireland and had helped the NI Limousin Club retain the Challenge Shield for the overall highest points gained between the two Societies.
The NI Limousin Cattle Club wishes to compliment all the breeders in the manner they presented their stock not only at Virginia but also for the time and effort they had put in during in the year in order to qualify for the final. Thanks should also go to DARD and the Department in the South for their co-operation in helping the exhibitors with the veterinary regulations. Also thanks to Ned Duffy and the Virginia Show Committee for providing excellent facilities on the day in ideal weather conditions. No show is complete without its sponsors and the Irish Limousin Cattle Society and the NI Limousin Club are indebted to the generous sponsorship and help given by I.A.W.S and the Ulster Bank.
Judging Results
First and I.A.W.S Bull Champion
John Adams: Fedneyhouse Callum (2/4/07) Sire: Ulm Dam: Fedneyhouse Sally
Second
Michael Loughran: Millgate Caesar (14/8/07) Sire: Ballyline Udolf Dam: Hollybank Angel
Third
Peter Murphy: Carrickaldreen Cracker (27/4/07) Sire: Pacha Dam: Carrickaldreen Ursula
Fourth
Laurence McEldowney: Carntogher Crackpot (5/4/07) Sire: Woodhouse Vince Dam: Carntogher Rascal
First and Ulster Bank Heifer Champion
William Smith: Milbrook Baby (23/6/06) Sire: Brookmill Usefill Dam: Milbrook Nightingale
Second
Bryan McElroy: Bridgeford Brooke (17/7/06) Sire: Samy Dam: Bridgeford Saskia
Third
Thomas Bailey: Baileys Countess (25/1/07) Sire: Ronick Hawk Dam: Marlhill Tess
Fourth
John & Stephen Lynch: Ballinascraw Classic (6/1/07) Sire: Ronick Hawk Dam: Ballinascraw Victoria
IRISH LIMOUSIN SOCIETY CHALLENGE SHIELD for OVERALL HIGHEST POINTS GAINED:
Winner: N I Limousin Cattle Club
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| Margery Adams receives the Championship plaque from Peter Ging for Fedneyhouse Callum, shown by David Jardine, the winner of the All-Ireland IAWS Bull Derby |
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| Christine and Michael Loughran with Millgate Ceasar, the reserve champion in the IAWS All-Ireland Bull Derby |
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| Carrickaldreen Cracker owned by Peter Murphy was awarded third place in the IAWS All-Ireland Bull Derby |
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| Stephen O’Kane showed the fourth placed bull in the All-Ireland Bull derby for Laurence McEldowney. He is being congratulated by Peter Ging from IAWS and Kieran McEldowney |
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| William Smith, President Irish Limousin Cattle Society with his champion heifer Milbrook Baby in the Ulster Bank All-Ireland Heifer Derby |
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| Bridgeford Brooke owned and shown by the NI Limousin Club Chairman Bryan McElroy was Reserve Champion in the All-Ireland Heifer Derby. |
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| Bridgeford Brooke owned and shown by the NI Limousin Club Chairman Bryan McElroy was reserve champion in the All-Ireland Heifer Derby. He is congratulated by the sponsors Anne Caldwell and Anne-Marie Butler of the Ulster Bank and Matt Ridley the judge. |
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| Tony Killeen TD Minister of State for the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food with Anne Caldwell and Anne-Marie Butler of the Ulster bank congratulate Pat Greaney who showed Tom Bailey’s third prize winning heifer Baileys Countess in the All-Ireland Heifer Derby |
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| Noel Gowen, Secretary Irish Limousin Cattle Society hands over the Challenge Shield for the highest points gained to Northern Ireland Chairman Bryan McElroy, watched by secretary Elizabeth Rodgers and Minister of State Tony Killeen TD |
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| Quality was of the highest order with the top four bulls, all from NI in the All-Ireland IAWS Bull Derby (from right to left) Fedneyhouse Callum, Millgate Caesar, Carrickaldreen Cracker and Carntogher Crackpot |
