N IRELAND CALF SPECTACULAR & YOUNG HANDLERS’ COMPETITION
The Northern Ireland Young Limousin Breeders hosted their eighth annual Young Handlers’ Competition & Calf Spectacular at the Pedigree Sales Arena, Moira on Saturday 12th September 2009. This event was a great success with a large turnout of young breeders from all over the Province.
YOUNG HANDLERS’ COMPETITION
The day kicked off with the Ulster Bank Young Handlers’ Championship, in which eleven eager young breeders competed for the prize of Ulster Bank Young Handlers’ Champion 2009. Their first task was to demonstrate their expertise in the grooming and presentation of a calf for the show ring; this was completed under the watchful eye of judge, Mr James Wycherley of the Ballyroe Herd, Co Cork. It was then off to the show ring where Mr Mark Phillips Broadoak, Low Braithwaite, Cumbria had the task of judging the young handlers on showmanship in their individual classes.
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Both judges then selected one winner from the three age groups to proceed to the final. Richard Fleming (aged 13) from Templepatrick won the junior class and with it the Laurellbank Salver; in the intermediate class, Jonathon Wilson (aged 16) from Larne took home the LW Surplus & Son Salver with Rebecca Adams (aged 18) from Bangor winning the senior class and the McCracken Family Salver.
These three section winners were then asked to present their animals for a final time in the show ring in front of the two judges and, after careful consideration, it was Rebecca Adams who was crowned Ulster Bank Young Handlers’ Champion 2009 taking home the Ardigon Salver, with Richard Fleming as Reserve Champion and Jonathon Wilson as Second Reserve. William McElroy won the David Adams-Heaslip Trophy for endeavour.
CALF SPECTACULAR
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The Club were delighted with the superb standard of young bulls and heifers forward and Mark Phillips was given the difficult task of judging an outstanding show of Limousin calves. His Supreme Champion was a bull calf, sired by Haltcliffe Underwriter, and shown by the Millgate herd of Michael Loughran, Cookstown. His Reserve was Erne Eatable, a heifer calf sired by Meridien, and exhibited by Raymond Crawford, Rathkeeland, Maguiresbridge.
Exhibitors were then given the opportunity to show a group of three pedigree calves, of any sex, being progeny of the same sire owned by the exhibitor and under one year old. This was a very tight class with exceptional quality calves on show with Mr Phillips eventually selecting Raymond Crawford’s group of three as the winner.
There followed two commercial classes judged by Brian Wills, stockman of the Newhouse herd, Glamis, Forfar. He put up Luke McBride’s Black Ice as his Overall Commercial Champion with Declan McKenna’s calf in Reserve.
YLB NI would like to thank all those involved in this year’s show, with particular mention to the show stewards and the Club’s many sponsors: Barry McKenna Dem Motorsport, Botanica International Ltd, Christies Direct, Corries Farm Butchers, Drumhorc Pallets, Dulex Decorator Centre, Eden Kennedy Agricultural Consultancy, Greenmount Country Stores Ltd, J Thompson & Son, Janssen Animal Health, McCaughan Animal Health, NILCC, Parfix, Quick Tag and Ulster Bank.
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RESULTS
Ulster Bank Young Handlers’ Championship 2009
Junior Young Handlers Aged 8-13
1st – Richard Fleming 2nd – Martina O’Kane 3rd – Adam McGookin
Intermediate Young Handlers Aged 14-17
1st – Jonathon Wilson 2nd – Emma Murphy
Senior Young Handlers Aged 18-30
1st – Rebecca Adams 2nd – William McElroy 3rd – Stephen O’Kane
Overall Champion – Rebecca Adams
Reserve Champion – Richard Fleming
Second Reserve Champion – Jonathon Wilson
Broadhooks Cup: Jonathon Wilson
David Adams-Heaslip Cup for Endeavor: William McElroy
Pedigree Limousin Classes
Class 1 Bulls born on or after 1st September 2008 and before 30th November 2008
1st – Michael Loughran 2nd – Michael Loughran 3rd – John Adams
Class 2 Heifers born on or after 1st September 2008 and before 30th November 2008
1st – Henry Savage 2nd – Myrtle Rutherford 3rd – Raymond Crawford
Class 3 Bulls born on or after 1st Dec and before 28th February 2009
1st – John Adams 2nd – Ian Davidson 3rd – Mckenna Bros
Class 4 Heifers born on or after 1st Dec and before 28th February 2009
1st – Donal Murray 2nd – Raymond Crawford 3rd – Henry McCracken
Class 5 Bulls born on or after 1st March 2009
1st – Myrtle Rutherford 2nd – Henry McCracken 3rd – Jonathon Wilson
Class 6 Heifers born on or after 1st March 2009
1st – Raymond Crawford 2nd – John Adams 3rd – Raymond Crawford
Progeny Class – Any group of three pedigree calves sired by the same sire
1st – Raymond Crawford 2nd – Stephen McGookin 3rd – John Adams
Pedigree Limousin Champion – M Loughran, Millgate Dollar
Pedigree Limousin Reserve Champion – R Crawford, Erne Eatable
Pedigree Limousin Second Reserve Champion – J Adams, Fedneyhouse Elgar
Best Exhibitor Bred Animal: M Loughran, Millgate Doll
Commercial Classes
Class 7 Commercial Limousin cross calves born on or after 1st September 2008 and before 15th January 2009
1st – Luke McBride 2nd – Declan McKenna 3rd – Declan McKenna
Class 8 Commercial Limousin cross calves born on or after 16th January 2009
1st – Kieran Fox
Champion Commercial – Luke McBride, Black Ice
Reserve Commercial – Declan McKenna
