2010 All-Ireland Bull & Heifer Derby

CARRICKALDREEN ENRICO WINS MALE TITLE AT ALL-IRELAND BULL & HEIFER DERBY

Held at the Cappamore Show, Limerick, Southern Ireland on 18th August 2010, the annual All-Ireland Bull & Heifer Derby finals saw honours even between Northern & Southern Irish Limousin exhibitors, with the bull title going to Carrickaldreen Enrico on behalf of Peter Murphy, Mill Rd, Mullaghbawn, Newry, Co Armagh and the heifer award going to Ardlea Electra consigned by Dan Tynan, Beechill Farm, Doon, Mountrath, Co Laois. The Northern Ireland Limousin Club retained the Challenge Shield for gaining most points.

Peter Murphy and Carrickaldreen Enrico – Champion in Teemore All Ireland Bull Derby

This was the fourth prestigious All Ireland Limousin Derby which serves as a show case to demonstrate the high quality of Limousin cattle within Ireland. Ron Cruickshank from the well-known Kype Herd, Strathaven, Lanarkshire acted as Master Judge, having earlier judged the individual Limousin breed classes, and he praised the breeders for the quality of stock they had brought forward.

Derek Drinan, Commercial Manager Ulster Bank, Croom presents the Champion All Ireland Heifer to Pat Greeney for Dan Tynan’s heifer Ardlea Electra

In the Ulster Bank Heifer Derby for heifers born on or after 1 June 2008, the Judge selected Ardlea Electra as his Champion with Titchburn Elegance from Donal Murray, Cullyhanna, Co Armagh in Reserve. Ardlea Electra is out of the French cow Vorace and is by the noted 37,000gns sire Fieldson Alfy. Mr. Cruickshank said that it was difficult to pick between these two heifers but he felt that Electra edged it as a very balanced heifer that showed great character and alertness. In Reserve, Titchburn Elegance, was shown by Karl O’Connell and is out of the dam Annandale Bliss and sired by the 42,000gns Wilodge Vantastic. The heifers in 2nd, 3rd and 4th place were all sired by Wilodge Vantastic again underlining his breeding consistency. Titchburn Elegance herself had earlier this year stood first in her class and placed Reserve Overall Junior Female Champion at the Royal Ulster Show.

Bryan McElroy, Chairman of NI Limousin Club and Denis Herliny of Teemore Engineering, Macroon, Cork presents the Derriaghy Cup to the All Ireland Bull Champion Carrickaldreen Enrico with Peter Murphy

The Teemore Engineering sponsored Bull Derby saw three bulls from Northern Ireland in the top four with Peter Murphy taking top honours for the second year running. Having won last year’s fixture at Clogher Show with Carrickaldreen Dallywag, a son of Carrickaldreen Alice – the Junior Champion and best exhibitor bred Limousin at Balmoral in 2006, the same cow family produced the Champion here in the shape of Carrickaldreen Enrico. Enrico is out of Alice’s dam, Barnattin Ursla, and is sired by Oxygene. The Judge commented: “Carrickaldreen Enrico caught my eye as soon as he came into the ring and is a Limousin bull with great character, muscle and shape as well as being very good on his feet and legs.” In Reserve spot was the Mas Du Clo son, Killcastle Eric, from Alan Kelly, Moate, Co. Westmeath. This bull was born in March 2009 and is by Mas Du Clo out of a Genereux dam, Pelletstown Nickle. Third spot went to “Annadale Excalaber” a January 2009 born bull from C Murray, Newry, Co. Down. He is by Sympa out a homebred Nenuphar cow, Annadale Beauty.

Donal Murray with Reserve Ulster Bank All Ireland Heifer Derby Champion receiving his award from Derek Drinan, Commercial Manager Ulster Bank, Croom

The Challenge Shield contested by the Irish Limousin Cattle Society (ILCS) and the Northern Ireland Limousin Club for the most points gained at the end of the judging ended in a draw. The ILCS had the top heifer and the reserve bull while the NI Limousin Club the top bull and reserve female. Adding an extra dimension to the competition, Ron Cruickshank then judged them as a pair to decide who would be awarded the shield, narrowly picking the Northern Irish pair as his overall winners which meant the NI Limousin Cattle Club retained the Challenge Shield.

The NI Limousin Cattle Club and the Irish Limousin Cattle Society want to compliment all the breeders in how they presented their stock and give a special thank you to the Northern Irish breeders and supporters who travelled the long distance to Cappamore. Thanks also go to DARD and DAFF for their co-operation in helping the exhibitors with the veterinary regulations.

A special thanks to the committee and members of Cappamore Show society for staging the competition and their hospitality and welcome.

A very big thank you must go to the sponsors – The Ulster Bank and Teemore Engineering Ltd for their generous sponsorship and help in organising the event.

Fourth Prize winner in the Ulster Bank All Ireland Heifer Derby was Moneykee Eileen from James McGarrigle and shown by Martin McGarrigle

Michael Loughran showing the fourth prize winner Millgate Enrich in the Teemore All Ireland Bull Derby

The NI Limousin Club retained the Challenge Shield in ‘extra time’. Bryan McElroy shows off the shield with the winning pair from Peter Murphy and Donal Murray

Ron Cruickshank from the Kype herd had the task of judging the All Ireland Derbies

Joan Gilliland and Kim Steele Nicholson have a chat with Marcus Berry of the Banville herd before showing Ballyrobin Estee

Bryan McElroy (Chairman NI Limousin Club) and Paul Sykes (Secretary Irish Limousin Cattle Society) present Ron Cruickshank with a memento for judging the All Ireland Derby

The Challenge Shield being presented to Bryan McElroy by Paul Sykes with Heather Hume (Secretary) and Christopher Murray from the NI Limousin Club and Austin Finn and John McInerney (President) Irish Limousin Cattle Society. The winning pair from Peter Murphy and Donal Murray are in the ‘background’