• Trueman Jukebox also wins Interbreed and Beef Stakes titles

The Northern Ireland Limousin Championship held at Antrim Agricultural Show, Shanes Castle on Saturday 25th July, saw the young bull Trueman Jukebox take the Senior Champion, Male Champion and Overall Pedigree Supreme Champion titles for H Savage & Sons, Henry Savage & Sons, 70 Skerriff Road, Altnamackin, Newry, Co Down. While Gareth Corrie & Jonathan Neill, Newtownards took the overall Commercial Championship title with their heifer Black Ice.

Trueman Jukebox
Trueman Jukebox

The weather held up very nicely for the show and a good turnout of pedigree Limousin  breeders and spectators watched events unfold.  Judge Richard Bartle, who is the stockman at the noted Dinmore herd in Hereford and who also runs the pedigree Absolute herd along with Mary Cormack, had tough classes to judge throughout the day including both pedigree and commercial championships and some12 classes in total.

Trueman Jukebox has done extremely well this year for the Savage family following on from his earlier show successes at both the Young Limousin Breeders Northern Ireland Calf Spectacular held at Ballymena Mart in January, where he was Champion, and then placing Reserve Junior Male at Balmoral Show in May. This January 2014 born bull is an AI son of the 32,000gns Ampertaine Elgin (by Glenrock Ventura) and is a heifer’s calf out of Trueman Gabrielle (by Nenuphar) and will be heading to the British Limousin Society’s October Sale in Carlisle.  Rounding off another cracking day   Trueman Jukebox also went on to win the Interbreed and Beef Stake titles at the show

Taking the Pedigree Reserve Supreme title was the very impressive female Lowbarn Fotty owned by R Clyde, Templepatrick, Ballyclare, Co Antrim. 2010 born Lowbarn Fotty was originally bred by R Newall, Hexham, Northumberland.  She was shown at Antrim with her January 2015 born bull calf at foot Clydevalley Luke who is by Sarkley Hotshot.  This outfit has done really well in the show circuit this year for the father & son team Robert and Stephen, competing in various local shows and winning titles and including a first prize at Balmoral Show.  On the day her calf Clydevalley Luke also won his class and the cow & calf unit won both the Female Championship, and Reserve Overall Championship.

Lowbarn Fotty Supreme Overall Res & Female Champion
Lowbarn Fotty Supreme Overall Res & Female Champion

Taking the Calf Championship was the smart young heifer Millgate Lucy bred by Michael Loughran, Dunamore, Cookstown, Co Tyrone.  This January born calf is sired by Norman Ely and is out of homebred dam Millgate Hotstuff, a Millgate Fame daughter.

Champion Calf Millgate Lucy
Champion Calf Millgate Lucy

Moving on to the Junior Championships Robineed Jasmine claimed the Championship for Dale Robinson, Irvinestown, Co Fermanagh.  This stylish young November 2014 born heifer is by the sire Culnagechan Exceptional and is out of the home bred dam Robineed Ellie, A Cloughhead Lord daughter.  Clydevalley Jessie, another from the Clydes, took the Reserve Junior spot.  July 2014 born this calf is sired by Limo Esso and is out of the home bred dam Clydevalley Bessie.

Junior Champion Robineed Jasmine
Junior Champion Robineed Jasmine

In the intermediate classes Tullyglush Jackpot bred by Paddy McDonald, 28 Mullan Road, Tynan,  Co Armagh took the Intermediate Championship.   June 2014 born, Jackpot is a Cloughhead Umpire son out of the homebred dam Tullyglush Fiona.  Carmorn JR bred by Francis McAuley, Toomebridge, took the Reserve Intermediate spot and he is sired by Goldies Hallmark out of the dam Carmorn Angela.

Intermediate Champion Tullyglish Jackpot
Intermediate Champion Tullyglish Jackpot

The team of Gareth Corrie and Jonathan Neill took the Overall Commercial Championship with their three quarter bred Limousin heifer Black Ice.  This beast, out of a Lim cross cow, was sired by the Wilodge Vantastic son Stephick Flashi who was purchased from the BLCS Stirling Sale in February 2012 for 10,500gns.  Black Ice was Reserve Calf Champion at the NI Young Breeders Calf Spectacular in January 2015.

Commercial Champion Black Ice
Commercial Champion Black Ice

Sponsors for the event included: Bank of Ireland; Greenmount Stores; J A McClelland; Thompson Feeds; Ulster Bank; Nugent Engineering;  A I Services;  A Hyde Feeds; and the NI Commercial Cattle Club.