‘GRAND SLAM’ LIMOUSINS TOP ULSTER’S PREMIER ALLAMS CHRISTMAS SHOW & SALE

In what was the 92^nd staging of Ulster’s Premier Christmas event, held by Allams Auctioneers on Tuesday 1^st December 2015 at the King’s Hall, Belfast, local beef farmers attended in numbers at both the show and sale to see some top quality commercial cattle.

Eight different breeds were represented in 25 classes with a catalogue of over 150 entries in all.  However it was the Limousin breed who once again took the limelight in the Championship prizes. Taking the Overall Supreme Championship, and realising the top price of £5,200, was Ruby’s Girl bred by Beattie & Crawford, Omagh.  This October 2014 born heifer is sired by the prolific Swarland Eddie out of her dam Red Ruby. Red Ruby herself had previously won the overall Commercial Championship at Balmoral Show in 2011 and is bred out of a Blue cross Limousin cow.  The judge, Malcolm McCracken, Greyabbey, had selected Ruby’s Girl as class winner earlier in the day and as Overall Limousin Champion to compete for the coveted prize against some very strong competition from the other breeds.

This win secured a ‘Grand Slam’ of Championships for Limousin sired cattle at this year’s premier Winter Primestock Shows with Limousin sire cattle having previously lifted the Supreme Championship titles at the English, Scottish, & Welsh Winter Fairs respectively.  Other ‘major Championships’ in the year had also been secured at the East of England Smithfield, and Borderway Agri Expo events.

Taking top spot in the Housewife’s Champion of the Show was another Limousin heifer brought forward by M & B Johnston, Toomebridge. This June 2014 born heifer was purchased earlier this year from James Alexander, Randalstown. She is sired by Carmon Cantona out of a Char/Blue X cow and was purchased for £3,100 by the award winning restaurant in Belfast, The Morning Star.

Securing the Calf Supreme Championship was the Limousin bullock Black Magic bred and showed by R & L Workman, Dromara. This homebred calf is also sired by Carmorn Cantona and is out of a home bred Blue/Lim x cow. He sold to G Corrie, Newtownards for £2000 and it is hoped that he will be on the commercial show circuit next year.

Taking overall Limousin Reserve Spot was Black Ice brought forward by Corrie & Neill, Newtownards. This three-quarter-bred Limousin heifer is out of a Lim cross cow, and is sired by the Wilodge Vantastic son Stephick Flashi who was purchased from the British Limousin Cattle Society’s (BLCS) Stirling Sale in February 2012 for 10,500gns.  Earlier this year Black Ice had been the Commercial Champion at the NI Limousin Championships in July at Antrim and Reserve Calf Champion at the NI Young Breeders’ Calf Spectacular in January 2015. This heifer went on to sell for £1850.

Reserve Limousin Calf Champion went to R Law, Enniskillen for his April born heifer calf called The Weedevel which is sired by Elite Forever Brill – TVR, a Wilodge Vantastic son, out of a Blue/Lim x cow.  This calf was purchased by Johnny Neill, Newtownards for £1720.

LIMOUSIN CLASS PLACINGS –

CLASS LIMOUSIN BULLOCK CALF: 1^st R & L Workman (sired Carmorn Cantona), 2^nd J Neill & G Corrie (sired by Elite Forever Brill TVR)

CLASS LIMOUSIN HEIFER CALF: 1^st R Law (sired by Elite Forever Brill TVR), 2^nd Neill & Corrie (sired by Bailea Bullion).

CLASS LIMOUSIN HEIFER (Light): 1^st  Beattie & Crawford (sired by Swarland Eddie, 2^nd Corrie & Neill (sired by Elite Forever Brill TVR), 3^rd Corrie & Neill.

CLASS LIMOUSIN BULL:  1^st A Veitch (sired by Elite Forever Brill TVR), 2^nd D Johnston (sired by Culnagechan Eliminator), 3^rd D Wiley (sired by Bridgadeer)