* J-LO WINS THE HEIFER CHAMPIONSHIP AND OVERALL CHAMPIONSHIP OF THIS YEARS BORDERWAY AGRI-EXPO
* BILLY WIZZ WINS THE STEER CHAMPIONSHIP
* QUEEN B WINS THE BABY BEEF CHAMPIONSHIP
Friday 28th October 2016 saw the 10th Anniversary of the Borderway Agri-Expo at Carlisle. On what was a long day, packed full of the very best cattle from all corners of the UK, the classy heifer J-Lo from JCB Commercials, Northern Ireland took the Overall Supreme Championship. Limousin sired cattle again dominated the day and lifted the Overall Supreme, the Heifer and Steer Championships, and the Baby Beef Championship.
The task of judging for the day came under the watchful eye of Mr Jimmy Mulholland, Great Orton, Carlisle. The Mulholland family butcher shop business has been in operation for just over 50 years. Jimmy runs the business with his wife and hopes a fourth generation of the family might take over one day as one of his three sons is keen to work in Great Orton. Along with his late father, Jimmy has grown up knowing the butchery business all his life.
Outside of the business, Jimmy also farms pedigree cattle and sheep and runs a herd of 35 pedigree Limousin cattle together with a flock of pedigree Texels and Beltex sheep all known under the Liscon prefix. Any surplus cattle and sheep from the farm are sent through the shop. Jimmy has also judged at the Scottish Winter Fair in 2013, English Winter Fair in 2012 and judged the heifer section at the Welsh Winter Fair in 2014.
The Borderway Agri Expo Overall Champion, J-Lo, arrived at Carlisle following a hugely successful summer show season and having won a terrific 2016 double that saw her lift the Supreme Championships at both the Royal Ulster Show, Balmoral, and the Royal Highland Show at Ingliston. This classy heifer was also the Reserve Overall Commercial Champion at 2016 National Limousin Show held in July and also at Carlisle. J-Lo, who weighed 659kgs on show day, was originally purchased last winter at Hilltown Mart for £1000. Sired by Norman Ely and out of a Lim x dam she was bred by P Fagan.
Jimmy Mulholland was full of praise for his Champion and the overall show of cattle and said: “I’ve judged all over the country and it was by far the hardest task I have ever undertaken. There was one class after another with strength and depth of outstanding cattle right the way through the show. Some classes were really down to the finer points and I was splitting hairs. When it came to my Overall Champion she had never put a foot wrong all day. For a heifer to carry that much carcase, her style and locomotion was exceptional.”
Speaking on behalf of JCB Commercials, a delighted Gareth Corrie commented; “J-Lo really is a once in a lifetime heifer. We are over the moon winning the Overall Championship at such a highly regarded event. The Agri-Expo is so well run and the quality of cattle on show was second to none. This win really did top what has been a fantastic year for us with J-Lo at all the major shows.”
Steer Champion of the show was Billy Wizz, from Rachel Mudd and Craig Bentley, The Gables, Kepwick, Thirsk. Bred at Carry House, Hexham by Martyn Archer, this red May 2015 born steer was purchased for £2000 at a new Spring 2016 Sale held at Hexham & Northern Marts. Sired by the French bull, Ananas, this steer is out of a Limousin cross cow. Billy Wizz has also seen a very successful summer winning the Steer Championships at this year’s Great Yorkshire Show and also the 2016 National Limousin Show.
Reserve Steer Champion of the show was also won by a Limousin sired animal in the form of Tom Thumb from Jennifer Hyslop, Balluskie Farm, Girvan, Ayrshire. The April 2015 born steer Tom Thumb, bred by exhibitor, is sired by Lodge Hamlet and is out of a Limousin cross dam. Tom Thumb has also seen considerable success on the show circuit this season.
Completing the hat trick of championships for the Limousin breed was the Baby Beef Champion aptly named Queen B, from Bowen & Bowen, Penthryn, Welshpool. The April 2016 born heifer was bred and exhibited by the Bowen family and is sired by the highly successful bull Liscon Bigshow. Used as the main herd sire, Liscon Bigshow has bred numerous title winning cattle for the Bowens over recent years. Queen B was on her first outing along with two other herd mates, both of which gained second prize tickets, with all three being sired by Liscon Bigshow. They will be shown at the English Winter Fair, followed by the Welsh Winter Fair where they will then be sold. Commenting after the show Luke Bowen said, “we are over the moon and honoured to win such a fantastic quality show where the cattle are of such a high standard.”
LIMOUSIN HEIFER ‘QUEEN B’
The task of judging the Baby Beef classes was undertaken by Mr Michael Durno of Auchorachan, Glenlivet, who brings with him a lifetime’s experience of showing calves. The 2863 acre hill farm is currently run by Leslie Durno and his son Michael, farming a 160 strong suckler cow herd which include pedigree cattle and a flock of 600 North Type Blackface ewes. One of the highlights in Michael’s judging career include the Commercial Cattle classes at the Royal Highland Show and the Baby Beef classes at the last Royal Smithfield Show held in London. Michael Durno commented afterwards saying, “I was very impressed with the high standard of calves, every class that came in was full of quality calves beautifully presented. My champion was just what I was looking for in a show calf, she was long with a great top and perfectly balanced, she was very good on her legs and had a beautiful head and wonderful set of alert ears!”
A busy Limousin stand welcomed breeders and customers with some first-class hospitality provided by the North West Limousin Club. David Thomlinson, the recently appointed BLCS Honorary President was also on hand to meet with members, breeders and commercial producers. The high-quality commercial and pedigree Limousin cattle on display were kindly provided by Thomas & June Hunter Dumfriesshire, Messrs G&JE Bell Appleby, Messrs JM&SM Priestley Bramptonand Messrs Jenkinson Penrith.
Also providing a great advertisement for the Limousin breed were four superb spring born calves all sired by Lodge Hamlet. These four calves on the Genus ABS stand at the event drew huge interest from what was suggested as being a crowd of 12,000 people at the 10th anniversary Agri-Expo.
Other Limousin breed class winners included;
Continental Steer – Class 3
Paul Brannen – Lim x – Mr Moorsley
Continental Steer – Class 4
TA & LC LYON & SON – Lim x – Germangie
Continental Steer – Class 8A
Harryman & Warriner – Lim x – Diesel
Baby Beef Continental Steer – Class 11B
John Williams – Lim x – Y Dewin Du
Baby Beef Continental Heifer – Class 12C
Barker & Johnston – Lim x – Foxy Roxy
Continental Heifer – Class 14
P & S Sellers – Lim x – Flawless
Continental Heifer – Class 15
P & S Sellers – Lim – Hullabaloo
Continental Heifer – Class 16
Harryman & Warriner – Lim x – Kiss My
Continental Heifer- Class 17
Jennifer Hyslop – Lim x – Sassy Lassy
Continental Heifer – Class 19A
Dermot Small – Lim x – Annie Power
Continental Heifer- Class 19B
R & J Graham – Lim – Grahams Lilly
