An excellent show with some top-end pedigree and commercial Limousin cattle that could compete anywhere, is how Scottish judge Stewart Bett, described the Rising Stars Calf Show, held in Ballymena.
Hosted by the NI Young Limousin Breeders’ and NI Limousin Cattle Club, the catalogued featured over 100 entries from new and established herds and young handlers.
Mr Bett, farm manager at the noted Grahams herd in Stirling, has previously judged at Clogher Show. He will be returning to Northern Ireland in May to judge Beef Groups of 5, Native & Continental and Exhibitor Bred Pairs at Balmoral Show.
Supreme overall champion, and winner of the £1,000 cash prize, was top-placed commercial entry, Mystic Meg, owned by the JCB partnership of Gareth Corrie, Charlie Beverland and Jonathan Neill from County Down.
Their yearling heifer, sired by Huntershall Rosco and out of a pedigree British Blue cow, was purchased for £5,200 from Chris McCrea, at the Royal Ulster Premier Beef and Lamb Championships in November.
Judge Stewart Bett commented: “The overall champion is a really stylish, well-balanced heifer. The kind of animal that I like to show.”
Claiming the reserve overall title was the senior and supreme pedigree champion, Frewstown Alpha, bred and exhibited by Derek Frew, and son Jason, from Kells, County Antrim. This thirteen-month-old heifer was sired by the herd’s stock bull, Jalex Simplysuperb – a full ET brother to Jalex Superb, sold for a top price of 26,000gns at the British Limousin Society’s 50th Anniversary Sale in Carlisle in 2022.
Her dam, Frewstown Pamela, by Ballyrobin Landmark, is one of 20 cows in the herd, which is celebrating its 40th Anniversary in 2026.
“The pedigree champion and reserve supreme, is a very breedy heifer – a real cow maker,” added the judge. “She oozes style and has a tremendous head.”
The reserve senior champion and reserve pedigree champion was Glenmarshal Anastasia owned by Trevor Shields, Kilkeel. This fourteen-month-old Carrickmore Schumacher daughter, was bred from the herd’s 30,000gns show cow, Dinmore Sensation – interbreed champion and supreme champion of champions at Balmoral Show in 2024.
Stewart Bett added: “This is another super heifer with good square plates.”
Securing the junior championship award was Cranmoney Annie, a nine-month-old Trueman Idol daughter, bred by Mark and Mairead McCartan from Crossgar, County Down. She is out of the Foxhillfarm Lordofthering daughter, Cranmoney Redlady.
“This is another stylish and very correct heifer,” added the Stewart Bett.
Runner-up for the junior championship was Keith and Niall’s Forsythe’s Claragh Annie. She was purchased privately from John and Paul Rainey, Kilrea. Born in May 2025, this heifer is by the 32,000gns Ampertaine Elgin, and bred from the Homebyres Vanhee daughter, Claragh Roxy.
Stewart Bett said: “The junior champions both came from the same class. The reserve is a shapely heifer, with super width and power for her age.”
There was a good entry of Limousin-sired commercial cattle at the show. Taking the reserve championship ribbons was Luna Noir, a Mereside Lorenzo daughter owned by James Alexander, Randalstown. Born in June 2025, and bred from a British Blue cow, this heifer was purchased at Carrick-on-Shannon.
Keith and Niall Forsythe won the award for the best pair of Limousins, owned by exhibitor. Their winning duo were the home-bred heifer, Ballybrick Astarisborn, and the reserve junior champion, Claragh Annie.
Mrs Lynsey Bett judged three fantastic classes of junior, intermediate and senior handlers. “Congratulations to everyone who took part. The handlers and their animals were tidy and well presented. It was extremely difficult to pick winners in each class.”
Champion handler was intermediate class winner Ellie McCauley; while the runner-up award went to Meabh Donnelly, who was the second placed competitor in the intermediate class.
James Callion, president, of the NI Young Limousin Breeders’ Club said: “Well done and thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of the show. It has been a tremendous event, with a brilliant entry of quality calves. A big thank you to our sponsors, and to our judges Stewart and Lynsey Bett, for giving up their time and sharing their experience and expertise today.
ENDS
Report written by Julie Hazelton on behalf of the N.I. YLBC and N.I. Limousin Cattle Club
