Two elite females rose to prominence at the 2026 Northern Ireland Limousin National Championships.
The animals in question are a tremendous young heifer and an equally eye-catching cow with calf at foot.
This year’s Limousin event of the year in Northern Ireland was held at the Castlewellan Show with a tremendous crowd of spectators in attendance. The competition classes were sponsored by: Farmline Agricultural Supplies, Quail Fine Foods; Banbridge, Taurus Herd Health, Joseph Walls Agri, Owen Pyers Electrical, JMM Insulation and Glenshire Veterinary Surgeons.
After a long day’s judging the overall championship was awarded to a stunning, 18-month-old heifer Glenmarshal Anastasia. Who went on win Castlewellan’s beef inter-breed championship. Bred and exhibited by Trevor Shields, from Kilkeel in Co Down, Anastasia looked an absolute picture in the ring.
Bruce Goldie, from Dumfries, judged all the Limousin National Show classes, he described his champion as an almost perfect example of the breed, adding: “She also has tremendous character and ring presence.”
Anastasia was sired by Trevor Shields’ noted stock bull, Carrickmore Schumacher. The heifer’s appearance at Castlewellan followed on from her previous outings at The Rising Stars’ Calf Show in March and Balmoral Show 2026.
Trevor Shields commented; “She is a very special animal and has tremendous potential as a breeding female within the Glenmarshal herd.”
Trevor is also a long-standing pedigree pig breeder of note and has only committed to pedigree cattle breeding over recent years. He further explained: “I opted for the Limousin because of the animals’ ability to produce what consumers want; high quality lean meat. The cattle can perform equally well on both dairy and suckler farms. Limousins can secure exceptional growth rates while also producing elite quality carcases. Kill out percentages are also very high; they are also able to achieve very high feed conversion rates. Limousin cattle are very easy to manage on farm: in my opinion they tick all the boxes from a beef production point of view.”
The reserve Limousin National Championship accolade went to the majestic cow Rathkeeland Tenddresse. She was accompanied in the competition ring by her young heifer calf at foot Rathkeeland Blossom.
Tendresse was bred and exhibited by the Crawford Brothers, from Maguiresbridge in Co Fermanagh.
The young cow’s success at Castlewellan adds to what has been a tremendous showing year for her. Up to this point in 2026 she has won six beef inter-breed championships.
Bruce Goldie described his reserve champion as a very special breeding animal, adding:
“The fact that she has such a high quality calf at foot just adds to the impact that she makes in the show ring.” He concluded “The quality of the cattle competing in the National Championship was excellent. This was especially the case in the female classes. I would like to wish all the breeders taking part every success for the future.”
Kieran McCrory, Chairman of the Northern Ireland Limousin Club was also in attendance at Castlewellan.
He confirmed the exceptionally high number of entries for the 2026 National Championships, commenting “A total of 60 cattle took part in the various classes, which is very encouraging to see.”
Kieran added “Limousin cattle continue to represent the number one beef breed in the UK and Ireland. Over many years they have proven their ability to perform well across the entire range of production environments. They are also extremely easy to manage. All of this is adding up to an increasing demand for the breed.”
The Limousin National Championship is hosted by three of Northern Ireland’s leading agricultural events on a rotational basis: Castlewellan, Omagh and Antrim Shows. Kieran McCrory continued “Taking this approach has allowed us to get the profile of the elite quality of Limousin cattle to the widest possible audience. I would like to thank the organisers of Castlewellan Show for allowing us to host such a successful National Championship in 2026.”
With a very successful Castlewellan event now notched up, it’s time for Kieran and his colleagues to look to the future. The Limousin Club Chairman concluded “Our next event is the ‘Ladies in Red’ Show and Sale. That event takes place in Ballymena Mart on Saturday, August 15th. It promises to be another highlight of the year for Limousin breeders.”
The full results from the 2026 Limousin National Championships follow:
Overall Supreme Champion – Glenmarshal Anastasia: Trevor and William Shields
Reserve Overall Supreme Champion – Rathkeeland Tendresse: Crawford Brothers
Calf Champion – Ring of Gullion Buttercup – Ring of Gullion Limousins
Class 127 – Bull Calf aged from the 1st January 2026
1st – Lot 68 – Rathkeeland Bruno – Crawford Brothers
Class 128–Heifer calf aged from the 1st January 2026
1st – Lot 69 – Ringofgullion Buttercup – Ring of Gullion Limousins
2nd – Lot 70 – Rathkeeland Blossom – Crawford Brothers
Reserve Calf Champion – Rathkeeland Blossom – Crawford Brothers
Class 129 – Junior –Bull aged from 1st January 2025 – 31st December 2025
1st – Lot 74 – Glenmarshal Avenger – Trevor & William Shields
2nd – Lot 75 – Ballygrange Avicii – James Sloan
Junior Champion – Glenmarshal Avenger: Trevor & William Shields
Reserve Junior Champion – Ballygrange Avicii : James Sloan
Class 131 – Intermediate – Bull aged from 1st January 2025 t0 30th June 2025
1st–Lot 84 – Millgate Alloy – Michael Loughran
2nd– Lot 83 – Frewstown Almighty – Derek and Jason Frew
3rd – Lot 80 – Pondpark Ali – S McGookin & Sons
4th – Lot 78 – Spage Arlo – Paul Campbell
5th – Lot 82 – Derriaghy Alonso – D G Green & Sons
Class 132 – Intermediate- Heifer aged from the 1st January 2025 – 30th June 2025
1st – Lot 85 – Frewstown Alpha – Derek and Jason Frew
2nd – Lot 89 – Fin Aoife – Brendan and James Quinn
3rd – Lot 96 – Spage Annie – Paul Campbell
4th – Lot 95 – Claragh Annie – Keith and Niall Forsythe
5th – Lot 87 – Rathkeeland Ainsi – Crawford Bros
Intermediate Champion – Frewstown Alpha – Derek and Jason Frew
Reserve Intermediate Champion –Millgate Alloy – Michael Loughran
Class 133 – Senior – Female / Maiden or in calf
1st – Lot 99 – Glenmarshal Anastasia – Trevor & William Shields
2nd – Lot 103 – Deerpark Valkyrie – Connor and Ryan Mulholland
3rd – Lot 101 – Knockcoolkeare Violet – Niall Feeney
4th – Lot 104 – Rathkeeland Venice – Crawford Bros
5th – Lot 98 – Ballyrobin Vontysgirl – Alfie Moore
Class 134 – Senior – Uncalved female over 2 years of age
1st – Lot 107 – Glemarshal Voodoo – Trevor Shields
2nd – Lot 106 – Ballycairn Vanessa – S McGookin & Sons
3rd – Lot 108 – Rathkeeland Vanessa – Crawford Brothers
4th – Lot 105 – Millgate Vision – Croob Pedigree & Commercial Cattle
Class 135 – Senior – Calved female over 2 years of age
1st – Lot 110- Rathkeeland Tendresse – Crawford Brothers
Class 137- Senior -Stock bull over 2 years of age
1st – Lot 111 – Rathkeeland Star – Crawford Brothers
Senior Champion – Glenmarshal Anastasia: Trevor & William Shields
Reserve Senior Champion – Rathkeeland Tendresse: Crawford Brothers
Male Champion – Millgate Alloy: Michael Loughran
Reserve Male Champion – Frewstown Almighty: Derek and Jason Frew
Female Champion – Glenmarshal Anastasia: Trevor and William Shields
Reserve Female Champion – Rathkeeland Tendresse: Crawford Brothers
Class 138 – Limousin Commercial – Steer born 2026
1st – Lot 114 – Jumbo – Jade Tumilty
Class139 –Limousin Commercial – Heifer born 2026
1st – Lot 117 – Shadow – JCB Commercials
2nd – Lot 115 – Raven – JCB Commercials
3rd – Lot 119 – Helen – Brendan & James Quinn
4th – Lot 116 – Dingo – Liam Lynn
5th – Lot 121 – Wildfire – Eoghan McMullan
Class 141 – Limousin Commercial – Heifer born 2025
1st – Lot 128 – Armani – Trevor & William Shields
2nd – Lot 125 – Mystic Meg – JCB Commercials
3rd – Lot 130 – Gingernut – James Leonard
4th – Lot 134 – Orea – Conall Lynn
Limousin Commercial Champion – Armani: Trevor & William Shields
Reserve Commercial Champion – Shadow: JCB Commercials
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Report issued by : N.I. Limousin Cattle Club
Report written by: Richard Halleron
