- Trueman Limousin team dominates the breed section and overall interbreed titles
- Trueman animals win seven interbreeds including Supreme Individual, Group of Three, and Group of Five
- Trueman Lute crowned as Individual Interbreed Champion
- Derriaghy and Carrickaldreen also feature in the Championship prizes
- Limousin sired cattle win Commercial Championship
The 2017 summer show ‘major’ season kicked off in memorable and remarkable style at Balmoral Show, held for the first time over four days between 10th – 13th May, with an unprecedented title winning hall by Henry Savage & Sons with their Trueman Limousin team from 70 Skerriff Road, Altnamackin, Newry, Co Down.
From amidst some fine competition on a warm and sunny opening day the Trueman team emerged with thirteen out of fourteen possible Limousin Championships or Reserves. Over the following three days, and head to head with the best in show of other breeds, a further six Interbreed titles was added to the haul including the show’s blue riband Overall Supreme Individual Interbreed award. The prize winning haul is thought to be perhaps the most dominant show by one breeder, and one breed, at any of the modern day summer ‘majors’ including Balmoral, The Royal Highland, Great Yorkshire and Royal Welsh respectively. Five Trueman animals took the titles between them with Peter & Serena Murphy of Carrickaldreen nipping in to win the Junior Limousin Male Reserve, Reserve Overall Male and Derriaghy’s David Green having last year’s winner, Glenrock Inclusive, within the winning Interbreed Team of Five.
The winning team of Trueman animals comprised of the heifers Trueman Lute, Melody, Madonna, and Minogue, along with the young bull Trueman Mozart.
In front of Limousin judge Michael Massie of the noted Elrick herd, Mains Of Elrick, Auchnagatt, Ellon, Aberdeenshire it was the stylish September 2015 born heifer Trueman Lute who came through a field of sixty-two Limousin entries to lift the Female Championship and Limousin Overall Supreme Championship. After three previous Overall Reserves this was the first time the Trueman herd had secured the breed Championship title. A twin to a heifer Trueman Lute is by the AI sire Haltcliffe Hitec, a Volcano son, who the Savages had seen and liked when being sold at Carlisle. She is out of Trueman Foxtrot, a Wilodge Vantastic daughter, who is described as one of the three foremost females in the eighteen cow herd.
Come Friday, and the second day of the show, Trueman Lute strutted her stuff against her fellow breed champions before being given the highest accolade of Supreme Individual Interbreed Champion by the judge this time in the shape of the well-known Terry Coghill, Birsay, Orkney.
Following the Limousin judging Michael Massie said of his Champion: “This was just a super heifer. She’s very correct with a leg in each corner, she has a great top on her, a full body, and a lovely Limousin head. There’s so much potential there and I’m sure that she’ll make a great cow.” Of the Limousin show generally Michael Massie went on to say: “It was a very good show of cattle featuring some great class winners. It’s easy to see the quality of the Limousin breed in Northern Ireland. The stockmanship across the board was fantastic and I’d like to congratulate all the exhibitors.”
The show marked another landmark achievement for the Savage team of Henry Snr, Henry Jnr, Phelim, Benedict and Dermot. In recent years Team Savage has sold the heifer Trueman Duet for 38,000gns, won the 2011 National Limousin Show with Trueman Euphonium, and in 2015 lit up the pedigree sector when selling the world record priced bull Trueman Jagger for £147,000!
Commenting Henry Snr said: “Each of these achievements has been fantastic in its own right but to win your home show and have such success in the Interbreeds and against the quality of cattle here is really something as special as it was unexpected.”
Of the herd’s breeding philosophy Henry Snr went on to say: “Our simple aim is to concentrate on the three or four best cows in the herd to produce the highest quality calves that we can. In recent years those cows have been Trueman Euphonium, Indie, and Foxtrot. We’re still a small herd but moving forward we are looking to increase in size but keep the emphasis on quality.” Breeding of the influential Wilodge Vantastic was also evident through the team and featuring as a grandparent in all bar one of the Trueman cattle.
For the record Trueman Lute won: Limousin Female Champion; Limousin Supreme Overall Champion; Individual Interbreed Supreme Champion; M&S Signet Beef Interbreed Heifer Champion; was part of Champion Limousin Pairs; Champion Limousin Group of Three; Champion Interbreed Team of Five; and Interbreed Reserve Pairs. Asked what the future of Trueman Lute holds, Henry Snr said: “She’ll be going home with the team and back to the grass on Sunday”!
A similarly impressive haul was achieved by the young bull Trueman Mozart who lifted the Limousin Male Championship; Reserve Limousin Supreme Overall; Junior Male Champion; Overall Limousin Junior Champion; Limousin Pairs and Group of Three; Overall Junior Interbreed Champion; M&S Signet Beef Interbreed Bull Champion; featured in the winning Interbreed Groups of Three and Five; and Reserve in the Interbreed Pairs.
The May 2016 born Trueman Mozart is an embryo calf and is the first bull, and the first to be shown, by the aforementioned Trueman Jagger. He is out of Trueman Honey who is herself a past Overall Reserve Supreme at Balmoral Show. Aimed at the October Bull Sale in Carlisle, Trueman Mozart weighed in at 682kgs. Trueman Mozart picked up the prestigious Junior Overall Interbreed title again in front of Terry Coghill.
Nipping in to lift the Reserve Junior Limousin Male & Reserve Male Overall titles was the smart June 2016 born Carrickaldreen Maverick from Peter & Serena Murphy, Mullaghbawn, Newry, Co Armagh. Another with a Savage connection, this young bull is by the 12,000gns Trueman Jukebox and is out of Sarkley Francesca, a Haltcliffe Ullswater daughter. Francesca was herself purchased for the Carrickaldreen herd for 5000gns at the Sarkley herd’s production sale. Moving forward, and keen on the mating, Peter Murphy aims to flush Francesca to Trueman Jukebox. Carrickaldreen Maverick is himself another bull being aimed at the Carlisle October 2017 sale. No stranger to show awards the presently ten breeding female Carrickaldreen herd has previously placed Junior Champion and Junior Heifer Champion at Balmoral whilst picking up major awards at the All Ireland Limousin Derby and Northern Ireland Limousin Championships respectively.
Trueman Melody sired by Ampertaine Abracadabra and out of Trueman Indie picked up the Reserve Overall Female Championship and was also Junior Female Champion and Reserve Overall Junior. Melody is an April 2016 born maiden heifer calf who picked up the first red ticket of the day. Taking first prize in the second class and lifting the Reserve Female Championship was Trueman Madonna. An embryo calf Madonna is by Ampertaine Elgin and is out of the 2011 National Limousin Show Champion Trueman Euphonium. This January 2016 born calf also featured in the winning Interbreed Groups of Three and Five as well as the winning Limousin Group of Three.
Last year’s Limousin Supreme Champion at Balmoral was Glenrock Inclusive from close local breeders Messrs DG Green & Son, Derriaghy Road, Lisburn, Co Antrim. Originally bred by Stephen Illingworth, Lockerbie, the November 2013 born heifer was back in the 2017 prizes when she featured in the winning Interbreed Group of Five along with her January 2017 born heifer calf Derriaghy Noodles sired by Wilodge Tonka. Glenrock Inclusive was originally purchased by the Greens for 14,000gns at the Glenrock Herd sale held in Carlisle in August 2014. She is by the Nenuphar son Bremore Artist and is another embryo calf out of the renowned Glenrock Spangle. The Interbreed Team of Five, a new competition within the four day format, was judged by Martin Ryan. The winning Limousin Team comprised of Glenrock Inclusive, Trueman Mozart, Trueman Lute, Trueman Madonna, and Trueman Minogue.
Three of those five also combined to win the Interbreed Group of Three, in front of the judge Albert De Cogan, in the form of Trueman Mozart, Trueman Lute, and Trueman Madonna. The same judge oversaw the Interbreed Pairs where the Limousin Team of Trueman Mozart and Trueman Lute picked up the Reserve Championship.
In the keenly contested Commercial Beef Championships on the Thursday morning it was another Championship for Limousin sired cattle before the judge Drew Hyslop, Boquhan Home Farm, Kippen, Stirling.
The February 2016 born heifer Valentine, from K & S Williamson, Benburb, Co Tyrone won the Medallion Plaque for Best Commercial Beef Heifer, Junior Commercial Beef Champion, Supreme Champion Commercial Beef animal and Best Commercial Animal Bred by Exhibitor. By Elite Forever Brill, this heifer is a full sister to Donald MacPherson and Jock Currie’s Scottish Winter Fair 2015 winner Price Tag which was bred by the Williamsons.
To view video of judging, click here.
Balmoral Show results 2017
Limousin Classes
Class 604
1st Trueman Melody born April 2016, by Ampertaine Abracadabra and out of Trueman Indie
2nd Deerpark Missmoneypenny born July 2017 by Ampertaine Gigolo and out of Ampertaine Isadora
3rd Trueman Mumba born May 2016 by Trueman Jagger and out of Trueman Honey
Class 605
1st Trueman Madonna born January 2016, by Ampertaine Elgin and out of Trueman Euphonium
2nd Jalex Mya born January 2016, by Bassingfield Hobama and pot of Norman Indulgent
3rd Trueman Minogue born January 2016, by Ampertaine Elgin and out of Trueman Euphonium
Class 606
1st Trueman Lute born Sept 2015 by Haltcliffe Hitec and out of Trueman Foxtrot
2nd Ardnacrusha Kylie born sept 2015 by Sympa and out of Ardnacrusha Hilarious
3rd Knockcroghery Kimkardashian born Sept 2015 by Lowerffrydd Empire and out of Millbrook Ester
Class 607
1st Goldies Liz born Jan 2015, by Goldies Fortress and out of Goldies Dynasty
2nd Brideview Libby born May 2015 by Donnelly Hernando and out of Pennys Urania
Class 608
1st Clydevalley Jessie born July 2014 by Limo Esso and out of Clydevalley Bessie
2nd Erne Julieann born Feb 2014 by Sauvignon and out of Oldhouse Didi
Class 609
1st Glenrock Inclusive born Nov 2013, by Bremore Artist and out of Glenrock Spangle
Class 610
1st Trueman Mozart born May 2016, by Trueman Jagger and out of Trueman Honey
2nd Carrickaldreen Maverick born June 2016 by Trueman Jukebox and out of Sarkley Francesca
3rd Drumard Marksman born April 2016 by Djerk and out of Glenrock Elusive
Class 611
1st Cowporation Macferide born Jan 2016 by Ampertaine Gigolo and out of Claeys Ferdie
2nd Newferry Mufasa born Jan 2016 by Sympa and out of Newferry Irene
Class 612
1st Brookmill Klunk born Oct 2015 by Wilodge Tonka and out of Millbrook Enya
Class 613
1st Slieve Leonardo born Feb 2015
Class 614
1st Norman Inventor born Oct 2013 by Claragh Franco and out of Norman Crystal
Class 615 – group of 3 animals
1st Trueman Mozart, Trueman Lute and Trueman Madonna
Special Classes
S270 Champion Limousin – Trueman Lute
Reserve – Trueman Mozart
S271 Junior Breed Champion (Male or Female) -Trueman Mozart
Reserve – Trueman Melody
S272 Champion Junior Heifer – Trueman Melody
Reserve – Trueman Madonna
S273 & S274 Female Champion & Wm Mulligan Memorial Rosebowl – Trueman Lute
Reserve – Trueman Melody
S275 Champion Junior Bull – Trueman Mozart
Reserve – Carrickaldreen Maverick
S276 Overall Junior Champion & John Gordon President’s Cup – Trueman Mozart
Reserve – Trueman Melody
S277 Male Champion Limousin & Peter Smyth Cup – Trueman Mozart
Reserve – Carrickaldreen Maverick
S278 Best Limousin & Norman McBriar Perpetual Challenge Cup – Trueman Lute
Reserve – Trueman Mozart
S279 Breeder of the Best Limousin & Broadmeadows Breeders Cup – Henry Savage & Sons
S280 Best Limousin on show bred and owned by exhibitor – Trueman Lute
Reserve – Trueman Mozart
S281 Best pair of Limousin Cattle owned by and bred by exhibitor – Trueman Lute & Trueman Mozart
Reserve – Deerpark Missmoneypenny & Deerpark Maisie
S282 & S283 Best group of 3 Limousins bona fide the property of one exhibitor & Herbert Lusby memorial Perpetual Challenge Cup – Trueman Lute, Trueman Mozart & Trueman Madonna
Commercial Classes
Class 636 Commercial Beef heifer
1st Kim K, born Oct 16, by Carmorn Cantona
Class 637 Commercial Beef heifer
1st A Heifer exhibited by Strathearn Livestock born July 2017 by Swarland Eddie.
Class 638 Commercial Beef Heifer
1st Valentine, born Feb 2016 by Elite Forever Brill.
Valentine also won Medallion Plaque for Best Commercial Beef Heifer, Junior Commercial Beef Champion, Champion Commercial Beef animal and Best Commercial Animal Bred by Exhibitor. She is a full sister to the Scottish Winter Fair 2015 winner. Breeders K & S Williamson, Benburb, Co Tyrone.
Class 639 Commercial Beef Steer and MEDALLION PLAQUE – for the best commercial beef steer
1st The Hulk, born Aug 2016 by Elite Forever Brill
Interbreed
Overall Junior Beef Champion of Champions – Trueman Mozart
President’s trophy & special prize for the overall beef breed Champion of Champions – Trueman Lute
Champion Signet performance beef recorded heifer – Trueman Lute
Champion Signet Performance Beef recorded Bull – Trueman Mozart
Champion and Reserve Champion beef breed continental pair – Reserve Champions, Limousins – Trueman Mozart & Trueman Lute
Best group of three in the beef group competition, continental breed – Champions, Limousins – Trueman Mozart, Trueman Lute and Trueman Madonna
Best team of five in the beef team competition, continental breed – Champions, Limousins – Trueman Mozart, Trueman Lute, Trueman Madonna, Trueman Minogue and Glenrock Inclusive.