- 9,200gns Top price
- £6,274 Average achieved across bulls sold
- 61% Clearance rate
- 85% of bulls sold between 4,000gns-9,000gns
There was a strong trade for pedigree Limousin bulls at the British Limousin Cattle Society’s regional autumn show and sale, held at Ballymena Livestock Mart on Friday the 23rd of October 2026.
Trade peaked at 9,200gns on three occasions, with 20 bulls changing hands to average £6,274 per head and a further three breeding females selling to average £4,733.
It was a particularly successful evening for Joan Gilliland and Kim Montgomery, Muckamore, County Antrim, who secured two of the three joint top prices for bulls from their Ballyrobin herd.
Sharing the top price of 9,200gns was the first prize Glenmarshal Vamp from Trevor Shields, Kilkeel, County Down. This twenty-two-month-old bull was sired by Carrickmore Schumacher and carries two copies of the F94L myostatin genes. He sold to James McArthur from Limavady.
Carrickmore Schumacher is also the sire of this year’s national Limousin champion, Glenmarshal Anastasia, while his first daughter sold for 15,750gns at the Ladies in Red sale in August 2026.
Matching the 9,200gns top price was the second prize winner Ballyrobin Alfie, bred and exhibited by Joan Gilliland and Kim Montgomery, Muckamore. Ballyrobin Alfie is a son of the easy-calving Glenrock Redemption. Ballyrobin Alfie is out of Ballyrobin Sanarock, a full sister to Ballyrobin Joop, which previously sold for 20,000gns to the Haltcliffe herd. The twenty-one-month-old bull with a F94L pairing sold to Alan Shennan, Turnberry, Scotland.
Completing the trio at 9,200gns was the third prize Ballyrobin Armani, another entry from Joan Gilliland and Kim Montgomery. This stylish young bull with a double F94L myostatin was purchased by Pat Fearon from Kilkeel, County Down. Also sired by the 25,000gns Glenrock Redemption, Armani is the first son out of Ballyrobin Sacha.
Next best at 8,200gns was the reserve senior champion Mullantain Amadeus from Roland Millar, Cookstown, County Tyrone. This eighteen-month-old Glenrock Redemption son has F94L and Q204X myostatin genes and was purchased by Martin Carvill, Ballynahinch, County Down.
Selling for 8,000gns was the intermediate and reserve supreme overall champion Mossbrook Abendigo, bred and exhibited by Derek and David Campbell, Magherafelt, County Londonderry. The eighteen-month-old Norman Ely son carries two copies of the F94L myostatin and was purchased by the Rodgers family from Broughshane, County Antrim.
The supreme overall champion Frewstown Almighty, with myostatin genes of F94L and NT821, realised 7,200gns for breeder and exhibitor Derek Frew, Randalstown, County Antrim. This nineteen-month-old bull was sired by Foxhillfarm Ourbest and is out of Johnstown Rose. Frewstown Almighty was knocked down to Eugene McEntee, Crossmaglen, County Armagh.
The reserve intermediate champion Cuilcagh Alto sold for 6,800gns to R and J McClintock, Glenwherry, County Antrim. Bred by Connor and Elaine McBarron, Lisbellaw, County Fermanagh, Alto is a son of Annadale Lightning.
Another notable price of 6,000gns was secured by Howard McFarland, Trillick, County Tyrone, for Rahoney Amos. Sired by Ampertaine Topper, this bull was purchased by William Hopes, Ballywalter, County Down.
Female trade
The sale also included three pedigree breeding females, which averaged £4,970.
Topping the female trade at 6,200gns was the first prize Rathkeeland Virille from Crawford Brothers, Maguiresbridge, County Fermanagh. Sired by Rathkeeland TopLimmymaverick, this stylish heifer secured the female championship.
Two heifers shared the next highest female price of 4,000gns, with both selling to Finbarr Brennan, Kircubbin, County Down.
His first purchase was the reserve female champion Keadyview Angel, from Barney O’Kane and Sons, Garvagh, County Londonderry. She is a daughter of Ampertaine Jackpot.
Also realising 4,000gns was Charlottes Ariel from Charlotte Martin, Dromara, County Down. A daughter of Mereside Godolphin, she had earlier secured third place in the opening female class.
Chairman welcomes sale trade
Commenting on the event, Kieran McCrory, chairman of the Northern Ireland Limousin Cattle Club, said, “Overall, the Ballymena Show and Sale again showed the demand for quality Limousin stock.”
“There were 8 bulls sold for 6,000gns and over, two of which went across the water: one to Scotland and one to England.”
He added: “Limousin genetics continue to drive forward the quality standards being achieved within the beef sector, both here in Northern Ireland and further afield.”
The pre-sale show was judged by Eddie Lynch from County Cavan, who awarded the supreme overall championship to Derek Frew’s Frewstown Almighty, with the reserve title going to Mossbrook Abendigo from Derek and David Campbell.
Results from the showing
Champions
Supreme overall champion: Derek Frew, Frewstown Almighty (Lot 22). Reserve: Derek and David Campbell, Mossbrook Abendigo (Lot 36).
Male champion: Derek Frew, Frewstown Almighty (Lot 22). Reserve: Derek and David Campbell, Mossbrook Abendigo (Lot 36).
Senior champion: Derek Frew, Frewstown Almighty (Lot 22). Reserve: Roland Millar, Mullantain Amadeus (Lot 23)
Intermediate champion: Derek and David Campbell, Mossbrook Abendigo (Lot 22). Reserve: Connor and Elaine McBarron, Cuilcagh Alto (Lot 29).
Junior champion: Trevor Shields, Glenmarshal Alfie (Lot 10). Reserve: C and F McAuley, Carmorn Ace (Lot 49).
Female champion: Crawford Brothers, Rathkeeland Virille (Lot 1). Reserve: Barney O’Kane and Sons, Keadyview Angel (Lot 4).
Classes
Class 1 – females: 1, Crawford Brothers, Rathkeeland Virille; 2, Barney O’Kane and Sons, Keadyview Angel; 3, Charlotte Martin, Charlottes Ariel.
Class 2 – females: 1, Barney O’Kane and Sons, Keadyview Alice.
Class 3 – senior bulls: 1, Trevor Shields, Glenmarshal Vamp; 2, Joan Gilliland and Kim Montgomery, Ballyrobin Alfie; 3, Joan Gilliland and Kim Montgomery, Ballyrobin Armani; 4, Joseph Breen, Montiaghs Andrew.
Class 4 – senior bulls: 1, D G Green and Sons, Derriaghy Alonso; 2, Michael Diamond, Pointhouse Adam; 3, Joseph Breen, Montiaghs Anlon.
Class 5 – senior bulls: 1, Derek Frew, Frewstown Almighty; 2, Roland Millar, Mullantain Amadeus; 3, Gareth Wilson, Garvary Aragorn; 4, Messrs B and C M McAuley, Larkhill Anton.
Class 6 – intermediate bulls: 1, Connor and Elaine McBarron, Cuilcagh Alto; 2, Howard McFarland, Rahoney Aaron; 3, Connor and Elaine McBarron, Cuilcagh Alonso.
Class 7 – intermediate bulls: 1, Derek and David Campbell, Mossbrook Abendigo; 2, Howard McFarland, Rahoney Amos; 3, Connor and Elaine McBarron, Cuilcagh Alonso.
Class 8 – junior bulls: 1, Trevor Shields, Glenmarshal Alfie; 2, Michael and Jack Loughran, Millim Amarok; 3, Charlotte Martin, Charlottes Ax; 4, Jim Quail, Lynderg Aristotle.
Class 9 – junior bulls: 1, C and F McAuley, Carmorn Ace; 2, Crawford Brothers, Rathkeeland Aston; 3, MacParlim Genetics, McParlands Arnold
