July 30, 2018 Clogher Show Bank of Ireland NI National Charolais Championship

Charolais Reign Supreme at The 100th Clogher Valley Show
Charolais Breeders pulled out all of the stops for the inaugural Bank of Ireland – NI National Charolais Championship at the 100th Clogher Valley Show. They came from across the province, putting on a tremendous show demonstrating the quality breeding on offer and the reason why Charolais are topping the market.

The event was sponsored by Bank of Ireland, and Richard Primrose was on hand for the day along with other colleagues. He said “On behalf of Bank of Ireland UK, I would like to thank the NI Charolais club and the organisers of Clogher Valley Show for hosting a very successful NI Charolais Championship. There was a superb range of Charolais cattle of all ages on display. It was excellent to see so many cattle from breeders across the whole of Northern Ireland taking part. Bank of Ireland UK are proud to support one of most popular and important breeds to the Northern Ireland Beef industry”.

The competition boasted with over 60 entries ranging from calves through to senior males and females.

There was no stopping Brownhill Mo on the day, showed by the Devine Brothers! The in-calf heifer swept all before her, winning the Senior Heifer Class, Senior Female champion and then taking the Overall Supreme Charolais Championship. Not content with the Charolais Championship, she then took on the other breeds and was awarded Beef Interbreed Supreme Champion.

Later in the day, Mo went on to compete for the prestigious title of Clogher Show Champion of Champions, were she stood alongside the Dairy cow from the McLean family and the commercial champion of the day which was the Charolais cross bullock, “Paddington” sired by Deeside Gulliver exhibited by Nigel and Sandra Cochrane.

It was a dream can come true day for brothers Thomas and Richie from Ballymagorry, Strabane when Mo took the title, her second “Champion of Champions” in the month. Having already taken the Reserve Charolais Championship at Balmoral and a range of championships at local shows. This smart heifer has been on a winning streak across the show circuit and has the pedigree to support it, sired 12000 gns Maerdy Fiend, with homebred mother Indigo and grandmother Foxy both gathering top ribbons during their show careers.
Taking Charolais Reserve Supreme Champion was Brigadoon Nevada, the homebred heifer, exhibited by WD & JA Connolly, Ballynahinch. Sired by their stock bull “Icon” who has been stamping his mark on the herd since his purchase at Stirling Bull sales from the Goldies family three years ago. This stylish yearling also scooped second reserve in the Beef Interbreed Champion of Champions.

Charolais Judge for the day was David Barker of the Cayler herd from Hertfordshire. David is a well-known breeder & judge. He said it was a privilege to travel to Northern Ireland to judge the national Charolais show and he had a fantastic experience. “The Irish hospitality was unbelievable and a credit to all the Northern Ireland Charolais club and the show organisers”. He went on to say that “the exhibitors produced a great show of cattle and were a credit to all involved. The champion was an exceptional heifer with tremendous breed character, size, presence and style. The reserve champion was a young stylish heifer who was very correct, well balanced and has a great future ahead of her”.

The Connolly family claimed a host of accolades at the one-day event, with a 17 strong team out on the day including Reserve Senior Female with Brigadoon Lady a first calving heifer with her bull calf at foot. She was sired by Brigadoon Himself and is a grand-daughter of Brampton Petition. Lady was Reserve Junior Female Champion at the calf championships in 2015. The Connolly family were also awarded Senior Male Champion with their new stock bull, Maxamus purchased at the Stirling Bull sales in February this year. Fresh from the field, this young bull has been running with the cows at the Brigadoon herd since his first appearance in Northern Ireland at Balmoral show.

The Junior Bull Championship and also overall Male Champion was awarded to Killadeas Norman, bred by S & D Bothwell, Ballinamallard. He is sired by their stock bull Gwenog Braveheart and homebred Dainty both of whom have bred many prize winners and sale toppers for the Bothwell family.

Brigadoon Nebulus bred by WD & JA Connolly, another Goldies Icon son took the Reserve spots for the Junior Bull Championship and Overall Male Championship. His mother Heather, also a homebred cow was a successful show heifer for the Connolly family.
Birches Oliva bred by MR & Mrs N Matchett claimed the Reserve Junior female championship an Ainside Foreman daughter will have a bright future.

The award for Champion pairs went to the Connolly family who exhibited their 3 year old first calving heifers Brigadoon Lady & Lolly with their bull calves at foot. Standing in reserve was also from the Brigadoon herd with their yearling heifers Nevada and Nyoko.
Success continued in the Interbreed classes for the Charolais breed when Nigel & Gail Matchett were awarded the Champion Heifer spot with the first placed heifer Birches Nancy, sired by Doonally New. Meanwhile in the Interbreed mixed pairs, it was the Bothwell family who were awarded the Champion ribbons with the Connolly family in Reserve.

It was a hugely successful day for the Charolais breed, not just in the Bank of Ireland UK National Championship, but also the Commercial & Interbreed classes. David Connolly, Club Chairman commended “On behalf on the club I would like to thank our sponsors Bank of Ireland for their financial support and attendance at the National Show, it’s great to see their interest in our breeding standards and the beef industry. We are also indebted to the British Charolais Society for their continued help and support to the NI club. Thanks, must also go to the management and staff of Clogher Valley show for hosting the championship and to the press for coverage of the Bank of Ireland NI National Charolais Championship. The 100th Clogher Show has been a huge success and is certainly one of the best organised shows on the circuit. To our secretary Eilis Kelly, the committee members who have helped with the planning and all those who helped on the day – thank you. And of course, a huge thank you to our breeders, they put on a tremendous display of the finest Charolais cattle and without them it would not be possible to show case our breed at this level.

In the ring with David was Kevin Reavey who was shadowing the judge as part of the Youth Judging programme. Kevin took top spot at British Charolais National Junior Stock judging competition earlier in the month, and alongside team mate Alan Burleigh they clinched the top pair position. The pair will now travel to France representing the British Charolais Society.

Bank of Ireland NI National Charolais Championship Results.
JUNIOR FEMALE CHAMPION
Brigadoon Nevada, bred by WD & JA Connolly, Ballynahinch, Co Down Sire: Goldies Icon
Dam: Brigadoon Jadore.
RESERVE JUNIOR FEMALE CHAMPION
Birches Oliva, bred by MR & Mrs N Matchett, Birches, Co Armagh Sire: Ainside Foreman
Dam: Cloncarrish Ivy.
SENIOR FEMALE CHAMPION
Brownhill Mo, bred by Devine Bros, Strabane, Co Tyrone Sire: Maerdy Fiend
Dam: Brownhill indigo.
RESERVE SENIOR FEMALE CHAMPION
Brigadoon Lady, bred by WD & JA Connolly, Ballynahinch Co Down Sire: Brigadoon Himself
Dam: Brigadoon Elite.
JUNIOR MALE CHAMPION
Killadeas Norman, bred by S & D Bothwell, Ballinamallard, Co Fermanagh Sire: Gwenog
Braveheart Dam: Killadeas Dainty.
RESERVE JUNIOR MALE CHAMPION
Brigadoon Nebulus bred by WD & JA Connolly, Ballynahinch, Co Sown
Sire: Goldies Icon Dam: Brigadoon Heather.
SENIOR MALE CHAMPION
Newhouse Maxamus owned by WD & JA Connolly, Ballynahinch, Co Down,
Sire: Maerdy Hearthrob Dam: Newhouse Geisha.
OVERALL FEMALE
Brownhill Mo, bred by Devine Bros, Strabane, Co Tyrone Sire: Maerdy Fiend
Dam: Brownhill indigo.
OVERALL RESERVE FEMALE
Brigadoon Nevada, bred by WD & JA Connolly, Ballynahinch, Co Down Sire: Goldies Icon
Dam: Brigadoon Jadore.
OVERALL MALE
Killadeas Norman, bred by S & D Bothwell, Ballinamallard, Co Fermanagh Sire: Gwenog
Braveheart Dam: Killadeas Dainty.
OVERALL RESERVE MALE
Newhouse Maxamus owned by WD & JA Connolly, Ballynahinch, Co Down,
Sire: Maerdy Hearthrob Dam: Newhouse Geisha.
PAIRS CHAMPION
WD & JA CONNOLLY
RESERVE PAIRS CHAMPION
WD & JA Connolly
SUPREME CHAMPION
Brownhill Mo, bred by Devine Bros, Strabane, Co Tyrone Sire: Maerdy Fiend
Dam: Brownhill indigo.
RESERVE SUPREME CHAMPION
Brigadoon Nevada, bred by WD & JA Connolly, Ballynahinch, Co Down Sire: Goldies Icon
Dam: Brigadoon Jadore.

CLASS 171 FEMALES BORN
1. Mr & Mrs N Matchett – Birches Olivia – s. Anside Foreman
2. Robert McWilliams – Stranagone Oonagh – s. Stranagone Jones
3. Sean McGovern – Rotary Ohana – s. Indurain
CLASS 172 FEMALES BORN ON OR BETWEEN 1 SEPTEMBER & 31 DECEMBER 2017
1. Mr H C Stubbs & AA Burleigh – Derryharney Nibby – s. Montgomery Lanto
2. Adrian Richardson – Hillview Nani – s. Goldies Icon
3. E Johnston & Sons – Gallion Nancy – s. Inverlochy Ferdie
CLASS 173 FEMALE BORN ON OR BETWEEN 1 MAY & 31ST AUGUST 2017
1. Mr & Mrs N Matchett – Birches Nancy – s. Doonally New
2. WD & JA Connolly – Brigadoon Nigella – s. Goldies Icon
3. E Johnston & Sons – Gallion Niceo – s. Alwent Goldbar
Class 174 FEMALES BORN ON OR BETWEEN 1 JANUARY & 30 APRIL 2017
1. WD & JA Connolly – Brigadoon Nevada – s. Goldies Icon
2. WD & JA Connolly – Brigadoon Nyoka – s. Goldies Icon
Class 175 FEMALE BORN ON OR BETWEEN 1 JULY TO 31 DECEMBER 2017
1. Devine Bros – Brownhill Mo – s. Maerdy Fiend
2. Miss Leanne Titterington – Goldstar Matilda – s. Goldstar Echo
3. WD & JA Connolly – Brigadoon Maiden – s. Goldies Icon
CLASS 176 FEMALE BORN ON OR AFTER 1 JANUARY & 30 JUNE 2016
1. WD & JA Connolly – Brigadoon Milan – s. Goldies Icon
2. WD & JA Connolly – Brigadoon Marigold – s. Goldies Icon
CLASS 177 FEMALE BORN ON OR AFTER 31 DECEMBER 2015
1. WD & JA Connolly – Brigadoon Lady – s. Brigadoon Himself
2. WD & JA Connolly – Brigadoon Lolly – s. Brigadoon himself
3. Sean McGovern – Ferryfield Josey – s. Calla Eddie
CLASS 178 BULL BORN 2018
1. S & D Bothwell – Kiladeas Oliver – s. Battleford Laser
2. WD & JA Connolly – Brigadoon Oskar – s. Wesley Equinox
3. WD & JA Connolly – Brigadoon Ollie – s. Wesley Equinox
CLASS 180 BULL BORN ON OR AFTER 1 MAY & 30 AUGUST 2017
1. WD & JA Connolly – Brigadoon Nebulus – s. Goldies Icon
2. S & D Bothwell – Killadeas Norman – s. Blelack Blackberet
3. Malachy Connolly – Palace Natural – s. Derryolam Impeccable
CLASS 181 BULL BORN ON OR BETWEEN 1 JANUARY AND 30 APRIL 2017
1. S & D Bothwell – Killadeas Norman – s. Gwenog Braveheart
2. WD & JA Connolly – Brigadoon Notorious – s. Goldies Icon
3. WD & JA Connolly – Brigadoon Neptune – s. Goldies Icon
CLASS 182 BULL BORN 2016
1. WD & JA Connolly – Newhouse Maximus – s. Maerdy Heartthrob

SUPREME CHAMPION, FEMALE CHAMPION, SENIOR FEMALE CHAMPION
Brownhill Mo, bred by Devine Bros, Strabane, Co Tyrone
Sire: Maerdy Fiend Dam: Brownhill indigo.

JUNIOR FEMALE CHAMPION, RESERVE FEMALE CHAMPION & RESERVE SUPREME CHAMPION
Brigadoon Nevada, bred by WD & JA Connolly, Ballynahinch, Co Down
Sire: Goldies Icon Dam: Brigadoon Jadore.

RESERVE JUNIOR FEMALE CHAMPION
Birches Oliva, bred by MR & Mrs N Matchett, Birches, Co Armagh
Sire: Anside Foreman Dam: Cloncarrish Ivy.

RESERVE SENIOR FEMALE CHAMPION
Brigadoon Lady, bred by WD & JA Connolly, Ballynahinch Co Down
Sire: Brigadoon Himself Dam: Brigadoon Elite.

JUNIOR MALE CHAMPION & MALE CHAMPION
Killadeas Norman, bred by S & D Bothwell, Ballinamallard, Co Fermanagh
Sire: Gwenog Braveheart Dam: Killadeas Dainty.

RESERVE JUNIOR MALE CHAMPION
Brigadoon Nebulus bred by WD & JA Connolly, Ballynahinch, Co Sown
Sire: Goldies Icon Dam: Brigadoon Heather.