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Stephen Somerville, Ballygawley and Gilbert Crawford, Maghera finished the show season on a high note when they claimed the two major titles at the Northern Ireland National Charolais Show at Ecclesville Equestrian Centre, Fintona, where a very strong entry of quality cattle had ringside spectators making many predictions about the final outcome.

Stephen Somerville made it two in a row when he took the supreme male championship with a son of the same dam which bred the supreme female champion at this event last year.

Ballyreagh Apollo has had a number of major championships this season including the senior male championship at the final of the Dectomax Charolais Championships at Clogher Valley Show. He is by Roundhill Rocky and is out of the home bred cow, Ballyreagh Paula. He was so expertly exhibited by Stephen’s young son, Peter that the judge requested a special award for Peter.

Gilbert Crawford was also continuing his season of success when he took the supreme female championship, the senior female championship and reserve and the reserve senior male championship. His senior female and supreme female champion, Coolnaslee Vale, was reserve breed champion at Balmoral Show and was one of the pair which took the reserve award for the Interbreed Beef Pairs and one of the trio which carried off the Interbreed Beef Group of three. Standing reserve to her in the senior female championships was Coolnaslee Verity.  Coolnaslee Advocate walked off with the reserve senior male championship after standing second to the supreme champion in that class. All three of Gilbert’s champions were sired by Allanfauld Superscot.

The Junior female championship and reserve supreme female championship was taken by John McGrath , Dromore with Drumconnis Adorable, a Roundshill Taurus daughter out of a home bred cow.

The junior male champion and reserve supreme male championship was carried off by Sean McGovern, Clogher with Ratoary Allstar, an Oldstone Egbert son, which had been reserve Intermediate male champion at the Dectomax finals.

In reserve place to Sean’s bull was another Clogher entry, Fury Action, a Domino Son exhibited by Pat Hackett.

The reserve junior female champion was a Balthayock Nougat daughter from Ronnie Marshall’s herd ad Ahoghill.

The Intermediate female champion was Ferryroad Aoife, a Derrygiff Mills daughter which took a second prize rosette at Balmoral Show. Adrian Richardson, Maguiresbridge  took the reserve Intermediate Female award with Hillviewfarm Avril, a Doonally New daughter which  had carried a red rosette at the Dectomax championships.

McKennan Brothers from Clogher brought out a strong team of commercial cattle which highlighted the value of using a Charolais bull in the suckler herd and carried off the Commercial Championship sponsored by Ulster Bank. Standing in reserve place was a quality animal from Oliver Loughran at Cookstown.

One of the highlights of the event was the building of a “Wee Grey Fergie” from parts with an allotted time of 20 minutes. However with great support from the crowd the four man team from Beragh and Roscavey Bygone Day Club made it a record and completed the tractor and had it up and running in 15 minutes 55 seconds.

John McGrath, chairman of the Northern Ireland Charolais club thanked Welsh brothers, Arwel and Gareth Owen for judging the entries at the event and in particular the Roscavey and Beragh Bygone Day Club for the display of vintage tractors and the building of the wee grey Fergie.

Championships, sponsored by the British Charolais Society and SERE Motors:

Senior male and overall male supreme champion – Stephen Somerville, Ballygawley, Ballyreagh Apollo ( Roundhill Rocky ).
Senior female  and overall female champion – Gilbert Crawford, Maghera, Coolnaslee Vale ( Allanfauld Superscot)
Reserve senior male champion – Gilbert Crawford, Maghera, Coolnaslee Advocat ( Allanfauld Superscot)
Junior female and reserve supreme female champion – John McGrath, Dromore, Co. Tyrone, Drumconnis Adorable ( Roundshill Taurus)
Junior male champion  and reserve supreme male champion – Sean McGovern, Clogher, Ratoary Allstar (Oldstone Egbert)
Reserve junior male champion – Pat Hackett, Clogher, Fury Action (Domino)
Reserve senior female champion – Gilbert Crawford, Maghera, Coolnaslee Verity (Allanfauld Superscot)
Intermediate female champion – P and M O’Kane, Bellaghy, Ferryroad Aoife ( Derrygiff Mills)
Reserve Intermediate champion – Adrian Richardson, Maguiresbridge, Hillviewfarm Avril ( Doonally New)
Reserve junior female champion – Ronnie Marshall, Ahoghill, Crosskeys Amber ( Balthayock Nougat)

 Commercial Championships sponsored by Ulster Bank: 

Commercial champion – McKenna Brothers, Clogher
Reserve commercial champion – Oliver Loughran, Cookstown

 Class Results: 

Bulls: 

Rafferty and Donaghy Solicitors class for senior stock sire born before 1 Jan 05 – 1. Sean McGovern, Clogher, Garracloon Vidame ( Jupiter)
ABN class for bull born Jan to April 05 – 1. Stephen Somerville, Ballygawley, Ballyreagh Apollo ( Roundhill Rocky); 2. S & D Bothwell, Ballinamallard, Killadeas Adam ( Doonally New); 3. Kenneth Veitch, Lisbellaw, Drumlone Ambassador ( Roundhill Rocky)
Nugent Engineering class  for bulls born May to June 05  1.Gilbert Crawford, Maghera, Coolnaslee Advocat ( Allanfauld Superscot); 2. Brian Phair, Enniskillen, Corryglass Avenger ( Doonally New); 3. John McGrath, Dromore, Co.Tyrone ,Drumconnis Andover ( Roundshill Taurus)
A W Ennis class for bulls born July and August 05 -  1. Pat Hackett, Clogher, Orchardhill Arney( Orchardhill Unicorn); 2. H Crawford, Fintona, Tonaghmore Augusto ( Lyonsdemense Tzar); 3. Gilbert Crawford, Maghera, Coolnaslee Albatross (Allanfauld Superscot).
Grove Agricultural Services class for bulls born September to December 05 – 1. Sean McGovern, Clogher, Ratoary Allstar ( Oldstone Egbert); 2. Pat Hackett, Clogher, Fury Action ( Domino); 3. S & D Bothwell, Ballinamallard, Killadeas Allister ( Dunlon Ulick)
Omagh District Council class for bull born January to April 2006 – 1.& 2. Stephen Somerville, Balllygawley, Ballyreagh Brilliant (Mozart) and Ballyreagh Braveheart ( Marquis); 3. Martin Donaghy Dungannon, Crannon Brian ( Oldstone Egbert) 

 Females: 

Alex Scott & Son class for females born before January 04 – 1. Caldwell McAskie, Omagh, Mountjoy Rye (Doonally New)
Matt Beattie and Son class for heifer born January to June 04 – 1.&2  Gilbert Crawford , Maghera , Coolnaslee Vale & and Verity ( Allanfauld Superscot);
Donnelly Quarries class for heifer born July to December 04 – 1. Gilbert Crawford, Maghera, Coolnaslee Violet ( Allanfauld Superscot); 2. Caldwell McAskie, Omagh, Mountjoy Vision ( Tullygarley Superman); 3. M Connolly, Clogher, Palace View (Roundhill Rocky )
Natural Nutrition class for heifer born Janury to April 05 – 1. P & M O’Kane, Bellaghy, Ferryroad Aoife ( Derrygiff Mills); 2. Adrian Richardson, Maguriesberidge, Hillviewfarm Avril (Doonally New); 3 Brain Phair, Enniskillen , Corryglass Angel ( Doonally New)
Joyce Estate Agent class for heifer born May to August 05 – 1. M. Connolly, Clogher, Palace Aine ( Doonally New)
Teemore Engineering class  for heifer born September to December 05 : - 1. John McGrath, Dromore, Co. Tyrone, Drumconnis Adorable ( Roundshill Taurus); 2. Ronnie Marshall, Ahoghill , Crosskeys, Amber ( Balthayock Nougat); 3.Eamon McGarry, Broughshane, Deerfin Aida (Doonally Prince)
A N Irwin class for heifer born January to April 06 – 1. Martin Donaghy, Dungannon, Crannon Beauty ( Icare); 2. J. Fitzpatrick, Kilkeel , Lisnahilta Bronte (Doonally New); 3 Trevor Phair, Florencecourt, Brogher Beverley ( Moorlough Palo)

 Commercial Classes:  

Donegall Agri Stores Class for junior steer showing no hard teeth – 1. McKenna Bros. Clogher; 2. R H Sinnamon, Pomeroy; 3. Balfour Brothers, Bellanaleck
Countryside Services Class for junior female showing no hard teeth – 1. McKenna Bros, Clogher; 2. Oliver Loughran, Cookstown;3. D & A McCrea, Strabane
Derek Loane Motors class for male suckled calf – 1. O’Kane Brothers, Larne; 2.Louise Breen, Augher; 3 McKenna Bros., Clogher
Three Valley Vets class for female suckled calf – 1& 2. – O’Kane Brothers, Larne; 3. McKenna Bros. Clogher.