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Charolais awards aplenty at Balmoral.

 The Balmoral Show this year proved to be a shining success for the commercial sector, with both the commercial champion and reserve going to Charolais bred animals. This proves once again that Charolais is the number one breed to the commercial breeder. Mr Alan Farlow Coleraine won the commercial champion title with Hillview Sparkle, while the reserve went to Mr John Killen Crossgar for Fanta.

On the Charolais cattle lawn two fine females from the Coolnaslee herd of Gilbert Crawford swept the boards taking a swathe of prizes. Coolnaslee Diane, a two year old  Allanfauld Superscott daughter fought off stiff competition from another Allanfauld Superscott daughter from the same herd, Coolnaslee Countess to win the Charolais champion of the show.

 Coolnaslee Diane is no stranger to shows or Balmoral, last year she won the JK Currie trophy for the best junior heifer, and held on to it again this year, as well as female champion at Dectomax final at Clogher Show last year. She went on to win the Bardin Trophy for best Charolais exhibited by a club breeder, with Coolnaslee Countess hard at her heels for the reserve award.

Coolnaslee Diane, who is in calf to a Swedish bull, also took home the Orange Trophy again with Coolnaslee Countess in reserve. Both the Barden and Orange Trophies are at the Coolnaslee herd for previous winners and it seems as the Coolnaslee herd goes from strength to strength they will remain there.

Coolnaslee Countess, although winning her class at Balmoral and female champion at Fontana last year had to settle for reserve on the day.

Among the other winners in the heifer section included Atonal Tulip owned by Frank Reid and bred by J Erskine, Shank Daphne owned by Sean McGovern, B McAllister & Son with Burnside Euphoria, sired by Balmily Vagabond,  and went on to win the best junior Charolais female .and reserve best junior heifer a supreme champion in the making.

Mr Gregory Donnelly’s one year old heifer, Beech dale Elite ET sired by Ashleigh Victor came reserve in her class and was awarded reserve best junior Charolais female. A fine female to watch out for in the summer shows.

Although the females took centre stage where the awards were concerned, there was a fine turn out of bulls on show, with the Coolnaslee herd winning the Breeders Trophy for the best Charolais bull with Goldie’s Carnival, bred by H Goldie and sired by the famous Bur radon Talisman.

Gregory Donnelly’s Beech dale Eagle ET sired by Ashleigh Victor winner in its class, came in as reserve.

 This fine one year old homebred bull made sure that the H a Curry Trophy for the best junior Charolais bull stayed again this year with the Beech dale herd, with Sean McGovern’s Rotary Eliminator, another Ashleigh Victor son after winning its class, awarded reserve. Not to be outdone Eliminator went on to win the best junior Charolais Bull awarded by the British Charolais Society. The reserve went to Fermanagh breeders S & D Bothell for Killdeers Egbert, a home bred bull sired by Dunlin Lick.  An excellent start to the show season.

The best presentation of beef cattle at Balmoral Show went to the Brigadoon herd of W D & J A Connolly, Ballinahinch for their fine selection of Charolais cattle exhibited.

Results from the judging ring

Charolais Champion: Coolnalsee Diane, Gilbert Crawford

Reserve Charolais Champion: Coolnalee Countess, Gilbert Crawford.

Bardin Trophy for best Charolais: Coolnaslee Diane, Gilbert Crawford

Breeders Trophy for best Charolais Bull: Goldies Carvival, Gilbert Crawford

Orage Trophy for best cow/heifer: Coolnalsee Diane, Gilbert Crawford

H A Curry Trophy for best junior bull: Beechdale Eagle ET, Gregory Donnelly

J K Currie Trophy for best junior heifer: Coolnaslee Diane, Gilbert Crawford Maghera.

 Class Results

 Cow born before 1^st January 2007: 1.Dartonhall Tulip, Frank Reid. 2. Rossmore Urbane, WD&JA Connolly.

Cow or heifer born in 2007: 1.Coolnalsee Countess, Gilbert Crawford. 2. Cornascreibe Clare, Graham Davison. 3. Coolnaslee Cora, Mark Ritchie.

Heifer born on or after 1^st January 2008: 1.Coolnalsee Diane, Gilbert Crawford. 2. Brownhill Dolly, Agnes & Robin Todd. 3. Bridadoon Durban, WD & JA Connolly

Heifer born on or after 1^st July 2008: 1. Shanco Daphne, Sean McGovern. 2.Sandelford Dolly, George Henderson. 3. Glencoe Dervla, Mrs Valerie McDonald

Heifer born on or after 1^st January 2009: 1. Burnside Euphoria, B McAllister & Son. 2. Beechdale Evita ET, Gregory Donnolly. 3. Killadeas Edith, S & D Bothwell

Bulls born on or before 1^st January 2009: 1. Goldies Carnival, Gilbert Crawford. 2. Kinnego Hill Dandy, Nelson Weir,

Bull born on or after 1^st January 2009 and before 31^st March 2009: 1. Beechdale Eagle ET, Gregory Donnelly. 2. Ratoary Evander ET, Sean McGovern, 3. Springfield Eisenhower, Thomas Clarke

Bull born on or after 1^st April 2009: 1. Ratoary Eliminator, Sean McGovern.2.Killadeas Egbert, S & D Bothwell. 3. Lissadoair Edenet, Gerard Mullan

Group of three animals bonafide property of one exhibitor:

1. Gilbert Crawford with Coolnaslee Diane, Coolnaslee Countess & Goldies Carnival.
2. Sean McGovern with Ratoary Eliminator, Ratoary Evander & Shanco Daphne
3. WD & J A Connolly with Brigadoon Durban, Brigadoon Eclipse & Brigadoon Daphne.

Paul McDonald, Killeavey in the Charolais Judging Ring.	David Benson, Chief Executive, British Charolais Cattle Society chats to Stuart Bothwell, President,  British Charolais Cattle Society at Balmoral.
Paul McDonald, Killeavey in the Charolais Judging Ring at Balmoral.	Albert Connolly, Ballynahinch in the Judging ring.
Albert Connolly, Ballynahinch in the Judging ring at Balmoral with Brigadoon Durban.	Charolais on Show at Balmoral.
Andrew Rea from Straid showing in the Charolais Ring.	Stuart Bothwell, President,  British Charolais Cattle Society and  John Currie, Ballymena watch the judging in progress.
Ian Millar, Stirling judging the Charolais Classes.	Well known Charolais faces around the Charolais Judging Ring.
Watching the Charolais Judging	Frank Reid, Ballynahinch prepares his cow for the showring.
A lineup of top quality Charolais at Balmoral Show.	Caoimhe McGovern, Clogher with Shanco Daphne the winner in the Charolais Class for Heifers born between 1st July and 31st December 2008.
Ryan Donnelly, Ardmore, Derry in the Charolais Show Ring.	Ian Millar, Stirling, Judge of the Charolais Classes, and Randal Hayes, Steward check the progress of the judging.
Ian Millar, Stirling judge of the Charolais Classes at Balmoral chats to Auctioneer Willie Wilson, Compere.	Beechdale Eagle ET was the winner in the Charolais Class for Bulls born between 1st January 2009 and 31st March 2009 and is exhibited here by Ryan Donnelly from Ardmore, Derry.
Entering the Charolais Show ring.	Enda Murray, Andrew Patterson, and Paddy McDonald at the Charolais Ring.
Ian Millar, Stirling judge of the Charolais Classes.	John Currie, Ballymena and Gilbert Crawford, Maghera watch the Charolais Show in progress.
Top class Charolais on display in the judging ring.	Tensions are rising at the Charolais ring.
David Benson, Chief Executive, British Charolais Cattle Society chats to Ken Fletcher, Scottish Farmer and former NI Charolais Club Chairman John McGrath.	The top group of Three Charolais at Balmoral Show were owned by Gilbert Crawford, Maghera and exhibited here by Andrew Patterson, Philip McKendry and Sam Miliken.
Charolais Chief Steward Randal Hayes; David Benson, Chief Executive,  British Charolais Cattle Society and Stuart Bothwell, President,  British Charolais Cattle Society concentrate on the order of events.	Philip McKendry in top form.
Brothers Trevor and Timothy Carson from Cloughmills watch their Granny's Heifer "Dolly" in the Charolais Show ring.	Willian McAllister, Kells with Burnside Euphoria the winner in the Charolais Class for Heifers born on or after 1st January 2009.
John Currie, Ballymena; Brian McAllister, Kells and Libby Clarke, Lurgan keep a close eye on the Charolais judging.	Goldies Carnival owned by Gilbert Crawford, right, Maghera was the Charolais Male Champion at Balmoral. Also included are handler, Sam Miliken, Coleraine and Stuart Bothwell, President, British Charolais Cattle Society.
Ratoary Eliminator exhibited by Clodagh McGovern, Clogher was the winner in the Charolais Class for Bulls born on or after 1st January 2009.	Coolnaslee Countess owned by Gilbert Craawford, Maghera was Reserve Overall Charolais Champion, Reserve Female Champion and the winner in the Charolais Class for cow or heifer in milk or in calf born in 2007 and Philip McKendry is pictured exhibiting the prizewinner.
Philip McKendry with Coolnaslee Countess the Reserve Overall Charolais Champion and Reserve Charolais Female Champion at Balmoral Show. The prizewinner was owned by Gilbert Crawford from Maghera.	Dartonhall Tulip exhibited by Frank Reid, Ballynahinch was the Champion in the Charolais class at Balmoral for a cow born before 1st January 2007 with at least one calf.
Sandra Cochrane, the new Chairman of the Northern Ireland Charolais Club and Andrew Patterson pictured with Coolnaslee Dianne, the overall Supreme Champion Charolais at Balmoral. The Champion was owned by Gilbert Crawford, Maghera.	Well known Charolais folk Mollie and Cecil Robinson, Ballygowan watch the Charolais judging.
Coolnaslee Dianne owned by Gilbert Crawford, Maghera was the Supreme Overall Champion Charolais at Balmoral Show and is exhibited here by Andrew Patterson.	Charolais on show.