THREE INTERBREED TITLES, BEST STEAK AND COMMERCIAL CHAMPION ARE CHAROLAIS

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John Causey and his daughter, Anna from Cookstown enjoy the'craic' on the Charolais stand at Balmoral Show 45411



Sam Milliken, Coleraine and his commercial champion at Balmoral Show. The commercial Charolais heifer was exhibited by Clare O'Brien. 43131



John Killen, Crossgar took the reserve champion in the commerical section at Balmoral Show 43241



Giving Crunchie, the reserve commercial champion a rest at Balmoral Show are Shauna and Katrina Killen, Crossgar with Alice Gilmore, Saintfield 43021



Sandelford Chaplin, exhibited by George and Gary Henderson, Bushmills took the Interbreed Bull Performance award at Balmoral Show 48391



A trip to the Highland Show was the prize on the NI Charolais Club's stand at Balmoral Show. Doris Leeman , club secetary holds the tickets while Anna McGrath, daughter of club chairman, John McGrath makes the draw. 45421

The consumer who wished to view and experience meat quality at Balmoral Show had the complete production chain for quality, tenderness and taste demonstrated by the Charolais breed.

The Charolais breed may have been small in numbers they certainly made up for this in awards, taking three Interbreed titles – Reserve Beef Interbreed champion; Junior Beef Interbreed Champion; Marks and Spencer Interbreed Bull performance award - along with Tesco’s Best Steak award and the commercial championship.

The beef judging began with Ashleigh Victor, weighing in at a massive 1560 kilos taking the Charolais championship. This Doonally New son, exhibited by Messrs. McGovern, Donnelly and Donaghy then went on to claim the reserve Interbreed Beef Championship. Ashleigh Victor is no stranger to awards having won the junior championship at the Irish National Show in Tullamore and the supreme championship at the premier show and sale in Tullamore before coming to Northern Ireland. This success continued when last year he took the Charolais championship at the Highland Show and one of his sons sold for 14,000gns at Perth.

The reserve champion Charolais was a junior bull from George and Gary Henderson’s herd at Bushmills and it went on to take the Junior Interbeed championship at Balmoral. Sandelford Curtis is a son of Goldies Usher, a sire purchased at Carlisle three years ago for 14,000gns. His dam is Sandleford Velvet the daughter of a Drummeer Major heifer and his grand dam has a number of daughters in the herd which have all bred show winners.

Standing second to Curtis in his class was Sandelford Chaplin which went on to give George and Gary Henderson a second Marks and Spencer Interbreed Bull Performance championship in succession. Chaplin is one of a pair of twin bulls and his twin brother is very aptly named Charlie. He is another Goldies Usher son, out of Sandelford Tessa a Major daughter.

Chaplin’s full sister, Sandelford Bess took the Orage trophy for the best cow or heifer and also repeated last year’s success taking the John K.Currie trophy for the best junior female.

Livestock haulier and cattle breeder, Sam Milliken from Coleraine demonstrated the value of a Charolais sire in commercial beef production when he showed his heifer, Ruffles and took the supreme championship in the commercial cattle section. Sam purchased Ruffles at the NI Charolais Club’s suckled calf show and sale in Swatragh last year where she was a prizewinner. She was bred by Sean McCloskey from Park, Co. Londonderry who took all of the suckled calf awards at the show with progeny of Ratoary Vierra, a sire he purchased from Sean McGovern at Perth for 15,000gns.

The reserve champion in the commercial section was also a Charolais with John Killen and daughters, Shauna and Katrina from Crossgar taking this award with their Charolais steer Crunchie.

Visitors to Balmoral therefore had the opportunity to view the success of the pedigree Charolais and then witness the effects of the breed in the commercial herd. The final link in the chain is the meat on the plate and here again the Charolais reigned supreme. Strabane farmer John McCrea beat all other breeds with this Charolais steak to win the Tesco ‘Specially Selected Steak Award’

Cliff Kells, Commercial Manager for Tesco in Northern Ireland said “All of the steaks were judged on appearance, tenderness and taste, and it was decided by the judges that John McCrea’s Charolais steak had the edge in each of these categories.”.

Special Awards In The Pedigree Section:

Reserve Beef Interbreed champion, Bardin Trophy for the champion Charolais and Breeders trophy for the champion bull – McGovern, Donnelly and Donaghy, Co. Tyrone, Ashleigh Victor (Doonally New)

Orage Trophy for the best female and John K Currie trophy for the best junior heifer – George and Gary Henderson, Bushmills, Sandelford Bess ( Goldies Usher)

Junior Interbred Beef champion and Alan Curry trophy for best junior bull – George and Gary Henderson, Bushmills, Sandelford Curtis (Goldies Usher)

Marks and Spencer Interbreed bull peformance champion – George and Gary Henderson, Bushmills, Sandelford Chaplin (Goldies Usher)

Class awards:

Cow born before 1 January 2005- 1. Gilbert Crawford, Maghera, Coolnaslee Valerie (Allanfauld Superscot); 2. Martin Donaghy, Dungannon, Farnane Victoria ( Doonally New); 3. David Connelly, Ballygowan, Brigadoon Replique (Loto)

Cow or heifer born in 2005 – 1. David Connolly, Ballygown, Brigadoon Athena (Sherif).

Heifer born after 1 January 2006 and before 30 June 2006 - George Henderson, Bushmills, Sandlelford Bess (Goldies Usher); 2. Gilbert Crawford, Maghera, Coolnaslee Bella ( Coolnaslee Trident); 3 Mr and Mrs JA Watson and Son, Portadown, Cornascriebe Barbara ( Cornascriebe Ulysses)

Heifer born 1 July to 31 December 2006 – 1. Gilbert Crawford, Maghera, Coolnaslee Butterscotch (Allanfauld Superscot)

Heifer born after 1 January 2007 – 1. S and D Bothwell, Ballinamallard, Killadeas Cathy (Dunlon Ulick); 2. Gilbert Crawford, Maghera , Coolnslee Countess (Allanfauld Superscot); 3. S and D Bothwell, Ballinamallard, Killadeas Cynthia ( Doonally Prince)

Bull born before 1 January 2007 – 1. McGovern, Donnelly and Donaghy, Co.Tyrone, Ashleigh Victor (Doonally New); 2. Gilbert Crawford, Maghera, Sandelford Bergkamp (Goldies Usher)

Bull born 1 January to 31 March 2007 – 1.George Henderson, Bushmills, Sandelford Curtis (Goldies Usher); 2. George Henderson, Sandelford Chaplin ( Goldies Usher); 3. Mr and Mrs. J A Watson and Son, Cornascriebe Chris (Cornascriebe Ulysses)

Bull born on for after 1 April 2007 – 1. Mr and Mrs. J Brown, Clogher, Silverbridge Karl (Doonally New); 2. Nelson Weir Jun, Loughgall, Kinnegore Concorde (Doonally Nicefor); 3. Cecil Robinson, Ballygowan, Tullygirvan Commander ( Doonally Prince)

Group of three animals – 1. George Henderson, Bushmills; 2. Gilbert Crawford, Maghera