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 CHAROLAIS REIGN SUPREME AT BALMORAL

 Balmoral Show was definitely a grand slam for Charolais when the breed took the three Interbreed championships and a Reserve Junior Interbreed title.

 All eyes were on Sportsman Columbo which Gilbert Crawford, Maghera and Joe Wilson, Newry   purchased earlier this year and this quality sire certainly proved their judgement in paying a Perth equalling record price of 55,000gns.

 When the outstanding two year old claimed the Charolais championship everyone was predicting further honours and he did not disappoint, for he then went on to meet the expectations of all of the beef judges and be crowned Beef Interbreed Champion.

Columbo’s sire, Thrunton Voldermort was also a 55,000gn purchase and Columbo’s dam line goes back to the famous 27,000gn De Crespigny Debutante.

 The Charolais success story didn’t end there as Columbo was determined to make an even greater impression on his first outing in Northern Ireland and when paired with two other animals which were also making their debut he helped claim the Interbreed pairs and Interbreed Group awards.

 The triumphant Interbreed Pairs matching was Columbo along with Cyril Millar’s Glenleary Cathy. Cathy is a Doonally New daughter and is out of Darshams Newfunnan, a cow whose breeding line goes back to the famous De Crespigny Tombola. Cyril purchased the dam at the Paul Clements dispersal sale held in 2006,

 To make the perfect trio and claim the Beef Interbreed group title this pair was joined by George and Gary Henderson’s Sandelford Ceara, a Doonally Prince daughter. Ceara’s dam is Sandlelford Seles which also bred Sandelford Bergkamp a former winner of the Marks and Spencer Beef Bull performance award at Balmoral.  

Also making an impact on the cattle lawn was Ballylast Dan, an Oldstone Egbert son from Gregory Donnelly’s herd at Londonderry. This promising young bull, purchased privately in the South of Ireland for an undisclosed sum, is out of a dam by the French bull, Major, and went on to claim the junior Charolais championship and the reserve junior Interbreed championship.

 Charolais entries were at their highest for many years at the 2009 Balmoral Show, and welcomed several new breeders to the show ring. The junior heifer class in particular with 17 entries was exceptional, and ensured that the packed gallery of spectators got value for money.

 One of the best accolades for any beef sire is its success with the customer and the Charolais breed highlighted its impact in the commercial beef sector with some outstanding progeny in the commercial classes at Balmoral .One of these claimed the junior male and reserve supreme commercial championship, when Eoin Loughran from Cookstown brought out Laddy, a son of Ashleigh Victor, the reserve Charolais champion at Balmoral. William McAllister, Kells showed Duffy, by their stock bull, Balmyle Vagabond  to claim the reserve junior championship. Vagabond was purchased at Perth for 16,000gns. 

There were a large entry of charolais commercials, steers and heifers, highlighting the dominance of the breed with local suckler producers.

 Ian Millar, chairman and David Benson, Chief Executive of the British Charolais Society were delighted with the breed’s success. David said “This follows on from a record breaking trade at Carlisle and emphasises the fact that the Charolais breeders are following market trends closely and targeting their breeding polices to meet those trends.”

 Results from the Judging Ring:

 Charolais Champion and Beef Interbreed Champion –Gilbert Crawford. Maghera, Sportsman Columbo (pictured above)

Reserve Charolais Champion – McGovern, Donnelly, and Donaghy,  Ashleigh Victor. (above)

Bardin Trophy for the best Charolais – Gilbert Crawford, Sportsman Columbo

Breeders Trophy for the best Charolais bull – Gilbert Crawford, Sportsman Colombo

Orage Trophy for the best Charolais cow –Gilbert Crawford, Coolnaslee Bella (pictured above)

H A Curry trophy for best junior bull – Gregory Donnelly, Londonderry, Ballylast Dan.(above)

John K Currie trophy for the best junior heifer – Gilbert Crawford, Maghera, Coolnslee Diane. (above)

 Class Results:

Coolnaslee Thrush

Cow born before 1 January 06- 1 Gilbert Crawford, Maghera, Coolnaslee Thrush; 2 Frank Reid, Ballynahinch, Dartonhall Tulip; 3 Martin Daonghy, Dungannon Farnane Victoria

Cow or heifer born in 2006 – 1 Gilbert Crawford, Coolnaslee Bella; 2 Diarmuid O’Kane, Dromiskin Bonnie; 3 Michael Hanlon, Longford, Drummullan Bridie

Sandelford Ceara

Heifer born January to June 07 – 1. George Henderson, Bushmills, Sandelford Ceara; 2 Diarmuid O’Kane, Ballymakea Carmel; 3Gilbert Crawford, Coolnaslee Countess

Glenleary Cathy

Heifer born July to December 07 – 1 Cyril Millar, Coleraine, Glenleary Cathy; 2 Glencoe Charolais, Newry, Glencoe Cutie

Heifer born on or after 1 January 08 –1 Gilbert Crawford , Coolnaslee Diane; 2 Glencoe Charolais, Newry, Glencoe Daisy; 3 David Connolly, Ballygowan Brigadoon Duchess

Sportsman Columbo

Bull born before 1 January 08 –1.Gilbert Crawford, Sportsman Colombo; 2 McGovern, Donnelly and Donaghy – Ashleigh Victor.

Ballylast Dan

Bull born January to March 08 – 1Gregory Donnelly, Londonderry, Ballylast Dan; 2 David Connolly, Ballygowan Brigadoon Dollar

Ratoary Dollar

Bull born after 1 April 08- 1 Sean McGovern, Clogher, Ratoary Dollar; 2 Nelson Weir, Lurgan, Kinnego Hill Dandy; 3 Sean McGovern Ratoary Turbo.

The Top Charolais Group of Three at Balmoral were owned by Gilbert Crawford, Maghera.  Andre Patterson exhibits Sportsmans Columbo; Sam Miliken exhibites Coolnaslee Bella and Philip McKendry exhibits Coolnaslee Thrush

General Pictures

Charolais judge, Peter Donger, Northamptonshire at work in the Charolais ring

Watching the judging in progress

 

Peter Donger chats to Charolais breeder Sean McGovern from Clogher

David Benson from the British Charolais Cattle Society at Balmoral

 

Iain Millar, Chairman, British Charolais Cattle Society;David Benson, Chief Executive, British Charolais Cattle Society; Peter Vasey, President, BCCS and John McGrath, Chairman, NI Charolais club enjoying the Charolais judging at Balmoral

 

Charolais talk at Balmoral Show with Iain Millar, Chairman, British Charolais Cattle Society; Gilbert Crawford, Maghera; David Benson, Chief Executive, British Charolais Cattle Society and Peter Vasey, President, British Charolais Cattle Society

 

John McGrath and Martin Donaghy from the N I Charolais Club watch the judging in the Charolais ring at Balmoral

 

A top line-up of Charolais go under the judges gaze at Balmoral

 

Getting a shot for the albumn at the Charolais ring at Balmoral

 

Gilbert Crawford, Maghera and Cyril Millar, Coleraine talk Charolais at Balmoral