Cydentin Charolais Championship Finals Shine at Clogher

The final of the Cydectin  Charolais  Championships at Clogher Valley Show attracted the a large entry  with almost sixty  premium Charolais cattle from across  Northern Ireland on show.  On this unique occasion impressive prizewinners from various shows throughout the Province over the summer attended the champion grand finale. It is a spectacle to be seen to be believed. One  of the many spectators who crowded around the ring, commented “this is the fine art of the Charolais breed here today- a magnificent show!”

 The rain showers which fell occasionally during the day did not dampen the eager crowd who lined along the Charolais  ring to view, inspect and comment on  the fine line up of stock aspiring to be champion in their class.

 The first class presented, the senior bull class, animals born between 1^st April 2009 and 31^st July 2009, this was the largest class of the finale and judge for the event, Mr Stephen Nesbett from Darlington Co Durham found it extremely difficult to decide between all the prestigious animals in the ring.  After much pondering, the winner of the Senior Bull class was a fine fifteen month old bull Tandaragee Elite, sired by Thrunton Voldemort and home bred by Ballygawley breeder Philip McCrory.  Reserve senior bull was awarded to  S & D Bothwell for Killadeas Egbert sired by Dunlon Ulick a fine bull home bred by the well known Fermanagh breeder. This was the first of three awards for the Killadeas herd  at the event.

Gilbert Crawford, Maghera came third with Coolnaslee Empire, sired by Sandelford Bergkamp.

The intermediate class, bulls born between 1^st August 2009 and 31^st December 2009

 S & D Bothwell claimed the first place sash with Killadeas Enock, a one year old fine Charolais specimen, sired by Dunlon Ulick and home bred at the Killadeas herd.

Closely followed was reserve intermediate champion bull: Stranagone Eric another one year old bull, sired by Dingle Hofmeister, exhibited and bred by Robert McWilliams, Swatragh. Third was awarded to Mark Ritchie Richill  for Cloncarrish Ernie sired by Millstreet Carlo and bred by Mr & Mrs N Matchett..

The Junior bull, bulls born between 1^st January 2010 and 30^th April 2010, champion  went to Sean McGovern, Fintona for Ratoary Ferguson, sired by Oldstone Egbert, the first of two champions of the day for the Ratoary herd which were  exhibited by sisters, Clodagh and Eimear McGovern.

Reserve Champion Junior bull went to another Fintona breeder, Harold Crawford for Tonaghmore Firecracker sired by Mullaghbane Topline, a fine young bull with great potential which just piped his blood brother Tonaghmore Firestone who earned third place.

The senior heifer champion went well known Ballymena breeder Brian McAllister & Son whose son William exhibited Burnside Euphoria a seventeen month old heifer sired by Balmyle Vagabond should prove to be an excellent dam for future breeding.

Reserve senior heifer went to Killadeas Edith, sired by Dunlon Ulick and exhibited and owned by S& D Bothwell, a worthy third champion for Stewart and David at the Cydectin Champions final.

Third place in the senior heifer class went to new exhibitor Bartley Finnegan, Dungannon, with Oghamstone Emma, bred by Thomas Finnegan (Doonally New) an excellent start to exhibiting events and one to watch for future awards.

Intermediate heifer class champion went to well known breeder Sean McGovern, Fintona, for his second champion of the day; Ratoary Ebony, a lovely honey coloured heifer  sired by the renowned Ashley Victor, Ebony will be one to beat in future shows.

 The Reserve Intermediate heifer award went to Devine Brothers, Strabane for their homebred Brownhill Enna, sired by Shaen Topper, a nice one year old heifer,which faced sharp competition from 3^rd placed Ballinfull Ella, bred by Kieran Mullarkey and exhibited by  Edwin Morrison

Junior heifer class champion went to J A Connolly for Brigadoon Ena a fine young heifer sired by Royal Val D’Or

Reserve Junior heifer champion was awarded to Mr & Mrs J A Watson & Son for Conrascriebe Flo, sired by Thrunton Voldemort, a superb heifer which shows great potential and just managed to pushed Cornascriebe Fiona sired by Goldies Usher and also from the Watson herd into reserve champion place. A close third was Brigadoon Flavia from the herd of J A Connolly

Presenting the awards  was Raymond Irvine on behalf of sponsors Pfizer, manufacturers of the Cydectin range of worming products. Mr Irvine commented “Pfizer are pleased to be associated with the Northern Ireland Charolais Club and it is proof of the dedication of the breeders, the fine stock on show today”

Mrs Sandra Cochrane, Chairman thanked the exhibitors for the fine display of cattle, she mentioned specially Pfizer manufacuturers of Cydectin worming products and the British Charolais Society who continue to sponsor the championship, who without both the championship would not take place. A special word of thanks went to Stephen Nesbett who travelled  from Co Durham England to judge the event and also to Clogher Valley Show who hosted the grand final of the Cydectin Championships.

Results of the Final of the Cydectin Charolais Championships

Senior Bull Born between 1^st April 2009 and 31^st July 2009

1^st:  P McCrory, Ballygawley, Tandaragee Elite (Thrunton Voldemort) 2^nd S & D Bothwell, Enniskillen, Killadeas Egbert ( Dunlon Ulick) 3^rd G J Crawford, Maghera, Coolnaslee Empire (Sandelford Bergkamp) 4^th S & A Bellew, Cullyhanna, Kiltybane Ed (Kiltybane Baron)

Intermediate Bull Born between 1^st August 2009 and 31^st December 2009.

1st S & D Bothwell, Enniskillen, \Killadeas Enock (Dunlon Ulick) 2^nd: R McWilliams Swatragh Stranagone Eric (Dingle Hofmeister) 3^rd M Ritchie, Richill, Cloncarrish Ernie, (Millstreet Charlo) 4^th B McAllister & Son, Ballymena, Burnside Eagle (Balthayock Nougat)

Junior Bull Born between 1^st January 2010 and 30 April 2010

1^st: S McGovern, Fintona, Ratoary Ferguson (Oldstone Egbert), 2^nd H Crawford Fintona, Tonaghmore Firecracker, (Mullaghbane Topline) 3^rd H Crawford Fintona, Tonaghmore Firestone (Mullaghbane Topline)

Senior Heifer Born between 1^st January 2009 and 30 June 2009

1^st B McAllister & Son Ballymena, Burnside Euphoria, (Balmyle Vagabond) 2^nd S & D Bothwell Enniskillen, Killadeas Edith (Dunlon Ulick) 3^rd Finnegan Livestock, Dungannon Oghamstone Emma, bred by Thomas Finnegan (Doonally New) 4^th J A Connolly Ballinahinch, Brigadoon Ena (Royal Val D’Or)

Intermediate Heifer Born Between 1^st July 2009 and 31^st December 2009

1^st S McGovern,Fintona, Ratoary Ebony ( Ashleigh Victor), 2^nd: Devine Brothers Strabane, Brownhill Enna (Shaen Topper) 3^rd Edwin Morrison, Maguiresbridge, Ballinful Ella (Pirate) bred by Kieran Mullarkey, 4^th H Crawford Fintona Tonaghmore Emerald (Tonaghmore Augusto)

Junior Heifer Born between 1str January 2010 and 30 April 2010-07-29 1^st: Mr & Mrs J A Watson & Son, Portadown,Cornascreibe Flo (Thrunton Voldemort)  2^nd: : Mr & Mrs J A Watson & Son, Portadown, Cornascreibe Fiona (Goldies Usher)  3^rd: J A Connolly, Ballinhinch, Brigadoon Flavia (Royal Asteroid ET) 4^th P McCrory, Ballygawley, Tandaragee Fairlady (Mozart)

The Cydectin Charolais Championships are sponsored by Pfizer and British Charolais Society.

Sean McCrory Senior Male Champion	David Bothwell Reserve Senior Male Champion
David Bothwell Intermediate Male Champion	Robert & Piers McWilliams Reserve Intermediate Male Champion
Clodagh Junior Male Champion	Hazel Crawford Reserve Junior Male Champion
William McAllister Senior Heifer Champion	David Bothwell Reserve senior Heifer Champion
Eimer McGovern Intermediate Heifer Champion	Liam Devine Reserve Intermediate Heifer Champion
John Watson Junior Heifer Champion	Heather Watson Reserve Junior Heifer Champion

Coolnaslee Prove Unstoppable at Clogher valley

Charolais Champion and Interbreed Winner at Clogher Show was "Coolnaslee Diane" owned by Gilbert Crawford, Maghera. Gilbert is pictured with Sam Milliken at the halter

Popular Charolais breeder Gilbert Crawford is celebrating success after notching up yet another victory at Clogher Valley Show this week. This is one of the largest agricultural shows on the circuit and attracts a huge crowd of thousands annually.

Supreme Charolais Champion was the mighty two year old heifer "Coolnaslee Diane"  - a daughter of the noted Allanfauld Superscot who has bred so well in the Maghera herd.

This outstanding female has enjoyed an enviable show season securing the Supreme award at Balmoral Show in May followed on by a string of successes at Ballymena, Ballymoney, Armagh and Omagh.

Judging for the coveted Interbreed title at Clogher was in the hands of David Leggat, Scotland who placed Coolnaslee Diane as the Overall Champion describing her as an "easy winner - and without doubt one of the best Charolais females that I have ever seen".

Gilbert Crawford was delighted with his outing at Clogher, where he also picked up an array of rosettes with his show team of Charolais.