March 6, 2021 Ballymena Sale 6th March 2021

Woodpark Presley and Birches Prettylady top the bids at Ballymena at 6,000 gns

Saturday 6^th March saw the Northern Ireland Charolais Club host their annual Charolais Bull Sale for the first time at Ballymena Livestock Market.   With a mix of bidding happening in person, online and over the phone due to the current COVID-19 restrictions still in place. A steady trade took place which saw the two top selling animals go for 6,000 gns each.  11 bulls sold with an average price of £3081.

Top price bull of the day, at 6,000 gns was WOODPARK PRESLEY, bred by Mr W Short of Omagh, Co. Tyrone. This 19-month-old bull is sired by the easy calving Deeside Gulliver and out of Woodpark Ellie, a daughter of Major. The hammer went down with a bid from W J Fraser & Son who will be taking him home to Banffshire.

The next highest price, with a bid of 3,400 gns was PINEHILL RONALDO, bred by Mr C Todd of Lisburn, Co. Down.  Sired by Mornity Nero, out of Pinehill Naomi, a daughter of the easy calving Blelack Digger.  This 14-month-old lad caught the eye of A McMullan and will be making his way to his new home in Castlewellan, Co. Down.

The third top price of the day, with a bid of 3,300 gns was for the 2019 born MOUNTJOY PAGAN, bred by Mr C O Mcaskie of Omagh, Co. Tyrone.  His sire, Montgomery Ianto is the 2014 Royal Welsh Reserve Male Champion and Reserve Junior Champion.  His dam, Mountjoy India, is the daughter of Corrie Alan, the 19,000 gns Reserve Junior Champion from Perth in 2006.  The successful bidder and taking him home is S J Mcilmurray of Dungannon, Co. Tyrone.

23-month-old ROYALDOWNS PABLO sold for the next highest bid of 3,000 gns.  Sired by Hideal and out of Drumfin Damsel, a daughter of Doonally Ducdenever.  Bred by M McKeown Esq of Downpatrick, Co. Down. He will be making the journey to his new home in Limavady, Co. Londonderry to the farm of Mr N Blair.

OVILL PRIME is bred by the O’Kane Bros from Dungiven, Co. Londonderry.  Prime sold for 2,900 gns and caught the eye of H Small of Ballymena, Co. Antrim.  This 17-month-old lad is parent verified, sired by Ovill Lancelot, his dam is Ovill Jessica, a daughter of Doonally Nicefor.

20-month-old ROYALDOWNS PATROL sold for 2,800 gns, sired by the 18,000 gns Thrunton Fairfax, his dam, Royaldowns Erica is the daughter of Allanfauld Velocity.  Patrol also from the stable of M McKeown Esq of Downpatrick, Co. Down, and will be heading home with J Wilson of Ballyclare, Co. Antrim.

Also selling for 2,800 gns was 17-month-old DRUMACRITTEN PAUL from the stable of Mr G Nelson of Rosslea, Co. Fermanagh.  Sired by Whitecliffe James, this lads dam, Drumacritten Marylou is the daughter of Maerdy Dublin, who sold for 11,000 gns in Carlisle in 2009.  The successful bidder was Mr S Dobbin of Ballycastle, Co. Antrim.

WOODPARK PABLO is bred by Mr W Short of Omagh, Co. Tyrone.  This 20-month-old lad is sired by the easy calving Deeside Gulliver, his dam, Woodpark Jan is sired by Rumsden Fawkes. Pablo caught the eye of Mr W Hanna of Kilkeel, Co. Down who secured their purchase with a bid of 2,700 gns.

WOODPARK PIXEL, another from the stable of Mr W Short of Omagh, Co. Tyrone. This bull is 19 months old and is fully parent verified. His sire is Deeside Gulliver and his dam is Woodpark Nectar.  Pixel sold for 2,600 gns and is going home with J Lavery from Lurgan, Co. Armagh.

2019 born ALTNADEROG PAJO, selling for the price of 2,500 gns, comes from the herd of by M G & G McShane of Strabane, Co. Tyrone.  Sired by Deeleview Horace, out of Burnside Lappy, a daughter of Conval Frank, Reserve Intermediate Champion at Stirling in 2012 who sold for 13,000 gns. Pajo will be going home with Mr M Dooher of Strabane.

Top price female of the day, with a bid of 6,000 gns was BIRCHES PRETTYLADY, bred by Mr & Mrs N Matchett or Portadown, Co. Armagh.  This 25-month-old heifer is sired by Elgin Jackman, out of Tawny Jasmine, who is sired by Doonally New.  Prettylady’s successful bidder was Simone McCabe of Castleblaney, Co. Monaghan.

28-month-old BROGHER OMYGIRL was the final female to sell, with the hammer going down on a bid of 3,400 gns.  Bred by Mr T Phair of Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh.  Omygirl is sired by the 26,000 gns Balbithan Vespasian, out of Brogher Fancygirl, a daughter of Lyonsdemesne Tzar.  Omygirl will be making her way home with Mr K Murphy of Newry, Co. Down.