The Hammer Comes Down at 9,600gns for Ragnarok

The evening of Friday 29^th April 2022 saw the Northern Ireland Charolais Club return to Swatragh Livestock Market for their annual Spring Sale. A total of 30 bulls sold to a 75% clearance and an average price of £4163 – £623 higher than the previous year’s Spring sale. Additionally, 5 heifers were also sold with an average price of £3140.

Taking the day’s top price of 9,600gns was Senior and Reserve Overall Champion GLENCOE RAGNAROK. This 21-month-old is from the herd of P & V McDonald of Newry, Co. Down, and was sired by the ever-popular Whitecliffe James. Ragnarok’s dam is Beechdale Lupin, a daughter of the well-known 16,000gns Clyth Diplomat. Winning the bid and taking Ragnarok home is W McVey of Carnlough, Co. Antrim.

The second highest price of 7,000gns went to the day’s Intermediate and Overall Champion, KILLADEAS ROBERT from S & D Bothwell of Ballina Mallard, Co. Fermanagh. This 18-month-old bull comes from prize-winning lineage, with his sire Killadeas Orlando taking the title of Reserve Supreme Champion at Clogher in 2019. Robert’s dam is Killadeas Nell, a Blelack Blackberet daughter. Robert will be making the trip to Newry, Co. Down, to the herd of winning bidder A O’Rourke.

The next highest price of 6,800gns was secured by the day’s Reserve Junior Champion: 14-month-old BROGHER STANDOUT from the well-established herd of T Phair in Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh. Standout is another son of the popular Whitecliffe James, and his dam is Brogher Olga – a daughter of the French bull Plexus. This charming young lad caught the eye of T Butler, who won the bid and will be taking him back to their holding in Ballycastle, Co. Antrim.

Taking the next highest price of 6,100gns was KENAGHAN SUPERMAN, a 14-month-old bred by L Ruddy of Strabane, Co. Tyrone. Superman boasts an impressive pedigree, having been sired by Doonally New and his dam, Whinfort Mia, goes back to the French bull Major. Like Standout before him, Superman will also be heading to Ballycastle, Co. Antrim, under the care of winning bidder T Butler.

Reserve Intermediate Champion OVILL RONALDO from the O’Kane Bros of Dungiven, Co. Londonderry sold for the next highest price of 6,000gns. This 17-month-old was sired by Sportsmans Linesman, who previously won the title of Reserve Male Champion at the National Charolais Show in 2017. Ronaldo is out of Sagesse Florienne, a daughter of the sought-after Oldstone Egbert. Winning the bid this time was D Rafferty, who will be introducing Ronaldo to their herd in Carrickmore, Co. Tyrone.

21-month-old DERRYGIFF ROCKEY, sold by M Surphlis of Linaskea, Co. Fermanagh, attained the next highest price of 5,500gns. This strapping bull has quite the pedigree behind him – his dam Derrygiff Joker is a daughter of Blelack Digger, and he was sired by the 30,000gns Balmyle Bollinger. Rockey will be heading over to Portadown, Co. Armagh, to the herd of winning bidder B Lappin.

Selling for 4,800gns was 17-month-old ROSSAVALLEY RASCAL, from the herd of P Quigley of Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh. Rascal’s lineage is packed full of easy calvers, having been sired by the notorious Blelack Digger and born to Rossavalley May, a daughter of the similarly easy-calving Allanfauld Vagabond. Rascal is sure to go on to perform well for his new owner W Bradley of Maghera, Co. Londonderry.

Coming in at the next highest price of 4,600gns was 14-month-old KILLADEAS SAMUEL, bred by S & D Bothwell of Ballina Mallard, Co. Fermanagh. This young lad is out of Killadeas Dainty, a Dunlon Ulick daughter, and his sire is the 11,000gns Battleford Laser. Samuel caught the attention of E McKeown, who won the bid and will be taking him home to their holding in Markethill, Co. Armagh.

The next highest price went to one of the youngest bulls on offer, BROWNHILL SAM, who reached a final price of 4,400gns. Sam is from the herd of the Devine Brothers in Strabane, Co. Tyrone, and was sired by the Irish-born AI bull Goldstar Othello. Meanwhile his dam, Brownhill Izzywizzy, goes back to previous Balmoral Supreme Champion Rumsden Fawkes. M McNally won the bidding for this handsome young bull, and he will soon be heading back to their herd in Portadown, Co. Armagh.

STRANAGONE RYDER from R McWilliams in Maghera, Co. Londonderry secured the next highest price of 4,300gns. This 19-month-old comes from sought-after French stock – his sire is Jumper, and his dam is Merveille. Ryder will be journeying to Ballyclare, Co. Antrim, under the care of winning bidder J Gault.

Securing the top price of the day for heifers was Female Champion CARNVIEW RIHANNA, who sold for 4,800gns. Rihanna is from the herd of J McGuigan of Maghera, Co. Londonderry, and was sired by the ever-popular Oldstone Egbert. Her dam is Edenhurst Eliza, a daughter of Mowbraypark Paramount. This stunning young 19-month-old was snapped up by P & B Caraher, and she is sure to prosper in her new home in Newry, Co. Down.

The day also saw a collection of semen straws sold, including from such coveted sires as Doonally New and Oldstone Egbert. Straws from Oldstone Egbert reached the top price of £200 per straw, followed by Doonally New at £140 per straw and Whitecliffe James at £115 per straw.

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Show Results:

Class 1 – BULL, born on or before 8 July 2020
1^st – E Johnston & Sons – Gallion Rocky – s. Liscally Eti
2^nd – A Armstrong – Tanhill Rumpus – s. Woodpark Elgin
3^rd – A Armstrong – Tanhill Rector – s. Woodpark Elgin
4^th – A Armstrong – Tanhill Rocky – s. Woodpark Elgin

Class 2 – BULL, born on or between 15 July & 10 October 2020
1^st – P & V McDonald – Glencoe Ragnarok – s. Whitecliffe James
2^nd – R McWilliams – Stranagone Ryder – s. Jumper
3^rd – S & D Bothwell – Killadeas Rodger – s. Battleford Laser
4^th – J Maguire – Moniendogue Rusty – s. Cavelands Fenian

Class 3 – BULL, born on or between 23 October & 28 November 2020
1^st – S & D Bothwell – Killadeas Robert – s. Killadeas Orlando
2^nd – O’Kane Bros – Ovill Ronaldo – s. Sportsmans Linesman
3^rd – P Quigley – Rossavalley Rascal – s. Blelack Digger
4^th – W Whyte – Innisrush Roan – s. Clenagh Lyle

Class 4 – BULL, born on or between 1 & 31 December 2020
1^st – W Short – Woodpark Ronan – s. Barnsford Ferny
2^nd – S P Bradley – Slievemore Rolex – s. Westcarse Houdini
3^rd – S McCaughey – Fymore Revolution – s. Doonally New
4^th – W Short – Woodpark Ragnor – s. Liscally Nijinsky

Class 5 – BULL, born on or between 2 January & 16 February 2021
1^st – T Phair – Brogher Standout – s. Whitecliffe James
2^nd – S & D Bothwell – Killadeas Samuel – s. Battleford Laser
3^rd – T Phair – Brogher Shane – s. Maerdy Ignition
4^th – P J & S O’Kane – Mccaldrick Sambuca – s. Balthayock Musketeer

Class 6 – BULL, born on or after 17 February 2021
1^st – Devine Bros – Browhill Sam – s. Goldstar Othello
2^nd – L Ruddy – Kenaghan Superman – s. Doonally New
3^rd – L Ruddy – Kenaghan Starsky – s. Clenagh Jasper 2
4^th – W Short – Woodpark Simon – s. Blelack Immaculate

Class 7 – HEIFER, born on or after 17 June 2020
1^st – J J McGuigan – Carnview Rihanna – s. Oldstone Egbert
2^nd – J J McGuigan – Carnview Ruth – s. Balthayock Hamish
3^rd – P & V McDonald – Glencoe Rosy – s. Glencoe Maximus
4^th – P & V McDonald – Glencoe Rowan – s. Glencoe Maximus

Senior Championship – Overall best bull from Classes 1-2
Champion – P & V McDonald – Glencoe Ragnarok – s. Whitecliffe James
Reserve – E Johnston & Sons – Gallion Rocky – s. Liscally Eti

Intermediate Championship – Overall best bull from Classes 3-4
Champion – S & D Bothwell – Killadeas Robert – s. Killadeas Orlando
Reserve – O’Kane Bros – Ovill Ronaldo – s. Sportsmans Linesman

Junior Championship – Overall best bull from Classes 5-6
Champion – Devine Bros – Browhill Sam – s. Goldstar Othello
Reserve – T Phair – Brogher Standout – s. Whitecliffe James

Female Championship – Overall best female from Class 7
Champion – J J McGuigan – Carnview Rihanna – s. Oldstone Egbert
Reserve – J J McGuigan – Carnview Ruth – s. Balthayock Hamish

Overall Male Championship – Overall best bull from Classes 1-6
Champion – S & D Bothwell – Killadeas Robert – s. Killadeas Orlando
Reserve – P & V McDonald – Glencoe Ragnarok – s. Whitecliffe James