December 3, 2025 Swatragh Bull Sale November 2025

Sandelford Viper tops Charolais Trade at Annual Bull Sale selling for 18,000gns.

A strong demand saw five bulls hit the five-figure mark, at the Northern Ireland Charolais Club’s autumn show and sale at Swatragh, where 36 bulls sold to average £7205.63.

Topping the trade at 18,000gns and achieving a Northern Ireland breed record, was the reserve champion, Sandelford Viper, from Gary Henderson, Bushmills, Co Antrim. Sired by Balthayock Muskateer and out of the Blelack Immaculate daughter, Sandelford Salas, he was knocked down to Trevor Butler.

Judge, Mike Massie, of the Elrick herd, selected Robert McWilliams’ Stranagone Verynice as his overall champion. Junior champion and reserve junior inter-breed at Balmoral Show in May, this Stranagone Saphir son, out of the Dundas Einstein daughter, Stranagone Spoton, caught the eye of Raymond Irvine, Inverlochy, who bought him at 15,500gns, along with Gary Wright, Lagavaich.

Making 14,000gns, was the second prize winner, Drumacritten Valentino, a Noble Prince son from George Nelson, Co Fermanagh. Out of Drumacritten Susan, a cow sired by Whitecliffe James, this one sold to Eamon Cassidy.

Ardmachree Vangogh, a first prize winner from Aaron Quigley, sold for 12,000gns, to James Millar. He’s sired by Grinshill Roger and out of Ardmachree Olivia, a daughter of Invictus. Champion at Omagh Show, he had also been reserve junior male at Balmoral and intermediate male at Clogher.

The other at five-figures, was Brogher Vagabond, another Grinshill Roger son, from Trevor Phair, which sold at 10,000gns to John McHenry. His dam is the Goldies Icon daughter, Brogher Nadine.

Another from George Nelson, Drumacritten Vincent, a first prize winner, sold at 9000gns, to Jonathan Adams. His sire is Knockmoyle10 Loki, while the dam is Drumacritten Rita, a daughter of Balthayock Muskateer.

Matching that 9000gns price tag was Woodpark Vangellis, a third prize winner from Will Short, Omagh. A son of Ottawa PP, out of the Deeside Gulliver-sired Woodpark Sahana, he sold to Steven Campbell.

Show results:

Class 1

1 – Brigadoon Vanquish, WD & JA Connolly

2 – Mullyboy Vindiesel, PJ Mullarkey

3 – Kenaghan Victor, L Ruddy

4 – Kenaghan Vince, L Ruddy

Class 2

1 – Sandelford Viper, G Henderson

2 – Cornascriebe Volcanic, JA Watson & Son

3 – Stranagone Virtous, R McWilliams

4 – Brigadoon Vanguard, WD & JA Connolly

Class 3

1 – Ardmachree Vangogh, A, O & E Quigley

2 – Brigadoon Valentino, WD & JA Connolly

3 – Aughentaine Viceroy, WR & AD Adams

Class 4

1 – Stranagone Verynice, R McWilliams

2 – Drumconnis Viking, J McGrath

3 – Slievemore Valuable, SP Bradley

4 – Blackfarm Victor, Damien McCaffrey

Class 5

1 – Deerfin Vespar, E McGarry

2 – Drumacritten Valentino, G Nelson

3 – Deerfin Vaughan, E McGarry

4 – Ardmachree Viking, A, O & E Quigley

Class 6

1 – Drumacritten Vincent, G Nelson

2 – Moorhill Victor, Ciaran Kelly

3 – Woodpark Vangellis, W Short

Class 7

1- Altnaderog Very Good, MG & G McShane

2 – Royal Downs Victory, M McKeown Esq

3 – Woodpark Vern, W Short

4 – Derryharney Victor, HC Stubbs & AA Burleigh

Class 8

1 – Altnaderog Very Nice, MG & G McShane

2 – Fury Vantage, P Hackett

3 – Glenramble Voldemort, T O’Neill

4 – Glenramble Volt, T O’Neill

Class 9

1 – Killadeas Virgil, S & D Bothwell

2 – Moniedogue Victor, J Maguire

Class 10

1 – Drumlone Verdict, KC Veitch

2 – Kenaghan Vernon, L Ruddy

3 – Stranagone Vulcan, R McWilliams

Senior champion – Sandelford Viper, G Henderson

Reserve senior champion – Ardmachree Vangogh, A, O & E Quigley

Intermediate champion – Stranagone Verynice, R McWilliams

Reserve intermediate champion – Drumconnis Viking, J McGrath

Junior champion – Killadeas Virgil, S & D Bothwell

Reserve junior champion – Altnaderog Very Nice, MG & G McShane

Overall champion – Stranagone Verynice, R McWilliams

Reserve overall champion – Sandelford Viper, G Henderson

Drumacritten Valentino sold for 14,000gns.

Brogher Vagabond sold for 10,000gns.

Brigadoon Vanquish sold for 7,000gns.

Brigadoon Valentino sold for 8,200gns

Mullyboy Vindiesel sold for 7,500gns.

Deerfin Vespar sold for 4,800gns.

Altnaderog VeryNice sold for 5,000gns

Drumconnis Viking sold for 8,400gns.

Ardmachree Vangogh sold for 12,000gns.

Altnaderog VeryGood sold for 6,800gns.

Drumlone Verdict sold for 5000gns.

Drumacritten Vincent sold for 9,000gns.

Killadeas Virgil sold for 8,800gns.

Reserve Overall, Sandelford Viper from Gary Henderson sold for 18,000gns.

Overall Champion, Stranagone VeryNice from Robert McWilliams sold for 15,500gns.