Balmoral Show this year provided NI Limousin Breeders with an opportunity of displaying the strength of the Breed - now acknowledged as being the largest in numbers in the UK - but also demonstrated the quality of the animals currently being bred in Northern Ireland.

    The Champion, Carmorn Voney, with owner and exhibitor, Peter Smyth.

In keeping with the breed’s status, the Limousin had, again, the greatest numbers on display in the Beef sector and, in the sunshine on judging day, the cattle lawn surrounds were packed with people to see and take note of the impressive turnouts in all the classes which provided Judge Mr Aled Edwards - who, as well as being a Limousin breeder himself and an accomplished Judge, is also the British Limousin Society Chairman – with a massive selection task. Mr Edwards paid tribute to the breeding advances that had been made locally and, during his judging comments, he explained that, in his judgments, he would be placing emphasis on animals which he considered likely to produce the type of offspring which would meet market demands, both in the pedigree and in the commercial field and he complimented the exhibitors on their display.

CARMORN-BRED HEIFER TAKES CHAMPIONSHIP
Mr Edwards selected as his Supreme Champion Carmorn Voney, an October 2004-born heifer owned and shown by Peter Smyth of Coleraine.  This classy heifer had been bred in the Carmorn herd of C & F McAuley of Toomebridge.

His Reserve Supreme Champion was a two-year-old heifer, Ronick Voile, shown by David Kenwell of Dromore, Co Tyrone, and bred by the Dick Family of Stirling, Scotland, while the Champion Bull was Sarkley Ritchie shown by Father & Son team, A & T Clyde of Antrim with the Reserve Male Championship going to the Crawford Brothers from Fermanagh with their stylish junior bull, Vigot.

SPECIAL CLASSES
While there was immense competition for class placings – there were eleven classes in all with some as high as eighteen entries – the competition really “hots up” when it comes to the “Specials”. These awards are made possible, in the main, by generous sponsorship from a variety of outlets- you can read about these on the “Thank-you " panel on this page.

The McBriar Cup for the Champion was won by Peter Smyth as was the Special for the Best Limousin Female while the Broadmedows Breeders Cup went to Francis McAuley. The Smyth Cup for the Male Champion was won by A & T Clyde and the Special prize for the best Intermediate Bull went to the Campbell family of Carnlough.

The prize for the Best Junior Bull bred by exhibitor was won by James McKay of Maghera with the Best Junior Heifer award going to Peter Murphy of Newry and Peter was also awarded the Scott Cup for the best animal on show, bred by exhibitor.

The William Mulligan Memorial Rose Bowl was awarded to David Kenwell for his Intermediate Heifer and the Best Pair prize to Mr James McKay of Maghera while the Group of Three award was won by the Campbell Family with the Herbert Lusby Memorial Trophy for the best Group of Three by the same sire being presented for a well-presented group of Ronick Luke’s progeny.

Further success was enjoyed  by the breed in the interbreed competitions and this year Limousins were awarded 1st Reserve in the Interbreed Championship, 1st Reserve in the Interbreed Pairs and 2nd Reserve in the Interbreed Group of Three. Furthermore, the Limousin senior stockjudging team had a second place in the popular Hereford Competition.  But, in the end, performance is of paramount importance and John Adam’s first and second in the Marks and Spencer’s Interbreed Bull Performance Class brought to a climax a show in which, following recent reports of yet higher prices being offered for Limousin stock including those bred locally, breeders have a right to be proud of the efforts that they have taken that has resulted in these golden-red cattle being the “cream of the bunch.”

Performance And Achievement Highlights Limousin Year
Gearing up for SFP with Charolais
White Rose Group Limousin heifers sell to 3,600gns