Autumn 2022 - Northern Ireland
RECORD BREAKING NUMBERS SEEN AT HOLSTEIN YOUNG BREEDERS ANNUAL SHOW
Over 200 Holstein calves and young handlers were entered and took to the show ring at Dungannon Farmers Mart on Friday 19th August to compete in the 19th Multi Breed Dairy Calf Show.
The show which is solely organised and ran by the Holstein Young Breeders’ (HYB) club is being hailed a great success, an event which is growing exponentially year on year, was short listed for Event of the Year at the 2019 Farming Life Awards.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the day, the standard of both the showmanship and the calves were fantastic” quotes Mr David Hodgson, who had the onerous task of judging the largest Holstein calf show on record. David hails from the Wormanby herd, Cumbria and is no stranger to the show circuit having judged at many shows on both sides of the Irish sea, whilst having great success in the show ring, along with being named the UK’s Premier herd in 2015.
On the day, young breeders’ members are put through their paces in the showmanship classes, which are sponsored by World Wide Sires UK as well as taking to the ring once more in the afternoon for the calf conformation classes, sponsored by Thompsons Feeds. Exhibitor Bred awards are also up for grabs in each class, sponsored by Western Farm Enterprises.
New sponsor Blondin Sires UK were also welcomed on board this year as the sponsor of the new Interbreed Championship Award. Thanks are given to Mark Logan & Clandeboye Estate for providing a brand-new trophy for this – The Clandeboye Cup, presented in memory of Lady Dufferin. Something which has been in discussion over the last number of years, it was a great pinnacle to the day.
A grand total of 62 young members sweated it out in the showmanship section in their various age categories, an increase of 20 young handlers from last year. The eventual Showmanship Champion & the Hamish Logan Trophy was awarded to Ava Montgomery, Saintfield. Lauren Henry, Stranocum was awarded Reserve Champion handler (receiving the Ulster Bank Cup), with James Gregg, Ballymena walking away with Honourable Mention. “We have had some huge classes today and we have ended up with what I class as the top five handlers here today. I feel my top five handlers could show cattle at top shows anywhere in the world – they are of such a high standard” said judge David Hodgson during the showmanship championship. Each of the first placed handlers, from the qualifying classes, will now go forward to represent the club at the All Breeds All Britain Calf Show held at Peterborough in October. The All Breeds All Britain Calf Show is a national event which takes place each year and sees the top regional showmanship and calf class winners compete it out for the national title. This year the event will take place from Friday 14th – Sunday 16th October and along with our champion and reserve handlers, Simon Gregg, Ballymena and Callum Reid, Drumbo will represent Northern Ireland in the hope to claim the top spots.
Once the handling classes were complete, the calf classes soon got underway
Calves are judged in age sorted classes and the top two placed calves in each class are invited back to compete for the overall Champion award.
After picking out his final six calves in the championship, judge David Hodgson said “I am always looking for calves that will go on and make great cows in any system, calves with dairy character, strength at front end, strength of loin, wide rumps, good legs and feet and I feel that the six calves in front of us here today carry all of these attributes”.
David then went and tapped out his Champion, Reserve and Honourable Mention calves, with top honours this year being awarded to the Mclean Family with Priestland 7085 Master James Rose. Winning the December/January class and sired by Golden Oaks Master, this calf is from a VG88 point second calf Walnutlawn Solomon daughter from Priestland 5235 PS James Rose EX95, a cow who needs little introduction. “This calf epitomises everything I look for in a calf, her balance and style is second to none” quotes David Hodgson, Judge. Priestland 7085 Master James Rose was also awarded the Exhibitor Bred Champion title. The Champion calf receives the Genus Crystal Award & Florrie Wilson Cup for best Exhibitor Bred.
Following the Champion, in Reserve and Honourable Mention positions were two calves bred and owned by Alan and Leanne Paul, Maghera, with Reserve Champion being awarded to Slatabogie Doral All Rich Red. Honourable mention ribbons went to Slatabogie Lambda Gold. The Reserve Champion calf was awarded the McCann Shield.
Our prize winners from each calf class also find themselves in a qualifying position for the national All Breeds All Britain calf show, however this year due to new Brexit restrictions – for the second year, this is unfortunately seeming to be an impossibility.
In his closing remarks, judge David Hodgson said “the level of support that Northern Ireland HYB achieve is just about the best that you could find anywhere and I believe that the final six calves that I pulled out for my championship were of a level to compete anywhere and thanks go to the club for their invitation over to judge, it’s been both an honour and a privilege”.
To wrap up the day’s events, Holstein judge David Hodgson teamed up with Ayrshire and Jersey judge, Mr Sam Wake, North Hants to tap out the eventual winner of the Interbreed Championship award, who would take away the new Clandeboye Cup, in memory of Lady Dufferin. Exhibited by the Sizzler Syndicate, Andrew Kennedy, Mark Henry, David Simpson and Rory Timlin the winner went to the Jersey Champion – Treasure Andreas Fernleaf ET. Thanks must go to Mark Logan and all at Clandeboye Estate for making this a possibility.
Thanks must go to our sponsors for the day, without whom the event would simply not be possible – World Wide Sires UK (showmanship), Thompsons Feeds (calf conformation), Western Farm Enterprises (exhibitor bred) & Blondin Sires UK (interbreed championship). Thanks also go to our stewards, Leiza Montgomery, Saintfield, Geoffrey Patton, Carrowdore and Alec Walker, Randalstown for ensuring the next class is always ready enabling the event to run so smoothly. The club are also indebted to our commentator for the day, Mr Michael Taaffe, Milltown and world renowned photographer Jane Steel, Kepculloch. We would also like to thank the Ayrshire and the Jersey Society along with Dungannon Farmers Mart, without whom the NI Multibreed Calf Show would not be where it is today.
Full results from the Holstein section can be found below;
Holstein Showmanship
Novice Class (10)
1st Zachary Booth, Stewartstown
2nd Finn Mccann, Bangor
3rd Ferris Mccann, Bangor
Junior Class 1 (14)
1st Molly Reid, Drumbo
2nd Emily Booth, Stewartstown
3rd Sam Mccormick, Bangor
Junior Class 2 (17)
1st Simon Gregg, Ballymena
2nd Glenn Walker, Randalstown
3rd David Hamilton, Bangor
Intermediate Handler (14)
1st Ava Montgomery, Saintfield
2nd James Gregg, Ballymena
3rd Isabella Gregg, Ballymena
Senior Handler (4)
1st Callum Reid, Drumbo
2nd Harry Orr, Ballymena
3rd Eva Walker, Randalstown
Mature Handler (2)
1st Lauren Henry, Stranocum
2nd Chris Heenan, Newcastle.
Holstein Showmanship Championship
Champion - Ava Montgomery, Saintfield
Reserve Champion - Lauren Henry, Stranocum
Honourable Mention - James Gregg, Ballymena
Holstein Calf Classes
Class 6 Holstein Born on or after 1st April 2022 (14)
1st & Exhibitor Bred Beechview Chief Amanda - G&J Booth, Stewartstown
2nd Hilltara King Doc Charlotte 3 - S & J McCormick, Bangor,
3rd Hilltara Rager Doreen Red - S & J McCormick, Bangor
Class 7 Holstein Born between 1st Feb & 31st March 2022 (24)
1st & Exhibitor Bred Slatabogie Lambda Gold - A&L Paul, Maghera
2nd JK Chief Bazooka - A&L Paul, Maghera
3rd Hilltara Lambda Reann - S&J McCormick, Bangor
Class 8 Holstein Born Between 1st Dec 21 & 31st Jan 22 (20)
1st & Exhibitor Bred Priestland 7085 Master James Rose - John Mclean, Bushmills
2nd Glenmuir Lemon Drizzle A&L Paul, Maghera
3rd Glenmuir RT Altitude Lemonade Red- P&S Haffey, Portadown
Class 9 Holstein Born Between 1st Oct 21 & 30th Nov 21 (27)
1st & Exhibitor Bred Slatabogie Doral All Rich Red - A&L Paul, Maghera
2nd Mostragee RT Duckett Black Velvet- S&D Mccrystal, Maghera
3rd Ballyportery Galore Glee- Orr Family, Ballymena
Class 10 Holstein Born Between 1st Aug 21 & 30th Sep 21 (18)
1st & Exhibitor Bred Priestland 7043 Master James Rose - John Mclean, Bushmills
2nd Mostragee Unstoppable Lulu - Mark Henry, Stranocum
3rd Glasson Doc S SH Gail - Gregg Family, Ballymena
Class 11 Holstein Born Between 1st Jun 21 & 30th Jul 21 (7)
1st Hilltara Lambda Apple- G&J Booth, Stewartstown
2nd & Exhibitor Bred Slatabogie Gold Avatar Red - A&L Paul, Maghera
3rd Priestland 7005 T'Storm James Rose - John Mclean, Bushmills
Class 12 Holstein Born Between 1st Apr 21 & 31st May 21 (6)
1st & Exhibitor Bred Damm Unix Lavish - D&G Simpson, Lisburn
2nd Cadog Shield Afligem Red - Sam McIntyre, Bushmills
3rd Slatabogie Ruben's Always August Red - A&L Paul, Maghera
Class 13 Red & White Holstein Born After 1st April 21 (16)
1st Slatabogie Doral All Rich Red - A&S Paul, Maghera,
2nd Ballyportery Luxor Etielle Red - Orr Family, Ballymena,
3rd Millfarm Rager Rosie Red - B Garvey & Sons, Armagh
Calf Championship
Champion & Exhibitor Bred Champion - Priestland Master James Rose – John Mclean, Bushmills
Reserve Champion - Slatabogie Doral All Rich Red, A & L Paul, Maghera
Honourable Mention - Slatabogie Lambda Gold, A & L Paul, Maghera
