Full credit goes to Northern Ireland Hereford breeders who had a tremendous turnout of cattle at the annual Balmoral show. All animals were were well presented and in very good show condition given it is so early in the season. Numbers of Herefords entered were possibly the highest ever and the largest representation for any cattle breed at the event. Just two breeders from the south had Herefords exhibited. Coote Geelan a regular exhibitor and former championship winner had a team from his Baltymore herd in Co Leitrim on show while Albert De Cogan, Castlemartyr had a Hereford heifer. Albert also had his Angus bull Rosemead Karona J957 on display initially winning his class and later going all the way to take the Angus Championship.

The Reserve Grand Female Hereford Champion came from the first class of the day, and was exhibited by John and Karen Taggart, Carrowdore. Their eight year old cow “Knockmountagh Olga” bred by Eamon McKiernan, Monasterboice, Co Louth has enjoyed a super show career and was shown with her calf at foot. She is sired by Churchill Storm, and is out of Knockmountagh Aileen. There were 10 cows forward in this class making it the largest Senior Female Class in the entire beef section.

Andrew McMordie celebrated success winning the Reserve Grand Hereford Male Championship with his September 2012 born Solitude 1 Kingdom, a son of Gouldingpoll 1 Captain (GCT) bred by Matthew Goulding, Ballyduff, Co Kerry and currently standing at Dovea Genetics, Co Tipperary. This red ticket winner represented a sole entry from Andrew’s Solitude herd based at Ballygowan and sold at the show to a local pedigree breeder.

“Craigy Honey Pie 2nd” was winner of the July – December 2012 born Hereford female class for Desmond Martin, Saintfield. This home bred heifer is sired by the highly successful Parkhill Pompeii a son of Yarram Pompeii V055 the noted BIS sire and the dam is Duibhgiolla Honey Pie bred by well-known Co Leitrim breeders Kevin & Monica Diffley.

Judge for the event was Andrew Owen, Church Preen Herefords, Shropshire, UK     Report with assistance of Libby Clarke   Photos by Alfie Shaw