Farming Eye

The summer show season may seem a little way off, but the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society is celebrating today having received the green light for the development of its new showground on the site of the former Maze prison.

The new site, to be known as Balmoral Park, will host its first Balmoral Showjust five months away in May, so the hard work will now begin in earnest for the team to ensure things are in place in time.

Northern Irish Environment Minister Alex Attwood said the decision to give the go-ahead for the international-standard showgrounds and show rings would allow the annual Balmoral Show to take place in its new location in May.

“The Balmoral Show is an important event within Northern Ireland’s calendar. The proposed relocation by the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society (RUAS) is seen as a catalyst for further redevelopment on the Maze/Long Kesh site, which has been identified as a site of strategic importance.” The Department of the Environment (DOE) said it had received no objections to the plans.

The Farming Eye team wish RUAS the best of luck developing the new site and we look forward to reporting from the new showground in May.

by Jonathan Long

This year has been one to remember in many ways, there have of course been many highlights and one subject has dominated discussion at most events  – the relentless wet weather!

Looking back on 2012 it will be remembered as the first year in history that two bulls sold at six figure sums, first, in February, there was 120,000gns Limousin Dolcorsllwyn Fabio and then, in October, there was 100,000gns Charolais Vexour Garth.

Sheep trade saw some notable highlights too, with a pair of Blackface tup lambs from Dachirla grossing 150,000gns, a believed world record for a naturally conceived pair of lambs from the same dam. One of them also matched the breed record price of 90,000gns.

It’s certainly been a year of talking points, so here’s a round up of all the action as seen through the Farming Eye lens.

by Jonathan Long

As the winter show season is almost at an end, we thought we’d share a little a little highlight captured by MacGregor Photography from the Royal Highland Winter Fair.

by Chrissie Long

The Aberdeen-Angus team of three pedigree calves won the Duke of Norfolk Trophy earlier today under the keen eye of all the pedigree calf show judges. The winning team consisted of two from Shadwell Estate, Shadwell Rosa Erica E052 and Shadwell Frances M580, both by Netherallan Peter Pershore, along with Neil Ainsworth’s bull calf Billinge Magic Jack Eric M176, again by Peter Pershore.The Simmental team of three stood reserve.

by Chrissie Long

Having come through as winner of the Continental Baby Beef championships earlier this morning father and son team Trevor and Jonathan Lyon went one stage further with their January 2012-born Limousin cross heifer Temptation to take the overall top spot under judge Jonathan Maycock.

Temptation

Homebred, this one is by Rossignol and is out of a Thirlwall Castle heifer and was second at Stafford on her previous outing.

Reserve to her in the Continental section and then reserve overall was Donald MacPherson with his family’s Charolais cross heifer Molly Malone. This one is fresh from her reserve baby beef win at the Royal Highland Winter Fair on Wednesday and was purchased privately in August when Donald tapped her out as champion at Bonniconlon Show in Co Mayo, Ireland.

Molly Malone

by Chrissie Long

The judging of the pedigree calf shows is underway and taking the Simmental championship was Jimmy McMillan at the halter of Boddington Estate’s October 2011-born Sterling Petra’s Cairo. This one is by Dovefields Gallant and out of Sterling Dolores Petra and was champion at the Central West Club Calf Show at Cirencester Market.

Sterling Petra’s Cairo

Reserve here was Ann and Tony Jukes who followed through from the class with the second prize heifer, Swallowhill Charity. Born October 2011, this one is by the herd’s previous herd sire Blackford Tonka and is out of Swallowhill Tallulah.

Standing top of the line in the Aberdeen-Angus classes was Shadwell Estate Co Ltd with their September 2011-born Shadwell Rosa Erica E052. By the senior herd sire Netherallan Peter Pershore E052, she is out of Shadwell Rosa Erica. Reserve to her was Neil Ainsworth’s April 2012-born bull calf Billinge Magic Jake Eric M176. Again by Peter Pershore, this one is out of the herd’s former show cow Mosston Muir Jennifer Erica C060.

Meanwhile the Beef Shorthorn championship went to local exhibitors and big supporters of the event Charles, Sally and Harry Horrell. Their champion was the April 2012-born Pode Hole Gypsy Freesia which is a Chapelton Clansman daughter out of Pode Hole Snowqueen. Reserve to her was Trevor Brown’s October 2011-born Grafton Emily, a Grafton Bombardier son out of Grafton Silver Cloud.

Pode Hole Gypsy Freesia

In the Charolais classes Messrs McMillan and McInnes’ Two Macs Grace took the top spot with their October 2011-born Mortimers Vanquish daughter out of Mortimers Evanesce. Reserve to her was Darren Knox’s February 2012-born bull calf Drumshane Hugoboss, a Rumsden Fallout-sired calf out of Rumsden Diva.

Two Macs Grace

Then in the Lincoln Red classes, top honours went to Julie Evans’ February 2012-born heifer calf Springwood Miss R62, a Hemingby Dragon daughter out of Beverley Miss L8. Then the reserve spot went to Messrs G and J Bolton with their February 2012-born bull calf Wragby Romeo, a Walmer Kendal son out of Wragg Miss E7.

Springwood Miss

by Chrissie Long

On winning form this morning in the native baby beef classes to take the native championship was Michael Kirby with his homebred Aberdeen-Angus purebred steer Blackcroft Banarang. By Oakchurch Dictator, this one is out of a Lockerley bred cow and was native calf champion at the Cornwall Calf Show this year.

Blackcroft Banarang

Standing reserve native calf was Arfon Jones’ Beef shorthorn cross heifer Super S. This April-born calf is out of a British Blue cross dam and is homebred.

by Chrissie Long

Coming through to win the special East of England Agricultural classes this morning was Jason and Sarah Wareham with their Limousin cross heifer Jessie J which weighs 510kg. Bred by James Morrison, she was purchased from Aberdeen for £1200, she has won various tickets this backend including a third at agri Expo and a fourth at Birmingham, as well as a second at South East Primestock Show.

Standing reserve to her was Trevor Lyon and family with their reserve steer champion from yesterday Rob Roy. By Bailea Umber, this one was reserve baby beef champion at Beef Expo and the Royal Welsh and also stood first at Birmingham this back end.

Winning the exhibitor bred title was Richard and Judy Fountaine’s Limousin cross heifer Classy Girl.

by Chrissie Long

Apologies for not getting the rest of the sheep class results up in time, but between showing sheep and covering the beef cattle classes and the championships it’s been a bit of a jam packed day!!

Winning the Beltex trimmed class was Steve and Sara Gibbons purebred pair which weigh 85kg, while Andrew Morton stood second with his purebred 93kg pair.

Meanwhile, the red rosette in the Southdown trimmed class went to Messrs Wakeham-Harmer and Dawson with their purebred 91kg pair, while myself and Jonathan were second with our 73kg Southdown x Beltex pair.

Then in the Suffolk class, both first and second went Malcolm Stewart with his Suffolk x Texel pairs with the firsts weighing 87kg while his second prize pair weighed 97kg.

Andrew Morton then won the Texel trimmed class with his Texel x Beltex lambs which weighed 83kg with Steve and Sarah Gibbons’ purebred pair standing second. These weighed 93kg.

The any other native Longwool class went the way of Eifion Hughes’ Blueface Leicster x Welsh pair with George Horne coming in second with his Romney’s, while the any other native shortwool went to myself and Jonathan again this time with our Hampshire Down x Beltex pair with Robert Cox’s Poll Dorsets coming in second.

Then in the any other native breed hill class top spot went to the South Country Cheviots from Messrs Wilson and Barrie’s South Country Cheviots with Eifion Hughes’ South Country Cheviots in second.

Finally, the last class of the day for the any other Continentals was won by Steve and Sara Gibbons who have had a pretty solid run of form this winter season. Their winners were a pair of Blue Texel homebred lambs, while second place went to David and Linda Wadland’s Blue Texel x Texel pair.

That’s us now done for the day…pics will be creeping in no doubt and then we’ll be back ringside tomorrow for the baby beef classes, pedigree show calf competitions and sheep championships.

by Chrissie Long

Winning the prestigious King’s Cup just now was today’s overall purebred champion, the homebred 538kg Limousin heifer Keskadale Gamel from father and son team Keith and Mark Harryman. By Sarkley Volvo, this one has already stood reserve purebred champion at Birmingham this year, as well as a second at Countryside Live. Adding to his accolades today, Mark has just won the Bob Rickardson Memorial Trophy for the best presented stockman.

Keskadale Gamel

Standing reserve was Sarah Jane Jessop at the halter of Wil Owen’s Red Duke. Owned in partnership with Dougie McBeath and Sarah Jane jessop, this Charolais cross steer weighs 690kg and is by Deunawd Dole and out of an Limousin x Angus cow. He is fresh from his reserve steer championship at Wednesday’s Royal Highland Winter Fair and was steer champion at the Highland in the summer as well as  being a class winner at Perth Show.

by Chrissie Long