Now in its fifth year, the Four Breeds Calf Show on Saturday 22 November at Ballymena Livestock Mart proved another resounding success, with a record entry of calves and young handlers. The annual show is made up of Salers, Simmental, British Blue and Blonde d’Aquitaine cattle.

In the Simmental section, there was success for the Ranfurly herd of WD and JD Hazelton, Dungannon, who cleaned up on the day, winning the overall senior heifer and overall senior champion with Ranfurly Jade 2nd, reserve senior champion with Ranfurly Renegade, junior bull and overall junior champion with Ranfurly Supremo, as well as taking the pairs title.

Additionally, Hiltonstown Sadie from Richard and Rhys Rodgers, Portglenone, was crowned as reserve junior champion.

Judge for the event was Heather Duff from the Pitmudie herd, Menmuir, Angus, an experienced young breeder with a multitude of ribbons of her own from shows across Scotland.

Commenting on her senior heifer and overall senior champion, Heather noted: “She has everything I’d look for in a Simmental female. She is full of breed character, has great presence in the ring, she is very feminine, smart and stylish with a lovely head.”

David Hazelton of the Ranfurly herd said: “We take great pride in this heifer bred by our homebred bull Ranfurly Limelight, who sold for 16,000gns at Stirling Bull Sales in February 2022.”

The senior bull and reserve senior champion, Ranfurly Renegade, is sired by Celtic Rock and out of the same dam as the highest priced heifer at the herd’s production sale in 2024, Ranfurly Weikel 52nd, who sold for 8,000gns.

On her junior male and overall junior champion Ranfurly Supremo, Heather remarked: “He is a very smart, stylish young bull that immediately caught my eye in the ring. He has good length and shape about him with a good top line and plates.”

Supremo is a half-brother to the herd’s primary show heifer from this year, Ranfurly Weikel 56th, reserve supreme and junior champion at Balmoral Show in 2025 and the reserve female and overall junior champion at the breed’s National Show at the Clogher Valley Show 2025.

Salers

Salers breeders from across Northern Ireland competed in front of judge John Burke of the Manusmore herd, Co Clare, who commended the calves put before him.

With entries from Ballykeel, Drumlegagh, Hollyhill, Killyboggin, Lisnamaul and Lower Bolie, it was truly was a spectacular line-up of the Salers stars of the future.

Drumlegagh from J and E A Elliott led from the front with two standout entries. Drumlegagh Ultra-Violet, the September 2024-born heifer sired by Rocky, emerged as the senior heifer champion before going on to win the prestigious senior championship and then claiming the overall championship later in the day.

Drumlegagh Ultra-Violet, senior champion and supreme champion Salers. \ Willie McElroy

Out of Drumlegagh Pricilla, John Burke praised her for “carrying all the hallmarks of a tremendous cow”. Standing second was Drumlegagh Udelia, a Tresor daughter out of Drumlegagh Scarlett, who was crowned reserve senior champion.

Ballykeel Vigour, a March-born son of Imperial exhibited by Seamus, Christine and Cadain Connell, took top spot in his class in the juniors.

Out of Drumaglea Oyster, who was purchased at the Premier Show and Sale at Castle Douglas in 2021 and bred the 2024 Balmoral Show class winner Ballykeel SnapChat, this stylish calf went on to secure the overall junior championship later in the day.

Leading the line in the intermediate heifer section was Drumlegagh Vicki, a powerful daughter of Tresor, this time out of Drumlegagh Savannah, who herself has won numerous awards, including being crowned overall champion at the Clogher Valley Show in June 2025.

Lisnamaul Vinny, a May-born son of the 2025 Balmoral Show Champion of Champions, Sidney, and the former Balmoral Show Champion Lisnamaul Princess, took a red rosette before later securing reserve in the junior championship line-up.

Blonde d’Aquitaine

In the Blonde category, Geoff Rodgers of the Hillhead herd took up the reins. He tapped out Ballygowan Viper as the winner of the senior bull class before crowning him as overall senior champion.

Senior champion Blonde, Ballygowan Viper, shown by David Gibson with sponsor Jarlath Holland of BVC Farm Vets and Matthew Gibson. \ Willie McElroy

Bred and exhibited by the Gibson family from Newtownards, Viper is sired by Ark Maverick and out of a first calved heifer.

In the junior section, it was another show stopper from the Gibson family which stole the show, the youngest heifer on parade, Ballygowan Alison, who won overall junior champion.

Alison was showed as a four-month-old at Clogher Valley where she won calf champion and also took reserve breed champion.

She is one of the first calves from the Ballygowan Herds new stock sire, Hallfield Tyson and out of an Ark Maverick dam.

Reserve senior champion was Moneyscalp Viagra sired by Bridge Obama brought out by the McClelland’s from Kilcoo, while reserve junior champion went to Ballygowan Austin, an Ashtonlodge Tyson son from a Maverick bred dam, again from the Gibson family.

British Blue

In the British Blues, Grace and Faith Elwood took the overall champion with Bethel Victor under judge Paraic Hayden of the Kilcombe herd in Co Wexford.

Victor is a January 2025 born son of Boherard Overdose out of Springhill Sweetheart.

Competition in the young handlers was exceptional, as James Morrison put the competitors through their paces.

Bethel Victor, champion Belgian Blue shown by Grace and Faith Elwood. \ Willie McElroy

For his junior young handler, he awarded first place to Thomas McCann with his British Blue calf.

Caitlin McGartland came out on top in the intermediate’s with her Blonde calf, while the senior section was headed up by Grace Elwood from Co Down with her British Blue calf champion, Bethel Victor.