Balmoral Park hosts first Beef and Lamb event

Built on the foundations of the famous Allams fatstock show and sale, the Royal Ulster Premier Beef and Lamb Championships held its inaugural event at the Eikon exhibition centre at Balmoral Park last weekend.

Hundreds attended the event, which attracted a strong entry of prime fatstock. Included in the attendance was Stuart and Terry Johnston, who used to run the old Allams at Kings Hall.

The cattle again proved the most popular attraction, with the big crowd waiting around until the end of the sale at 10pm to see the champion of each respective breed sell.

Taking top plaudits and the overall supreme champion was the Limousin heifer Side Kick from well-known show man Jack Smyth, Newtownstewart.

This August 2017-born heifer was originally bred by Donegal breeder Pearse McNamee, but had been purchased a few months prior to the event.

This black heifer comes from a long line of commercial show champions, with her maternal sister reserve baby beef champion in Carlisle just last month. Tipping the scales at 660kg, she sold to The Morning Star, Belfast, for £4,400.

Leading the prices in the sales ring with a top call of £5,400 was the Belgian Blue champion Mega Phoebe.

Bred and exhibited by Robert Miller, this 550kg heifer sold for £9.81/kg and was purchased by a telephone bid from HG Perkins, Somerset.

The same seller also took home £4,940 for a Limousin heifer which weighed 650kg, also bought by Mr Perkins. Both heifers will go for future breeding.

Not stopping there, Mr Miller also secured the housewife’s champion, with the Belgian Blue-sired Mega Three. This October 2017-born steer was knocked down to Country Meats, Aghagallon, for £2,500.

In the Angus ring, the championship went the way of JCB Commercials. Their March 2017-born heifer sired by Liley Ed was the pick of Joan Smith, who acquired the champion for Farmgate Meats, Magheralin.

The Shorthorn champion caused a stir in the sales ring, selling for £3,000 to Sean McCloskey, Kilrea.

Brought out by Gordon Cutler, who had a strong team at the championships, this quality entry weighed in at 550kg.

The calf section of the show attracted a quality entry, which was led in the show ring by the Workman family, Kilwaughter, with their homebred Carmorn Cantona-sired Limousin heifer calf.

Prices for calves peaked at £2,050 realised for a 330kg Charolais heifer shown by Gordon Cutler. She was snapped up by Lynda Hamilton, Omagh, for future showing.