At Antrim Show on Saturday 23 July, the hugely successful year for the Belted Galloway breed in Ireland took another step forward. With a turnout of 14 top-class pedigree animals resulting in some classes having to be split, there was a heavy burden placed on judge John Corrie who had travelled from Scotland to adjudicate on the entries for one of the oldest and most traditional breed of cattle on these islands.

First-class honours in the cow class went to Crookmuir Bonnie, owned by Brian Moorhead of the Briglands Herd, a four-year-old cow that went on to win reserve breed champion later in the afternoon.

Heifers

With the biggest entry in decades at Antrim Show of Belted Galloway heifers, the class had to be split. First up were the senior heifers and a wonderful exhibition of animals made the judging no easy task. After some very detailed and professional evaluation, first in the class went to Glensbrae Fiona from the Glensbrae Herd of Laurence and Colm O’Neill. Second in the class was awarded to Gruige Fanny from the Gruige Herd of Dessie Henry, while third in the class again went to the Glensbrae herd with Krista.

Next into the ring were the Belted Galloway junior heifers and judge John Corrie carefully evaluated each of the high-quality animals on show. Dessie Henry’s Gruige Herd was again well placed, with first in the class going to Gruige Glenda.

The bull class always generates much interest with many visitors making their way to the ringside for a close look at the stock on exhibition. First in the class went to Southfield Poldark 2nd, owned by well-known breeders Richard Creith of the Ballylough Herd.

Breed and reserve champion

Having carefully and accurately ranked each animal in the individual classes, the final task for the judge of awarding champion and reserve champion in front of a now sizeable number of onlookers got under way. As with all earlier decisions, thorough considration was given to the traits and characteristics of the winning animal from each class by judge John Corrie, before selecting the winner of the senior heifer class Glensbrae Fiona as overall Belted Galloway breed champion and winner of the cow class Crookmuir Bonnie as reserve champion.

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