The 2026 Balmoral Show produced memories which will last a lifetime for many breeders and exhibitors. In the cattle rings, Limousin dominated proceedings, winning almost every interbreed contest they entered. Debutante Niall Feeney claimed the overall Limousin champion and supreme beef interbreed champion with his heifer Cranmoney Vee.
A double win in the Charolais and Simmental rings for the Wilson family from Co Down will take a long time to replicate, not to mention four supreme championships in a row for the great Ballinalare Farm Nikita.
Two Irish-bred heifers purchased at the Winter Fair in Carrick-on-Shannon in November 2025 stood champion and reserve in the commercial ring, further enhancing the Winter Fair’s reputation for producing show champions.
Following on from his interbreed triumph in 2024, Stephen Maginn claimed the overall Salers championship for the second year in a row.
James and William Porter fared extremely well, winning champion Angus and reserve champion Shorthorn, with Leanne Green lifting the supreme title in the Shorthorn ring with Derriaghy Lovely Tess.
The Rodgers family from Co Down also had an extremely successful outing, picking up the reserve champion Limousin and Angus awards.
In the dairy section, Mostragee Holsteins reigned supreme once again after claiming the same accolade in 2024, with the Fleming family of the famous Potterswalls Jersey Herd in reserve.
Cranmoney Vee, supreme champion Limousin and overall beef interbreed champion, shown by Niall Feeney. \ Alfie Shaw
Rouge De L’Ouest
Arguably the biggest triumph at this year’s show was that of Michael Graham’s Rouge De L’Ouest shearling ewe.
Tullyvallen Daisy Duke started her journey by winning the supreme champion Rouge, before going on to claim the short wool interbreed champion and overall interbreed champion, a first for the Rouge breed.
Her sire, Tullyvallen Crackerjack, then went on to win the interbreed pairs championship, before joining up with James Houston’s ewe lamb to clinch the interbreed group of three, marking a milestone day for Michael and the Rouge breed.
Also featuring well in the sheep section was the Craigdoo Flock, winning champion and reserve in the Dutch Spotted section, before taking the reserve overall interbreed champion for the Grant family.
Mostragee Vinny Lauren 3, supreme champion Holstein and overall dairy interbreed champion, exhibited by Tommy and Mark Henry. \ Jessica Hall Photography
The 2026 Balmoral Show produced memories which will last a lifetime for many breeders and exhibitors. In the cattle rings, Limousin dominated proceedings, winning almost every interbreed contest they entered. Debutante Niall Feeney claimed the overall Limousin champion and supreme beef interbreed champion with his heifer Cranmoney Vee.
A double win in the Charolais and Simmental rings for the Wilson family from Co Down will take a long time to replicate, not to mention four supreme championships in a row for the great Ballinalare Farm Nikita.
Two Irish-bred heifers purchased at the Winter Fair in Carrick-on-Shannon in November 2025 stood champion and reserve in the commercial ring, further enhancing the Winter Fair’s reputation for producing show champions.
Following on from his interbreed triumph in 2024, Stephen Maginn claimed the overall Salers championship for the second year in a row.
James and William Porter fared extremely well, winning champion Angus and reserve champion Shorthorn, with Leanne Green lifting the supreme title in the Shorthorn ring with Derriaghy Lovely Tess.
The Rodgers family from Co Down also had an extremely successful outing, picking up the reserve champion Limousin and Angus awards.
In the dairy section, Mostragee Holsteins reigned supreme once again after claiming the same accolade in 2024, with the Fleming family of the famous Potterswalls Jersey Herd in reserve.
Cranmoney Vee, supreme champion Limousin and overall beef interbreed champion, shown by Niall Feeney. \ Alfie Shaw
Rouge De L’Ouest
Arguably the biggest triumph at this year’s show was that of Michael Graham’s Rouge De L’Ouest shearling ewe.
Tullyvallen Daisy Duke started her journey by winning the supreme champion Rouge, before going on to claim the short wool interbreed champion and overall interbreed champion, a first for the Rouge breed.
Her sire, Tullyvallen Crackerjack, then went on to win the interbreed pairs championship, before joining up with James Houston’s ewe lamb to clinch the interbreed group of three, marking a milestone day for Michael and the Rouge breed.
Also featuring well in the sheep section was the Craigdoo Flock, winning champion and reserve in the Dutch Spotted section, before taking the reserve overall interbreed champion for the Grant family.
Mostragee Vinny Lauren 3, supreme champion Holstein and overall dairy interbreed champion, exhibited by Tommy and Mark Henry. \ Jessica Hall Photography
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