An outstanding show with quality and consistency in every class – was how Scottish judge Ian Nimmo described this year’s Northern Ireland Limousin Championship at Antrim Show.

Held within Shane’s Castle Estate on the shores of Lough Neagh, the one-day event attracted an entry of over 50 pedigree and commercial Limousin cattle.

“There were strong classes throughout, with strength and depth, and really outstanding animals,” explained Ian Nimmo who runs the noted 140-cow Maraiscote herd, based at Wishaw in Lanarkshire. “The first prize winners in every class were top-notch. I had a really nice lineup of animals for the championship.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Catching the judge’s eye to secure the senior, female and supreme overall championship honours was the outstanding young cow Deerpark Shakira, shown with her bull calf at foot.

Later in the day she impressed interbreed judge, Cyril Millar from Coleraine, to claim the show’s interbreed beef cow award and supreme overall championship ribbons.

Bred by brothers Connor and Ryan Mulholland from Aghalee, this much-admired cow will be four in December and is sired by Wilodge Vantastic, while her dam is Deerpark Missmoneypenny.

“This fantastic young cow is an easy winner. She is doing a great job rearing her first calf and is a very stylish female, with power, size and width throughout,” explained Nimmo. “The female and supreme overall champion is feminine, has a lovely head and really oozes breed character.”

Shakira’s bull calf, Deerpark Viking, was born in October 2024 and is a son of the 25,000gns Glenrock Redemption. He stood first in his class and went on to claim the reserve junior and male championship ribbons.

As the 2025 show season draws to a close, Shakira has won an additional six breed championships for Connor and Ryan Mulholland, Balmoral, Lurgan, Ballymena, Armagh, Castlewellan and Antrim. She also claimed the interbreed championships at Lurgan, Ballymena, Armagh, Castlewellan, and the reserve interbreed award at Balmoral Show in May.

The reserve overall championship went to the six-month-old heifer calf Drumhilla Alice, bred by Gareth Corrie, and shown by his seven-year-old son Gareth, from Newtownards.

Drumhilla Alice also picked up the calf championship and the reserve female championship. Sired by Trueman Idol, her dam is Sarkley Odelisha, one of seven cows in the Co Down herd.