Suckler calf breaks Christmas show and sale record at Hilltown

A packed gallery greeted auctioneers Ciaran Laverty, Gerry Campbell and Kevin Reavey as they conducted the selling of the prize winners selected by judge of the event Mr Sam Carmichael.

The show was a personal success for the Callaghan family from Kilkeel, winning the overall championship and Housewifes Choice. Overall champion was a stylish black Limousin heifer scaling 672kgs she sold for £2850 to local producer and showman Oliver O’Hare, Ballyvalley, Mayobridge. Housewife’s Choice was a Daq scaling 682kgs selling for £2750 to Milestone Supermarket Rathfriland. Reserve champion was the first prize beef bullock from William Herdman, Dromore, scaling 640kgs he sold for £1600 to James Annett.

Setting a new record for a suckler calf and topping the sale at £3000 was a black Limousin heifer from Peter Fegan, Rostevor, scaling 330kgs she sold to JCB Commercial Show Team. The JCB team had a very successful run with a full sister of this heifer which they bought at last year’s Christmas show, winning several large shows across the UK this year such as Balmoral and the Royal Highland Show among others.

The first prize weanling heifer came from Colm Farrell, Rostrevor a Belgian Blue weighing 420kgs she later sold for £1050 to William Herdman. The first prize weanling bullock was a black Limousin exhibited by Conor McAlinden weighing in at 502kgs he sold for £1220. Best fat cow was won by Neill Martin selling for £1490 to J Annett, second prize fat cow was won by D Harrison selling for £1300. The young handlers was won by E O’Callaghan.

Weanling bullocks: First, C McAlinden 502kgs at £1220, second, O O’Hare 362kgs at £1100, third, J Doyle 350kgs at £970, fourth, O O’Hare 442kgs at £1000. Other prices: Hilltown farmer 560kgs at £1040, 480kgs at £990; Newry farmer 490kg at £985; Hilltown farmer 356kg at £980; Kilkeel farmer 456kg at £940, 426kg at £940; Rostrevor farmer 414kg at £890, 332kg at £815, 338kg at £820; Rostrevor farmer 326kgs at £785, 340kg at £775, 302kgs at £760.

Weanling heifers: First, C Farrell 420kgs at £1020, second, P Fegan 330kgs at £3000, third, L Fearon 370kgs at £920, fourth, T Rooney 282kgs at £820. Other prices: Newry farmer 408kg at £1160; Kilkeel farmer 290kgs at £1000, 350kgs at £980; Mayobridge farmer 324kg at £880, 276kg at £850; Hilltown farmer 340kg at £348kg at £815, 312kg at £795, 268kg at £750.

Beef heifers: First, A Callaghan 672kgs at £2850 to O O’Hare, second, A Callaghan 682kgs £2750 to Milestone Supermarket, third, K O’Hare 730kgs at £2000 to James Cunningham Butchers, fourth, D O’Hare 660kgs at £1520 to James Cunningham Butchers, fifth, C.McGrath 752kgs at £1500 to J.Annett. Other prices: Hilltown farmer 626kg at £1360; Kilkeel farmer 590kg at £1220, 550kg at £1170; Newry farmer 512kg at £1100, 504kg at £1035; Hilltown Farmer 512kg at £1000, 466kg at £965, 450kg at £960.

Beef bullocks: First, W Herdman 644kgs at £1600 to J Annett, second, H McGrath 704kgs at £1640 to McKee’s Maghera, third, W Herdman 670kgs at £1540, fourth, A Callaghan 630kgs at £1440, fifth, K O’Hare 602kgs at £1400. Other prices: Newry farmer 606kg at £1395, 622kg at £1370, 608kg at £1340; Rathfriland farmer 614kg at £1335; Rostrevor farmer 566kg at £1235, 596kg at £1220, 590kg at £1220, 510kg at £1060, Hilltown farmer 484kg at £1040, 488kg at £1030.

The staff and directors would like to thank the sponsors, buyers and sellers who made the event such a success and everyone who has supported them throughout 2016.

They wish everyone a very happy Christmas and prosperous New Year and hope to see you all in 2017.