Limavady Show: Magnificent three-in-a-row ewe championship record notched up by Diane Christie

The highlight of this year's Limavady Show was the victory by Co Down Charollais sheep breeder Diane Christie in the final of the Northern Ireland Shows Association: Danske Bank Ewe Championship final.
Iain Mclean, from Bushmills, with Marleycote Sea Lilly, the dairy champion at Limavady Show.Iain Mclean, from Bushmills, with Marleycote Sea Lilly, the dairy champion at Limavady Show.
Iain Mclean, from Bushmills, with Marleycote Sea Lilly, the dairy champion at Limavady Show.

This was the third year in succession that she has won the most coveted titled. This time around she brought the silverware home with a young sucked ewe that had given birth to twin ewe lambs back in the spring. The animal had previously qualified for the final at Ballymena Show.

Christie is no stranger to success in the show ring. She has won numerous inter-breed sheep titles at venues right across Northern Ireland this summer. And all of this builds on the victories notched up in previous years. By common consent her pedigree flock contains a selection of the best bloodlines in Northern Ireland. This is backed up by the fact that judges, who hail from all parts of the UK and Ireland, keep handing her team championship rosettes.

Limavady’s own inter-breed sheep title was won by Perth Blackface breeder Joe Adams with his eye catching ewe. The animal had given birth to twin ram lambs back in the spring.

Iain Mclean, from Bushmills, with Marleycote Sea Lilly, the dairy champion at Limavady Show.Iain Mclean, from Bushmills, with Marleycote Sea Lilly, the dairy champion at Limavady Show.
Iain Mclean, from Bushmills, with Marleycote Sea Lilly, the dairy champion at Limavady Show.

This year’s Limavady Show was held a fortnight later than would normally be the case. And, according to event committee member Ian Mark, it has been a very positive development.

“It means that we have been able to hold the show on a date that did not clash with another event,” he said.

“Hosting the ewe championship final has been a major feather in our cap. And it is an honour that that we will have bestowed upon us again in 2017.”

The beef inter breed championship at Limavady was won by Newtownards’ Shorthorn breeder Duncan McDowell with his eye catching young bull: Castlemount Jet Liner. Home bred, the animal was born in July last year. As can sometimes happen, different judges can have a differing perspective on the same animal. McDowell’s animal won the reserve Beef Shorthorn breed title, losing out narrowly to Newry breeder Richard Henning. But when it came to the overall championship class of the show, McDowell got the nod. The reserve inter-breed accolade at Limavady went to the McCrea family, from North Tyrone, with their eye catching British Blue heifer.

Iain Mclean, from Bushmills, with Marleycote Sea Lilly, the dairy champion at Limavady Show.Iain Mclean, from Bushmills, with Marleycote Sea Lilly, the dairy champion at Limavady Show.
Iain Mclean, from Bushmills, with Marleycote Sea Lilly, the dairy champion at Limavady Show.

Selling embryos, produced from their elite cows is helping Northern Ireland’s top dairy farmers remain financially viable at a time of record low milk prices, according to Bushmills breeder Iain Mclean. He won the dairy inter-breed championship at this year’s Limavady Show with his excellent Ayrshire cow Marleycote Sea Lilly.

“Embryos produced from cows with a top classification and bulls that are in strong demand will sell for up to £400 each,” he added.

“There is a strong home requirement for genetics of this calibre, but export opportunities can also be availed of.”

McLean is currently selling embryos to dairy breeders throughout the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

“A cow can produce up to 25 viable eggs when flushed,” he said.

“But then there is the actual cost of producing the embryos. The process requires the input of a specialist veterinarian or geneticist. And the cost of storing the embryos in liquid nitrogen until buyers can be found must also be factored in.”

McLean has also invested in embryos himself, in order to boost the pedigrees status of his own herd.

“Over recent years we have purchased embryos in the United States costing up to $5,000 each,” he explained.

“The conception rate, once the embryo is implanted, can be up to 80%. But, again, this all depends on having the recipient cow prepared properly.”

Limavady Show Results

DAIRY CATTLE SECTION

Inter-breed champion: McLean family

Reserve: Mclean family

Holstein classes

Champion: McLean family

Reserve: McLean family

Cow in milk class: 1st McLean family; 2nd Henry family

Heifer in milk class: 1st McLean family; 2nd Henry family

Heifer born after January 1st 2015: 1st Henry family; 2nd D Torrens

Other dairy breeds classes

Champion: Mclean family

Reserve: McLean family

Cow clas – 2 plus lactations: 1st Mclean family

Heifer in milk class: 1st McLean classes

Heifer class – born after January 1st 2015: 1st A McNeely

BEEF CATTLE SECTION

Inter-breed champion: Castlemount Shorthorns

Reserve: D & A McCrea

Aberdeen Angus classes

Champion: A Parke

Reserve: M Lagan

Junior bull class: 1st M Lagan

Heifer class: 1st A Parke

Calf class: 1st A Parke

Other Native breed classes

Champion: J Sleeman

Reserve: J Sleeman

Cow class: 1st J Sleeman

Heifer class: 1st J Sleeman

Limousin classes

Champion: R Robinson

Reserve: R Savage

Junior bull class: 1st R Savage; 2nd D & J Bell

Heifer class: 1st R Savage; 2nd L Millen

Calf class: 1st R Robinson

Other Continental breeds

Champion: O Kerrigan

Reserve: O Kerrigan

Junior bull class: 1st Crumlin Brae Blondes

Cow class: 1st Dorman family; 2nd O Kerrigan

Heifer class: 1st D & A McCrea; 2nd A Smyth

Calf class: 1st O Kerrigan; 2nd Dorman family

Beef Shorthorn classes

Champion: R Heenan

Reserve: Castlemount Shorthorns

Senior bull class: 1st R Henning

Junior bull class: 1st Castlemount Shorthorns; 2nd D Alexander

Cow in calf class: 1st Castlemount Shorthorns

Cow with calf at foot class: 1st Castlemount Shorthorns; 2nd K Carson

Junior cow class: 1st R Henning; 2nd D Alexander

Heifer class – born in 2014: 1st K Carson

Heifer class – born between January 2015 and August 2015: 1st Castlemount Shorthorns; 2nd J & S Martin

Calf class: 1st Castlemount Shorthorns; 2nd R Henning

Pairs class: 1st M Millen; 2nd C & M Graham

Young handlers’ class: 1st M Graham; 2nd C Dorman

Commercial cattle classes

Champion: R Miller

Reserve: J & S Smyth

Store heifer class: 1st R Miller; 2nd J & S Smith

Beef heifer class: 1st D & A McCRea; 2nd R Miller

Store bullock class: 1st J & S Smyth; 2nd D & A McCrea

Calf class: 1st R Miller

SHEEP SECTION

NISA/Danske Bank Ewe champion: D Christie

Reserve: J Adams

Limavady Inter-breed champion: J Adams

Reserve: G Loughery

Border Leicester classes

Champion: H Dickey

Reserve: H Dickey

Ram class: 1st H Dickey; 2nd H Dickey

Ewe class: 1st H Dickey

Gimmer class: 1st H Dickey; 2nd H Dickey

Ram lamb class: 1st H Dickey; 2nd H Dickey

Pairs’ class: 1st H Dickey

Texel classes

Champion: A Breen

Reserve: M Warnock

Ram class: 1st A Breen; 2nd C & M Mullan

Ewe class: 1st C & M Mullan; 2nd C & Mullan

Gimmer class: 1st J Adams; 2nd A Breen

Ram lamb class: 1st C & M Mullan: 2nd C & M Mullan

Ewe lamb class: 1st M Warnock; 2nd A Breen

Pairs’ class: 1st C & M Mullan; 2nd M Warnock

Group of three: 1st J Adams

Jacob classes

Champion: J Harkness

Reserve: P & S Colhoun

Aged ram class: 1st P & S Colhoun

Shearling ram class: 1st A Colhoun; 2nd A Colhoun

Ewe class: 1st P & S Colhoun; 2nd A Colhoun

Gimmer class: 1st P & S Colhoun; 2nd P & S Colhoun

Ram lamb class: 1st J Harkness; 2nd P & S Colhoun

Ewe lamb class: 1st J Harkness; 2nd A Colhoun

Pairs’ class: 1st J Harkness; 2nd P & S Colhoun

Group of three class: 1st P & S Colhoun; 2nd J Harkness

Beltex classes

Champion: J Harbinson

Reserve: H O’Neill

Aged ram class: 1st J Harbinson; 2nd K Preston

Shearling ram class: 1st H O’Neill; 2nd H O’Neill

Gimmer class: 1st J Harbinson; 2nd J Harbinson

Ram lamb class: 1st P Brolly; 2nd K Preston

Ewe lamb class: 1st P Brolly; 2nd: J Harbinson

Pairs’ class: 1st: P Brolly; 2nd: J Harbinson

Group of three class: 1st: P Brolly; 2nd; J Harbinson

Perth Blackface classes

Champion: J Adams

Reserve: Mayfair Blackfaces

Ram class – 2 shear up: 1st: S Adams; 2nd: M & R Smyth

Shearling ram class: 1st: Mayfair Blackfaces; 2nd: M & R Smyth

Aged ewe class: 1st: J Adams; 2nd: S Adams

Shearling ewe class: 1st: J Adams; 2nd: M & R Smyth

Gimmer class: 1st: M & R Smyth; 2nd: S Adams

Ram lamb class: 1st: J Adams; 2nd: A B Carson

Pairs’ class -ram lambs: 1st: A B Carson; 2nd: G & I Watson

Ewe lamb class: 1st: G & I Watson; 2nd: S Adams

Pairs class – ewe lambs: 1st: G & I Watson; 2nd: S Adams

Group of three class: 1st: J Adams; 2nd: S Adams

Lanark Blackface classes

Champion: A McFarlane

Reserve: J Murphy

Shearling ram class: 1st: K O’Mullan; 2nd: A McFarlane

Aged ewe class: 1st: A Mc Farlane; 2nd: K O’Mullan

Shearling ewe clas: 1st: A Mc Farlane; 2nd: K O’Mullan

Gimmer class: 1st: A Mc Farlane; 2nd: J Murphy

Ram lamb class: 1st: R Black; 2nd: J Murphy

Pairs class – ram lambs: 1st: R Black; 2nd: J Murphy

Ewe lamb class: 1st: J Murphy; 2nd: N McClenaghan

Pairs’ class ewe lambs: 1st: J Murphy; 2nd: N McClenaghan

Group of three class: 1st: A Mc Farlane; 2nd: J Murphy

Greyface classes

Champion: J Adams

Reserve: W Semple

Ewe class: 1st: J Adams; 2nd: A Douglas

Gimmer class – dry: 1st: J Adams; 2nd: J Adams

Lamb class: 1st: W Semple; 2nd: W Adams

Pairs’ class: 1st: W Adams; 2nd; W Semple

Group of three class: 1st: A Douglas

North Country Cheviot classes

Champion: A & P McNeill

Reserve: A & P McNeill

Ram class: 1st A & P McNeill; 2nd A & P McNeill

Ewe class: 1st A & P McNeill; 2nd A & P McNeill

Gimmer class: 1st A & P McNeill; 2nd A & J Carson

Ewe lamb class: 1st A & P McNeill; 2nd A & P McNeill

Ram lamb class: 1st A & P McNeill; 2nd T McKean

Group of three class: 1st A & P McNeill; 2nd T McKean

Blue Faced Leicester classes

Champion: W Adams

Reserve: J Loughery

Ram class: 1st E Loughran; 2nd W Adams

Ewe class: 1st J Loughery; 2nd W Adams

Gimmer class: 1st W Adams; 2nd M Wright

Ram lamb class: 1st W Adams; 2nd J Loughery

Ewe lamb class: 1st J Loughery; 2nd J Loughery

Pairs’ class: 1st J Loughery; 2nd M Wright

Group of three class: 1st W Adams; 2nd J Loughery

Rouge classes

Champion: I A Montgomery

Reserve: G Knox

Ram class: 1st J Harbinson; 2nd G Knox

Ewe class: 1st J Harbinson; 2nd I A Montgomery

Gimmer class: 1st I A Montgomery; 2nd I A Montgomery

Ewe lamb class: 1st I A Montgomery; 2nd J Harbinson

Pairs’ class: 1st J Harbinson

Group of three class: 1st J Harbinson

Mule classes

Champion: J Loughery

Reserve: J Adams

Ewe class: 1st M Wright

Gimmer class: 1st J Adams; 2nd M Wright

Lamb class: 1st J Loughery; 2nd M Wright

Pairs’ class: 1st J Loughery; 2nd E Loughran

Group of three class: 1st M Wright

Suffolk/Cheviot classes

Champion: A Knox

Reserve: S Thompson

Ewe class: 1st A Knox; 2nd A Knox

Gimmer class: 1st A Knox; 2nd A Knox

Lamb class: 1st S Thompson; 2nd S Thompson

Pairs’ class: 1st S Thompson; 2nd C Mills

Vendeen classes

Champion: D Moffitt

Reserve: J & R Hayes

Ram class: 1st D Moffitt; 2nd D Moffitt

Shearling ram class: 1st J & R Hayes; 2nd J Hawthorne

Ewe class: 1st J & R Hayes; 2nd D Moffitt

Gimmer class: 1st D Moffitt; 2nd J & R Hayes

Ram lamb class: 1st D Moffitt; 2nd J & H Hawthorne

Ewe lamb class: 1st J & H Hawthorne; 2nd D Moffitt

Pairs’ class: 1st J & H Hawthorne; 2nd J & R Hayes

Group of three class: 1st J & H Hawthorne; 2nd J & R Hayes

Any other breed – Continental type

Champion: D Christie

Reserve: D Christie

Ram class: 1st D Christie; 2nd G Henderson

Ewe class: 1st D Christie; 2nd D Christie

Gimmer class: 1st D Christie; 2nd D Christie

Ram lamb class: 1st E & J Gould; 2nd A & J Carson

Ewe lamb: 1st D Christie; 2nd E & J Gould

Pairs’ class: 1st G Henderson; 2nd A & J Carson

Group of three class: 1st D Christie; 2nd A & J Carson

Any other breed – Native type

Champion: L Hamilton

Ram class: 1st L Hamilton; 2nd R & A Armour

Ewe class: 1st L Hamilton; 2nd R & A Armour

Gimmer class: 1st R & A Armour

Ram lamb class: 1st E & J Gould; 2nd T J Magee

Ewe lamb class: 1st E & J Gould; 2nd E & J Gould

Pairs class: 1st L Hamilton; 2nd E & J Gould

Group of three: 1st L Hamilton; 2nd R & A Armour

Butcher’s lamb classes

Champion: J Harbinson

Reserve: E & J Gould

Single lamb class: 1st J Harbinson; 2nd J Harbinson

Pairs’ class: 1st E & J Gould; 2nd J Harbinson

GOAT SECTION

Champion: Galbraith Bros

Reserve: Galbraith Bros

Pedigree female goat class: Saanen, Toggenburg: 1st Galbraith Bros; 2nd M McMorris

Pedigree female goat class; Anglo Nubian: 1st Galbraith Bros

Pedigree female goatling: Saanen, Toggenburg: 1st Galbraith Bros; 2nd Galbraith Bros

Pedigree female goatling – Anglo Nubian: 1st Galbraith Bros

Female kid: Saanen, Toggenburg: 1st M McMorris; 2nd Galbraith Bros

Female kid: Anglo Nubian: 1st Galbraith Bros

Non pedigree class: 1st Galbraith Bros

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