Breeders praised for producing quality stock at multi-breed Calf Show

Victor summed up his reaction to the impressive cattle after a number of hours of intensive judging of 38 classes.

“I was really impressed with the quality of stock in front of me today and it certainly augers well for the future,” he said.

Over 55 calves from Continental and Native breeds along with some commercial stock competed for a lucrative prize fund of over £5000 with sponsorship from a range of agricultural companies.

After a busy morning of judging the individual classes, the attention turned in the afternoon to the championship classes.

The overall Continental Senior Champion sponsored by E and R Bennett went to David Bothwell from St. Angelo for his 11-month-old Charolais senior bull calf, Killadeas Vermont.

He is out of Killadeas Pearl and bred by Clenagh Ulick. Judge Victor Chestnutt said it was very tight between Killadeas Vermont and the Reserve Champion, Drumlone Verge exhibited by Kenneth Veitch but it was the champion’s ‘length and stretch’ that made the difference.

The Overall Native Senior Champion was awarded to Alan Morrison’s bull calf, Drummeer TikTok, from the Maguiresbridge herd, born in September 2024 out of Drummeer Lady Tara and sired by Blelack Lord Blackthorn. Victor Chestnutt said: “This animal had super shape and the type of Angus I’d like to breed.”

The Overall Continental Junior Champion went to Robert Forde from Tempo with his Mullyknock Scorpio, a May 2025 born Simmental bull calf out of Raceview Pretty Lady and sired by Clonagh Tiger Gallant. Victor Chestnutt said: “This was a stand-out animal of the Show, a correct animal with great muscle and great potential.”

The Overall Native Junior Champion was awarded to Jenson Lindsay, Enniskillen for his junior native breed female calf, “Rigg Wonder Woman” born in January 2025 and out of Erne Perfect Mayflower and sired by Soon Jupiter. The judge described this winner as having great size, style and colour: “If you could breed sucklers from that it would be good.”

The final champion was the Overall Commercial Champion won by Robbie Woods from Lisbellaw with his Belgium Blue cross female, Bessy Blue, born in February 2025. Victor Chestnutt said the commercial female class was one of the most difficult to judge with the class having five great animals competing but he said the winner of the class went on to win the overall championship because she had “style and class.”

Overall, Victor Chestnutt said the turnout of calves was a credit to the breeders.

As well as the show classes continuing through the morning, other attractions included Guess the Weight and Stock-judging competitions.

Results:

Senior Native Bull Calf born on or after 1 September 2024 – 1, Alan Morrison (Drummeer TikTok)

Senior Continental Bull Calf born on or after1 September 2024 – 1, Kenneth Veitch (Drumlone Verge ET); 2, S & P McDonald (Coolcran Rafiki); 3, Frank Kelly (Ashland Romeo).

Senior Continental Bull Calf born on or after 1 October 2024 – 1, Harold Stubbs and Alan Burleigh; 2, Harold Stubbs and Alan Burleigh.

Senior Continental Bull Calf born on or after 1 November 2024 – 1, David Bothwell (Killadeas Vermont).

Junior Continental Bull Calf born on or after 1 January 2025 – 1, S & P McDonald (Coolcran Spartan); 2, Frank Kelly (Ashland Silvester); 3, J and S McGeehan (Slieve Apollo); 4, David Bothwell (Killadeas Arrow).

Junior Native Bull Calf born on or after 1 February 2025 – 1, Fintan Keown (Home Farm Euro); 2, Alan Morrison (Drummeer El Presidente); 3, Fintan Keown (Home Farm lord Hey).

Junior Continental Bull Calf born on or after 1 February 2025 – 1, George Nelson (Drumacritten Alfie); 2, S & P McDonald (Coolcran Simba); 3, Kenneth Stubbs (Drumbulcan Seth).

Junior Continental Bull Calf (born on or after1 May 2025) – 1, Robert Forde (Mullyknock Scorpio); 2, J & S McGeehan (Slieve Ali).

Junior Native Bull Calf born on or after 1 September 2025 – 1, Alan Morrison (Drummeer Lord T Bone).

Senior Continental Female Calf born on or after 1 September 2024 – 1, Edwin Morrison (Drummeer Violet); 2, S & P McDonald (Coolcran Vesnas Roxette).

Senior Native Female Calf born on or after 1 July 2024 – 1, Alan Morrison (Drummeer Blackbird).

Senior Continental Female Calf born on or after 1 November 2024 – 1, J & S McGeehan (Slieve Viola).

Junior Native Female Calf born on or after 1 January 2025 – 1, Jenson Lindsay (Rigg Wonder Woman).

Junior Continental Female Calf born on or after 28 December 2024 – 1, George Nelson (Drumacritten Angela); 2, Gareth Wilson (Garvary Voluptuous).

Junior Native Female Calf born on or after 1 March 2024 – 1, Alan Morrison (Drummeer Evie); 2, A. Carson and A. Ferris; 3, Jenson Lindsay (Rigg Winsor); 4, A. Carson and A. Ferris.

Junior Continental Female Calf born on or after 1 April 2025 – 1, George Nelson (Drumacritten Amelia); 2, Kenneth Stubbs (Drumbulcan Senorita); 3, Gareth Elliott (Millrock Victoria).

Junior Native Female Calf born on or after 2 September 2025 – 1, Alan Morrison (Drummeer Lady Tulip).

Junior Continental Female Calf born on or after 1 July 2025 – 1, Gareth Elliott (Millrock Velvet).

Continental Pair any age property of owner – 1, J & S McGeehan (Limousin); 2, George Nelson (Charolais); 3, Harold Stubbs and Alan Burleigh (Charolais); 4, Kenneth Stubbs (Simmental).

Native pair any age property of one owner – 1 and 2, Alan Morrison (Aberdeen Angus); 3, Fintan Keown (Aberdeen Angus); 4, A Carson and A Ferris (Shorthorn).

Commercial male born in 2025 – 1, Donal Keown (Rocky); 2, Robbie Woods (Red Ash).

Commercial Female born in 2025 – 1, Robbie Woods (Bessy Blue); 2, Gareth Elliott (Vanessa); 3, Donal Keown (Blue Girl); 4, Kenneth Veitch (Blue X).

Breeding Heifer born after1 December 2023 – 1 and 2, Robert Brownlee.

Male Senior Continental Champion – David Bothwell (Killadeas Vermont); Reserve – Kenneth Veitch (Drumlone Verge ET).

Male Senior Native Champion – Alan Morrison (Drummeer TikTok).

Male Junior Continental Champion – Robert Forde (Mullyknock Scorpio).

Male Junior Native Champion – Alan Morrison (Drummeer Lord T Bone); Reserve – Fintan Keown (Home Farm Euro).

Female Senior Continental Champion – J & S McGeehan (Slieve Viola); Reserve – Edwin Morrison (Drummeer Violet).

Female Senior Native Champion – Alan Morrison (Drummeer Blackbird).

Female Junior Continental Champion – George Nelson (Drumacritten Amelia); Reserve – Gareth Elliott (Millrock Velvet).

Female Junior Native Champion – Jenson Lindsay (Rigg Wonder Woman); Reserve – Alan Morrison (Drummeer Evie).

Overall Continental Senior Champion – David Bothwell (Killadeas Vermont); Reserve – Kenneth Veitch (Drumlone Verge ET).

Overall Native Senior Champion – Alan Morrison (Drummeer TikTok); Reserve – Alan Morrison (Drummeer Blackbird).

Overall Continental Junior Champion – Robert Forde (Mullyknock Scorpio); Reserve - George Nelson (Drumacritten Alfie).

Overall Native Junior Champion – Jenson Lindsay (Rigg Wonder Woman); Reserve – Alan Morrison (Drummeer Evie).

Overall Commercial Champion – Robbie Woods (Bessy Blue); Reserve – Gareth Elliott (Vanessa).

Commentary was provided throughout the Show by Thomas Keelagher and the Chairman of Fermanagh Pedigree Livestock Breeders, Paul McDonald thanked all those involved in setting up the show, including the hosts, Ulster Farmers Mart, all those who exhibited and in particular thanked judge, Victor Chestnutt from Bushmills.