Rising Stars impress Scottish judges at Ballymena Limousin show

Hosted by the NI Young Limousin Breeders’ and NI Limousin Cattle Club, the catalogued featured over 100 entries from new and established herds and young handlers.

Mr Bett, farm manager at the noted Grahams herd in Stirling, has previously judged at Clogher Show. He will be returning to Northern Ireland in May to take centre-stage in the Limousin showring at Balmoral Show.

Supreme overall champion, and winner of the £1,000 cash prize, was top-placed commercial entry, Mystic Meg, owned by the JCB partnership of Gareth Corrie, Charlie Beverland and Jonathan Neill from County Down.

Their yearling heifer, sired by Huntershall Rosco and out of a pedigree British Blue cow, was purchased for £5,200 from Chris McCrea, at the Royal Ulster Premier Beef and Lamb Championships in November.

Judge Stewart Bett commented: “The overall champion is a really stylish, well-balanced heifer. The kind of animal that I like to show.”

Claiming the reserve overall title was the senior and supreme pedigree champion, Frewstown Alpha, bred and exhibited by Derek Frew, and son Jason, from Kells, County Antrim. This thirteen-month-old heifer was sired by the herd’s stock bull, Jalex Simplysuperb – a full ET brother to Jalex Superb, sold for a top price of 26,000gns at the British Limousin Society’s 50 th Anniversary Sale in Carlisle in 2022.

Her dam, Frewstown Pamela, by Ballyrobin Landmark, is one of 20 cows in the herd, which is celebrating its 40th Anniversary in 2026.

“The pedigree champion and reserve supreme, is a very breedy heifer – a real cow maker,” added the judge. “She oozes style and has a tremendous head.”

The reserve senior champion and reserve pedigree champion was Glenmarshal Anastasia owned by Trevor Shields, Kilkeel. This fourteen-month-old Carrickmore Schumacher daughter, was bred from the herd’s 30,000gns show cow, Dinmore Sensation – interbreed champion and supreme champion of champions at Balmoral Show in 2024.

Stewart Bett added: “This is another super heifer with good square plates.”

Securing the junior championship award was Cranmoney Annie, a nine-month-old Trueman Idol daughter, bred by Mark and Mairead McCartan from Crossgar, County Down. She is out of the Foxhillfarm Lordofthering daughter, Cranmoney Redlady.

“This is another stylish and very correct heifer,” added the Stewart Bett.

Runner-up for the junior championship was Keith and Niall’s Forsythe’s Claragh Annie. She was purchased privately from John and Paul Rainey, Kilrea. Born in May 2025, this heifer is by the 32,000gns Ampertaine Elgin, and bred from the Homebyres Vanhee daughter, Claragh Roxy.

Stewart Bett said: “The junior champions both came from the same class. The reserve is a shapely heifer, with super width and power for her age.”

There was a good entry of Limousin-sired commercial cattle at the show. Taking the reserve championship ribbons was Luna Noir, a Mereside Lorenzo daughter owned by James Alexander, Randalstown. Born in June 2025, and bred from a British Blue cow, this heifer was purchased at Carrick-on-Shannon.

Keith and Niall Forsythe won the award for the best pair of Limousins, owned by exhibitor.

Their winning duo were the home-bred heifer, Ballybrick Astarisborn, and the reserve junior champion, Claragh Annie.

Mrs Lynsey Bett judged three fantastic classes of junior, intermediate and senior handlers.

“Congratulations to everyone who took part. The handlers and their animals were tidy and well presented. It was extremely difficult to pick winners in each class.”

Champion handler was intermediate class winner Ellie McCauley; while the runner-up award went to Meabh Donnelly, who was the second placed competitor in the intermediate class.

James Callion, president, of the NI Young Limousin Breeders’ Club said: “Well done and thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of the show. It has been a tremendous event, with a brilliant entry of quality calves. A big thank you to our sponsors, and to our judges Stewart and Lynsey Bett, for giving up their time and sharing their experience and expertise today.

Championships

Supreme Overall Champion, sponsored by NI Limousin Cattle Club: JCB Commercials, Mystic Meg. Reserve: Derek & Jason Frew, Frewstown Alpha.

Pedigree Champion, sponsored by British Limousin Cattle Society: Derek & Jason Frew, Frewstown Alpha. Reserve: Trevor Shields, Glenmarshal Anatasia.

Senior Champion, sponsored by Danske Bank: Derek & Jason Frew, Frewstown Alpha. Reserve: Trevor Shields, Glenmarshal Anastasia.

Junior Champion, sponsored by Elite Pedigree Genetics: Mark McCartan, Cranmoney Annie. Reserve: Keith Forsythe, Claragh Annie.

Commercial Champion, sponsored by MCV Competitions: JCB Commercials, Mystic Meg. Reserve: James Alexander, Luna Noir.

Young handlers

Champion Young Handler, sponsored by Moore Concrete: Ellie McCauley. Reserve: Meabh Donnelly.

Junior handler, under 12-years-old - 1, Sarah Jane Lester; 2, Lily Lester; 3, Emilia Montgomery; 4, Amie Hunter; 5, Gareth Corrie; 6, Eliza Alexander.

Intermediate handler, aged 12 to 20 years-old – 1, Ellie McCauley; 2, Meabh Donnelly; 3, Alicia Alexander; 4, Caroline McConnell; 5, Jamie Dodd; 6, Lewis Dodd.

Senior handler, aged 21 to 28 years-old – 1, Darryl Geary; 2, Serena Murphy; 3, Rachel Boyce; 4, Emma Campbell.

Calf Classes

Class 1, Senior female, sponsored by Firmount Veterinary Clinic – 1, Derek & Jason Frew, Frewstown Alpha by Jalex Simplysuperb; 2, Trevor Shields, Glenmarshal Anastasia by Carrickmore Schumacher; 3, Oliver McDonald, Doogary Anna by Goldies Olympia; 4, Crawford Bros, Rathkeeland Anthea by Lowerffrydd Empire.

Class 2, Senior male, sponsored by Ampertaine Limousin Herd – 1, Messrs GT & RJ Roberts, Pondpark Ali by Trueman Idol; 2, James Alexander, Jalex Awesome by Graiggoch Rambo; 3, BT Hall, Ballyhone Adamwillie by Craigatoke Seanog; 4, Crawford Bros, Rathkeeland Alastair by Rathkeeland Toplimmymaverick.

Class 3, Senior female, sponsored by Bernish Limousin Herd – 1, P Campbell, Spage Annie by Seanita Superhero; 2, J & B Quinn, Fin Aoife by Craigatoke Seanog; 3, Michael Loughran, Millgate Accelerate by Craigatoke Seanog; 4, S McGookin, Ballycairn Anna by Ballycairn Objat.

Class 4, Senior male, sponsored by CVS Farm Vets NI – 1, Michael Loughran, Millgate Alloy by Donnelly Travis; 2, Derek & Jason Frew, Frewstown Almighty by Foxhillfarm Ourbest; 3, DG Green, Derriaghy Alonso by Haltcliffe Dancer; 4, Brian & Cahir McAuley, Larkhill Amadeus by Cranmore Tyson.

Class 5, Senior female, sponsored by Quinn’s Breeding Heifer Sale – 1, Keith Forsythe, Ballybrick Astarisborn by Derrygullinane Kingbull; 2, Crawford Bros, Rathkeeland Annakournikova by Rathkeeland Tommy; 3, S McGookin, Ballycairn Abigail by Ballycairn Objat; 4, Ian Davidson, Ballyrickard April by Gleneagle Icon.

Class 6, Junior male, sponsored by Chestnutt Animal Feeds – 1, C & F McAuley, Carnmorn Applejack by Huntershall Nutcracker; 2, Robert Clyde, Clydevalley Admiral by Clydevalley Trooper; 3, Crawford Bros, Rathkeeland Arnold by Rathkeeland Tommy; 4, S McGookin, Ballycairn Apollo by Ballycairn Objat.

Class 7, Junior female, sponsored by Excel Genetics – 1, C & F McAuley, Carmorn Angeleye by Ampertaine Nugent; 2, C & F McAuley, Carmorn Amy by Ampertaine Elgin; 3, Derek & David Campbell, Mossbrook April by Ampertaine Topper; 4, Thomas and Peter McAreavey, Ballinderry Aperol by Clontown Stevoduclo.

Class 8, Junior female, sponsored by HVS Liquid Gold – 1, Mark McCartan, Cranmoney Annie by Trueman Idol; 2, Keith Forsythe, Claragh Annie by Ampertaine Elgin; 3, C & F McAuley, Carmorn Akatie by Ampertaine Elgin; 4, Crawford Bros, Rathkeeland Angelinajolie by Westpit Omaha.

Class 9, Junior female, sponsored by Garvagh Veterinary Clinic – 1, Robert Clyde, Clydevalley Azura by Clydevalley Trooper; 2, S Cunningham, Longshore Annie by Knock Msport; 3, Crawford Bros, Rathkeeland Blossom by Glenrock Redemption; 4, Brian & Neil Hunter, Hunterburn Angel by Hunterburn Perfecto.

Class 10, Commercial female, sponsored by IJ Lynn & Sons- 1, JCB Commercials, Mystic Meg; 2, James & Adam Mullan, Black Magic; 3, JCB Commercials, Pippa; 4, JCB Commercials, Kate.

Class 11, Commercial male, sponsored by Doherty & Gray – 1, PJ Donnelly, Fireball; 2, Elena Hutchinson, Black Jack.

Class 12, Commercial female, sponsored by Beatty Stores Antrim – 1, Trevor Shields, Gucci; 2, Keith Williamson, Luna; 3, Wylie Livestock, Roxy.

Class 13, Junior commercial female, sponsored by AI Services (NI) Ltd – 1, James Alexander, Luna Noir; 2, Hillside Commercials, Orea; 3, James Alexander; 4, Martin McConville.

Class 14, Pair of pedigree animals, owned by exhibitor, sponsored by Provita – 1, Keith Forsythe, Claragh Annie and Ballybrick Astarisborn; 2, C & F McAuley, Carmorn Akatie and Carnmorn Angeleye; 3, S McGookin, Ballycairn Alec and Ballycairn Apollo; 4, Crawford Bros, Rathkeeland Angelinajolie and Rathkeeland Alexa.