From the first calf class to the final Supreme Championship, there was show tension in the air and a sense that this was the culmination of a season where the quality has been nothing short of exceptional.
At the heart of that show was Armani, the Limousin‑sired mid‑weight heifer from Trevor and William Shields, Kilkeel. All summer she has been locked in battle with the Jalex team, with Lunar Noir and Runway Ready both stepping up as worthy rivals, all stylish, modern, commercial heifers that have defined the season. But on the biggest stage of the year, Armani rose to the moment. She floated around the ring with that quiet, confident presence that marks out a true contender, just enough to edge ahead in what was one of the most hotly contested championships of the summer. Judges Sandra and Nigel Cochrane described her as “the type we try to breed ourselves — elegance, shape, and flesh in perfect balance.” True to her name, Armani didn’t just show; she performed.
Earlier in the day she had already secured the Heifer Championship weight classes and was tapped out as Limousin Champion by Gordon Cutler, who praised her style and natural fleshing. Lunar Noir, ever the shadow at her shoulder, matched her stride for stride all day — a heifer of real quality who ensured the title was hard won rather than handed over. It was a testament to the depth of quality in the Jalex team, who arrived with a string of cattle that looked ready for any ring in the country and proved it by featuring across championship after championship throughout the day.
The Calf Championship was a mighty battle from the outset, a class brimming with young potential and homebred quality. JCB Commercials came out on top with Shadow, a calf that carried all the hallmarks of their breeding programme — sharp, correct and full of natural style. Reserve went to Ivan Lynn & Sons withKnocklayde Mist, a calf that underlined the strength and consistency of the Lynn herd. It was a superb championship: tight, competitive, and a real showcase of the next generation coming through.
The Breeding Heifer Championship was one of the day’s true highlights — a power class of genuine “mother makers”, the kind of females that shape herds for years to come. Exhibitors have been battling it out all summer at local shows, and the final showdown did not disappoint. Jalex lifted the title with Worth A Try, a heifer that has matured beautifully through the season, while the Gormley Family claimed reserve with Call Me Classy, a Limousin daughter of Rock and Roll who lived up to her name with a classy, feminine outlook.
The Butchers Animal class showcased cattle with real commercial punch. Champion went to Maisy & Chris Lee with Lily, a heifer carrying great finish and clean lines. Reserve went to D&A McCrea with1042‑4, a well‑balanced entry with excellent loin and cover, while honourable mention was awarded to the Killen Family with Blue Jeans, a heifer that showed great length and plenty of natural flesh.
Jalex’s momentum continued through the breed sections, their cattle appearing again and again in the major line‑ups. They lifted the British Blue Championship with Runway Ready, a heifer packed with trademark Blue muscle and swagger, while the Killen family from Crossgar secured reserve with their stylish entry Blue Jeans, a heifer that drew plenty of admiration around the rails.
Jalex also claimed the Charolais Championshipwith Chrunchy, a powerful, well‑balanced entry that set the tone for the rest of the section. Rorysglen Livestock pushed hard here too, taking both reserve and special mention with their homebred steers — a sign of a herd producing consistent, commercial cattle with real ring presence. Their strength was confirmed earlier in the day when the Steer Championship weight classes were awarded to Rorysglen Livestock with their impressive Charolais‑cross Atlas, with stablemate Diesel taking the reserve spot — a superb double for a team whose steers continue to stand out in the show ring.
In the Native Championship, the heaviest animal of the day stole the show. Sparkle, a Hereford cross tipping the scales at an impressive 818kg, powered her way to the champion rosette — a big, honest, natural heifer with presence to burn presented by James Leonard. Jalex took reserve with Back to Basics, an Angus cross showing great commercial appeal and movement.
The Exhibitor‑Bred titles were awarded to the calf champion and reserve from the morning classes —Shadow, the super stylish Limousin‑bred calf from JCB Commercials — with reserve going to Ivan Lynn & Sons with Knocklayde Mist.
The Pairs class was a spectacle in its own right. Three superb duos, each dripping with commercial style, muscle and movement, made for one of the tightest contests of the day. The impeccably matchedLunar Noir and Runway Ready from Jalex took top honours, their symmetry and ring presence impossible to ignore. Hot on their heels were Ivan Lynn & Sons with Knocklayde Mist and Mad Max, while JCB Commercials earned honourable mention with their promising calf pair Raven and Shadow.
The Young Handler classes brought a burst of energy to the morning. Judge Sandra Cochrane praised the natural ringcraft and confidence on display, noting that several of the young competitors “handled their cattle with the ease and instinct of seasoned exhibitors.” In the Junior section, Gareth Corrie Jnr clinched his first red ribbon, followed by Brodie Law and Annie Neill. The Senior class saw Alicia Alexander take the top spot, with Elliott Taggart and Harlow Taggart completing the line‑up. Sandra was looking for genuine showmanship, calmness under pressure and responsiveness — and both classes kept her on her toes.
Judging duties across the Calf, Weight, Heifer, Steer and Supreme Championships were carried out by Sandra and Nigel Cochrane of the Springlane Herd, Co. Armagh — no strangers to success, having taken reserve supreme in 2024 and supreme in 2025 at this very show. They run a 200‑head finishing herd alongside a commercial flock of 200 sheep. Gordon Cutler, from Co. Fermanagh, judged the Breeding Heifer, Butchers Animal and Breed Championships. Well known in the show ring, he runs 85 suckler cows, selling weanlings and retaining heifers. The trio came together to judge the Exhibitor‑Bred and Pairs classes, with Sandra also taking on the Young Handlers.
RESULTS
Johnny Neill Building Contractors – Calf Championship: Champion: JCB Commercials, Shadow, Reserve: Ivan Lynn & Sons, Knocklayde Mist
Female Calf below 380kg: 1st: JCB Commercials, Shadow (360kg) 2nd: Ivan Lynn & Sons, Knocklayde Mist (350kg) 3rd: Richy Law, Rascal (307kg)
Male Calf below 400kg: 1st: Ivan Lynn & Sons, Mad Max (400kg)
MCV Competitions – Breeding Heifer Championship: Champion: Jalex, Worth A Try(745kg) Reserve: Gormley Family, Call Me Classy(754kg)
Knotts Bakery – Butchers Animal: Champion: Maisy & Chris Lee, Lily (580kg) Reserve: D&A McCrea, 1042‑4 (599kg) Hon. Mention: Killen Family, Blue Jeans (594kg)
Heifer & Steer Weight Classes
Davy McCaul - Light Weight Heifer: 1st: James Leonard, Gingernut (465kg) 2nd: Alan Veitch, 7060‑1(435kg) 3rd: Daniel Lavery, Bonnie Blue (413kg)
Anupro Ltd - Mid Weight Heifer: 1st: Trevor Shields, Armani (552kg) 2nd: Killen Family, Blue Jeans (594kg) 3rd: D&A McCrea, 0768‑7 (583kg)
Agrimin Ltd - Heavy Weight Heifer: 1st: Jalex, Lunar Noir (707kg) 2nd: JCB Commercials, Mystic Meg (637kg) 3rd: Jalex, Runway Ready (708kg)
Richy Law AI Services - Light Weight Steer: 1st: Rorysglen Livestock, Atlas (562kg) 2nd: Rorysglen Livestock, Diesel (576kg) 3rd: Ivan Lynn & Sons,Bear (575kg)
Heavy Weight Steer: 1st: Maisy & Chris Lee, Tirkane Chance (771kg) 2nd: Chris Donnelly, Tyson (731kg)
Drumlin Vets - Charolais Championship:Champion: Jalex, Chrunchy (612kg) Reserve: Rorysglen Livestock, Atlas (562kg) Hon. Mention: Rorysglen Livestock, Honey (457kg)
Taurus Herd Health – Limousin Championship:Champion: Trevor Shields, Armani (552kg) Reserve: Jalex, Lunar Noir (707kg) Hon. Mention: JCB Commercials, Raven (411kg)
Dovea Genetics - British Blue Championship:Champion: Jalex, Runway Ready (708kg) Reserve: Killen Family, 3122‑8 (594kg) Hon. Mention: Ivan Lynn & Sons, Blue (600kg)
Albec Renewables – Native Championship:Champion: James Leonard, Sparkle (818kg) Reserve: Jalex, Back to Basics (660kg) Hon. Mention: D&A McCrea, 1838‑6 (646kg)
Tateetra & Rathmore Farms - Exhibitor‑Bred: - Champion: JCB Commercials, Shadow Reserve: Ivan Lynn & Sons, Knocklayde Mist
CW Agri - Pairs: Champion: Jalex – Lunar Noir & Runway Ready Reserve: Ivan Lynn & Sons –Knocklayde Mist & Mad Max Hon. Mention: JCB Commercials – Raven & Shadow
IJ Lynn & Sons – Championships
IJ Lynn & Sons - Heifer Championship Champion:Trevor Shields, Armani Reserve: Jalex, Lunar Noir
IJ Lynn & Sons - Steer Championship Champion:Rorysglen Livestock, Atlas Reserve: Rorysglen Livestock, Diesel
IJ Lynn & Sons - Supreme Championship Champion: Trevor Shields, Armani Reserve: Jalex,Lunar Noir
5. Calf champion exhibited by JCB Commercials pictured with judge Nigel & Sandra Cochrane, handler Mark Reid, george Neill, Gareth Corrie JNR Annie Neill and sponsor Jonny Neill.
Calf champion exhibited by JCB Commercials pictured with judge Nigel & Sandra Cochrane, handler Mark Reid, george Neill, Gareth Corrie JNR Annie Neill and sponsor Jonny Neill. Photo: freelance
6. The MCV Breeding heifer champion pictured with judge Gordon Cutler, Fergal Gormley and handler Cormac OKane
The MCV Breeding heifer champion pictured with judge Gordon Cutler, Fergal Gormley and handler Cormac OKane Photo: Bo Davidson