Charolais heifers topped 2,000 guineas and bulls sold to 1,900 guineas at the Northern Ireland Charolais Club spring show and sale at Balmoral which was held in the middle of March 1981.

Nineteen bulls averaged £1,262 and eight heifers levelled at £1,090.

Apart from numbers being down the all-round quality of the bulls was lower than usual but this was to be expected in view of the large number of top class bulls that Ulster breeders sold at the Scottish sale in Perth.

'A lot to rejoice in'

Pictured in March 1981 is John Currie of Tullygarley, Ballymena, with a bull at a show and sale of Charolais cattle which was held at Balmoral, Belfast. Picture: Farming Life archives/Darryl Armitage

placeholder image — Pictured in March 1981 is John Currie of Tullygarley, Ballymena, with a bull at a show and sale of Charolais cattle which was held at Balmoral, Belfast. Picture: Farming Life archives/Darryl Armitage

However, as Tom Clarke commented, it was an “encouraging bull sale” and a breeder summed it up this: “We have a lot to rejoice in.”

Robert arid James Simpson, from Lambeg, Lisburn, scored a double championship with two choice heifers, taking both the supreme and reserve awards.

The Simpsons, in addition to receiving the Northern Bank championship trophy, also won the Farming Life trophy, with special club prize of £20, for the best pair of full French cattle by the same sire, bred and exhibited by one exhibitor.

The heifers were by the noted Lambeg herd sire, Tavy Lionheart, which had left some outstanding progeny.

William Carson, Rathfriland, and David Perry, Ahoghill, “talking Charolais” at a show and sale of Charolais cattle which was held at Balmoral, Belfast in March 1981. Picture: Farming Life archives/Darryl Armitage

Bull tops 1,900 guineas

For a change it was the bulls that were first in the sale ring arid made a good start with 1,900 guineas for the top bull of John F McCall, Mageralave Road, Lisburn, which was bought by William Glazebrook for Scotland.

The next highest price was 1,725, guineas paid to James Owens, of Broughshane, Ballymena, for the best full French animal of opposite sex to the supreme champion bred by exhibitor. The purchaser was Norman Bolton, of Kilrea.

A first prize bull of Cyrill Millar, from Coleraine, made 1,720 guineas, paid by William Carson, of Minerstown, Downpatrick.

George Allen, Portadown, doing some last-minute grooming before his bull entered the sale ring at a show and sale of Charolais cattle which was held at Balmoral, Belfast. Picture: Farming Life archives/Darryl Armitage

Leading prices

Harry Marquess, of Oldstone, Muckamore, received 1,700 guineas for an unplaced bull which went to S Hall, of Donnemana, Co Tyrone.

The Department of Agriculture, Greenmount Hill Farm, Glenwherry, paid 1,675 guineas for a third prize bull of A Gallagher, Newtownstewart, Co Tyrone.

James Jones, of Ligoniel, paid 1,500 guineas for a bull of J E and l M Linton, Linmore, Killylea, Co Armagh.

James Owens, from Broughshane, with the best bull of opposite sex to the supreme champion bred by exhibitor at a show and sale of Charolais cattle which was held at Balmoral, Belfast. Picture: Farming Life archives/Darryl Armitage

A Department of Agriculture bull made 1,425 guineas, paid by D McMaw, Portrush, and at 1,150 guineas a bull of H J Simpson , Cullybackey, went to Ken McMillen, Ballymena.

B A Mullan, Ringsend, Coleraine, received 1,100 guineas for a bull, bought by S McKeown , Newry.