Record entries and top prices for 2021 Beef and Lamb Championships

With a record number of entries for 2021, an unrivalled turnout of beef cattle competed for renowned Championship titles.

The highly sought-after title of Supreme Champion of the 2021 show was awarded to JCB Commercials from Crossgar. On the night a new trophy in memory of Sam Milliken was revealed and JCB Commercials were the inaugural recipients as they held the title of the top priced animal of the Show selling their champion Limousin sired heifer for £7,500.

The Reserve Champion of show was awarded to the Cochrane Family from Portadown while Jack Smyth from Newtownstewart won the popular Ulster Housewife’s Champion. Reserve Ulster Housewife’s Champion was awarded to R & L Workman from Larne and the Champion Calf of the show was exhibited by Chris Johnston from Fivemiletown.

Lambs shown on the day competed for the title of Best Butcher Pair with Andrew McCutcheon from Trillick receiving this prestigious award. Liam Campbell from Carnlough received the title of Reserve Best Butcher Pair.

There was fierce competition within the YFCU classes with the Champion Young Farmer within the cattle classes awarded to Jacob McCauley while the Champion title within the lamb classes was exhibited by Jamie McCutcheon from Trillick.

The Champion Young Handler (8 -12 years old) within the cattle classes and the recipient of the Gary Pickering Cup was exhibited by Alisha Alexander from Randalstown while the Champion Young Handler (13 -16 years old) and recipient of the Stanley Reid Cup was exhibited by Aine McAlister from Aghadowey. In the lamb Young Handler class, Jaden McCutcheon from Trillick took the championship title.

Richard Primrose, Agri Manager for principal sponsor Bank of Ireland UK commented: “We are very proud to partner with the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society for another year to host this prestigious show and sale. This year’s event proved to be a great success with the hybrid approach of both in-person and online with the live stream, reaching an even bigger audience and ensuring that we were able to connect even more buyers and sellers on the night. We’re delighted to play a role in this popular event and furthermore, continue our support to all of those working in the beef and sheep industries.”

Rhonda Geary, Operations Director, RUAS commented: “We were delighted to open our doors once again for the fourth Royal Ulster Premier Beef & Lamb Championships in partnership with principal sponsor Bank of Ireland. With a record number of entries and record-breaking prices, we are delighted with the success of the 2021 Championships at Balmoral Park. Once again our exhibitors pulled out all the stops showcasing an unrivaled selection of beef cattle and lamb and the most prestigious fatstock show and sale of the year.”

She continued: “We are thankful to have the generous backing of our principal sponsor Bank of Ireland and we would also like to extend our thanks to the local cattle and sheep breed clubs and societies, who supported the Championships and kindly contributed towards the prize fund.

“We are proud to be able to run this show and sale to showcase and promote all that is excellent in our production and farming communities as well as highlighting the quality produce from Northern Ireland within the beef and lamb industries.”

Throughout the day, the Championship was streamed live online where thousands of viewers were able to enjoy the spectacular show of beef cattle and lamb classes as well as the highly anticipated auction later in the evening. For those who missed out on the action from the show and sale, they can view it again online on the Royal Ulster Premier Beef & Lamb Championship You Tube channel and Facebook page.

Full results from the Championships can be viewed online at www.beefandlamb.org.uk.

Red hot returns at Royal Ulster Beef & Lamb Championships

A bumper entry of lambs, calves and prime cattle attracted an influx of potential buyers to the Eikon Exhibition Centre at Balmoral, with a fantastic feel-good atmosphere throughout the day. Competition right across the board was fierce as the very finest of Northern Ireland’s livestock competed in no less than 60 classes, placed by a team of four judges.

In the cattle rings the day kicked off with a superb show of calves placed by June Dowie, Yorkshire. Taking the top honours here was Chris Johnston, Fivemiletown with his homebred baby Jo Jo sired by Trueman Idol. This exciting prospect caught the eye of many visitors to the event, tipping the scales at 275 kilos and selling for a whopping £5600 (£20 per kg) to Owen Miskelly, Ballynahinch. It was a clean sweep for Limousin as the Reserve Champion calf brought out by Mark McCartan Crossgar was sired by Foxhill Ourbest. There was plenty of style with this 5 month old steer which weighed in at 308 kilos and was snapped up by Bobby Patterson for £2400 (£12/kg).

The judging reins were handed over to Scottish based James Nesbitt for the beef section, who made swift work of the fantastic entry with some classes reaching over 20 head. Each breed had their turn in the judging ring, culminating in the grand finale which takes place in the sale ring just before the auction begins. All of the breed champions stood side by side in the sale ring, and were truly a magnificent sight to behold. You could have heard a pin drop while James took one final look at each champion before tapping out the magnificent Limousin from the JCB Commercials team as the Supreme Champion of the Show. Clocking up 650 kilos on the weighbridge, auctioneer Richard Beattie was met with a flurry of bids for this beauty, with the hammer going down at £7500 to Kitson Family Butchers, N Yorkshire. Anthony Kitson is a regular buyer at the Royal Beef & Lamb Championships as he sources the very best beef for his successful butchery business.

Billy Martin, President of the RUAS and Richard Primrose, Agri Manager Bank of Ireland presented the beautiful RJ Allams trophy to the JCB team of Gareth Corrie, Johnny Neill and Charlie Beverland.

Limousin continued their domination as the Reserve Supreme Championship was scooped by Nigel & Sandra Cochrane, Portadown. Nicknamed Skedaddle, this homebred daughter of Carmorn Cantona also met with red hot trade selling at £7400 to Owen Miskelly, Ballynahinch (£12/kg).

Another hotly contested title is the Ulster Housewife’s Championship, judged by Garry Jennings, Mayfly Restaurant, Kesh. He selected a lovely soft fleshed British Blue sired steer from Jack Smyth as his Champion. This one was snapped up by Peita McAlister for The Morning Star, Belfast at £3800. The Reserve Housewives Championship was awarded Robert & Leanne Workman, Kilwaughter with their homebred Trueman Idol daughter “Coco”. This fleshy Limousin heifer realised £2400 and will now feature on the menu at The Morning Star, Belfast.

It took £5800 to secure the Breeding Heifer Champion from the Jalex team of James Alexander, Randalstown. The championship judged by John Kingham, chose “Margot” as the winner from a very strong line up of heifers. In the sales ring she was in high demand with Gary Beacom, Fivemiletown snapping her up. Giving her a tight run in the judging stakes was a British Blue sired heifer from the JCB team, selling to Owen Miskelly at £5100.

Alfie Murray was in charge of the placings in the lamb section, and placed a well matched pair of Beltex lambs from Andrew McCutcheon as his Supreme Champion. These grossed £720 and will now be served up in McGraths Farm Shop, Annacloy. In the reserve spot were a smart pair of Dutch Spotted from Liam Campbell. Derek Hempton, Gortin snapped these up a total of £640.

Leading the prices in the lamb ring were a pair of ewe lambs from Adam Donald. Sired by a Suffolk ram these realised a total of £980 and were purchased by Keith Corrigan, Ballinamallard. The same willing buyer also forked out £960 for a pair of Dutch Spotted ewe lambs from Liam Campbell.

Buyers will be in for a treat at Alfie Murray Butchers, Killyleagh as they parted with £700 to secure a pair of Badger Faced lambs presented by Clive Richardson, Lisnaskea.

Leading prices from the sale ring

Prime beef

JCB Commercials £7500 (£11.79p/ kg) to Kitson Butchers, N Yorkshire

Nigel & Sandra Cochrane £7400 (£12.41p/kg) to Owen Miskelly, Ballynahinch

James Alexander £5800 (£7.53p/kg) to Gary Beacom, Fivemiletown

JCB Commercials £5100 (£6.76p/kg) to Owen Miskelly, Ballynahinch

Ryan Kerrigan £4500 (£6.73p/kg) to C Johnston, Donegal

James Alexander £4300 (£5.71p/kg) to Richard Black, Artigarvan

James Alexander £3900 (£5.68p/kg) to Hugh Barclay, Scotland

Martin Gallagher £3900 (£6.03p/kg) to David Bothwell, Killadeas

Jack Smyth £3800 (£7.01p/kg) to The Morning Star, Belfast

Jack Smyth £3540 (£5.14p/kg) to Dermot Lunney, Cavan

James Alexander £3500 (£4.53p/kg) to TR Crawford, Newtownstewart

John Gallagher £3200 (£5.31p/kg) to H&M Turner, Swatragh

David Lester £3200 (£6.63p/kg) to C&M Gillespie, Killyleagh

James Alexander £3200 (£.09p/kg) to Ivan Lynn, Armoy

Jacob McAuley £3100 (£5.14p/kg) to Seamus McGuigan, Gortin

JCB Commercials £3000 (3.97p/kg) to Owen Miskelly

James Alexander £3000 (£3.64p/kg) to Ivan Lynn, Armoy

James Alexander £3000 (£4.39p/kg) to D O’Ksne Swatragh

Declan McKenna £2900 (£4.89p/kg) to John Kane

Alan Burleigh £2900 (£5.62p/kg) to D O’Kane, Swatragh

Brian Weatherup £2900 (£4.70p/kg) to H&M Turner, Swatragh

Gordon Cutler £2800 (£4.88p/kg) to Robert Armstrong, Lisburn

James Alexander £2700 (£3.97p/kg) to Kitson Butchers, N Yorkshire

Gordon Cutler £2700 (£5.19p/kg) to JJW Farms, Armagh

Ian McCaughern £2650 (£4.06p/kg) to B Quinn, Dungannon

Thomas Johnston £2650 (£3.89p/kg) to P Keown, Roscor

James Alexander £2600 (£3.29p/kg) to Ed McNeill, Scotland

James Alexander £2550 (£4.48p/kg) to Ed McNeill, Scotland

Nigel & Sandra Cochrane £2500 (£4.38p/kg) to Mc Entee’s Butchers, Crossmaglen

Jack Smyth £2500 (£3.30p/kg) to Kitson Butchers, N Yorkshire

Gordon Cutler £2500 (£3.96p/kg) to Tony Morning, Donegal

Alan Veitch £2450 (£3.64p/kg) to Kitcson Butchers, N Yorkshire

R & L Workman £2400 (£4.63p/kg) to The Morning Star

RH Sinnamon £2400 (£3.83p/kg) to Foyle Omagh Meats

Robert Miller £2300 (£3.39p/kg) to the Morning Star, Belfast

Eamon Healy £2300 (£3,72p/kg) to Hugh Barclay, Scotland

Andrew Mackey £2250 (£3.16p/kg) to J Stephens, Portadown

Thomas Johnston £2250 (£3.83p/kg) to S Hughes, Katesbridge

Malachy McGrath £2200 (£3.47p/kg) to Foyle Omagh Meats

JCB Commercials £2200 (£3.31p/kg) to Kitson Butchers, N Yorkshire

JCB Commercials £2200 (£2.89p/kg) to H Barclay, Scotland

Martin O Neill £2100 (£5.02p/kg) to S Murnion, Kilkeel

Knockagh Livestock £2100 (£3.16p/kg) to Foyle Omagh Meats

Calves

Chris Johnston £5600 (£20.28p/kg) to Owen Miskelly, Ballynahinch

R & N McIlwaine £4300 (£12.79p/kg) to Owen Miskelly, Ballynahinch

Alan Farlow £3900 (£11.53p/kg) to Johnny Neill, Downpatrick

Sean McCaughey £3800 (£10.85p/kg) to Owen Miskelly, Ballynahinch

R & N McIlwaine £3000 (£3.64p/kg) to Karl Lappin, Poyntzpass

Blackwater Limousins £3000 (£9.14p/kg) to Owen Miskelly, Ballynahinch

Leonard Bros £2450 (£7.65p/kg) to Kieran McGee, Pettigo

Mark McCartan £2400 (£8.10p/kg) to Bobby Patterson, Omagh

Blackwater Limousins £2400 (£6.74p/kg) to Owen Miskelly, Ballynahinch

Michelle Wright £2250 (£5.59p/kg) to K O Hare, Newry

Michelle Wright £2100 (£3.98p/kg) to M Doyle, Newry

Leonard Bros £1800 (£5.29p/kg) to K O Hare Hilltown

Leonard Bros £1600 (£5.22p/kg) to K & S Lappin, Poyntzpass

Alan Burleigh £1550 (£5.57p/kg) to G Ringland, Katesbridge

Lambs

Adam Donald £490 to Keith Corrigan, Ballinamallard

Liam Campbell £480 to Keith Corrigan, Ballinamallard

Andrew McCutcheon £360 to McGrath Farm Shop, Annacloy

A & C Richardson £350 to Alfie Murray Butchers, Killyleagh

Liam Campbell £320 to D Hempton, Gortin

Gary Beacom £310 to The Morning Star

D&A McCrea £300 to C Lagan, Derry

Ian Colville £250 to G McGerrigle, Donemana

Tommy Jackson £240 to Alfie Murray Butchers, Killyleagh

Alan Hempton £220 to Glenpark Estate, Omagh

Liam Campbell £210 to G Christie, Derry

D&A McCrea £210 to C Lagan, Derry

Liam Campbell £200 to G Christie, Derry

Kenneth Preston £200 to Glenpark Estate, Omagh

Jonathan McKelvey £200 to E Gould, Garvagh

Kenneth Preston £200 to Lee Bowden, Stewartstown