Vale Royal Heavenly Girlie secures supreme champion crown in show

Introduced in the absence of summer shows, the hotly contested ‘good fun’ competition portrayed photographs of animals in the field and was hosted by the society’s Facebook page.

The Simmental breed was set to celebrate its 50th Anniversary in 2020 with a National show and sale in Carlisle.

NI Club member and former society president Billy Robson OBE from Doagh, Ballyclare, was one of the first breeders to import Simmental cattle into the UK.

He praised the success of the Virtual Show which over its nine weeks duration 
attracted a tremendous following on social media, not only from the UK, but from breed enthusiasts around the world.

“The standard has been remarkably high, especially over such a big number of entries. It was great to see so many quality animals in their working clothes. The future of the Simmental breed looks very good and breeders need to keep the focus on producing what the commercial man wants.”

Mr Robson had the honour of selecting the competition’s overall champions. Taking the supreme championship crown was Vale Royal Heavenly Girlie from James Arnold, Tarporley, Cheshire. This four-year-old cow edged out the young bull Mavsey Kinetic, from Jonathan Gunn, Caithness.

“My choice of champion exhibited all of the attributes that I would go for in a Simmental female.

“She has size, scope, correctness and is very feminine. From the photograph she is fleshy and in top show condition, and I’m sure would excel in any show scenario. This cow is a prime example of the breed and came out of a tremendously strong class of 157 cows. The young bull in reserve has a lot of quality with both style and correctness. Again, I feel he’s got a great future ahead of him and is certainly one to watch.”

Prior to the championship judge off, Vale Royal Heavenly Girlie had secured the female championship from judge Robert MacGregor, who runs the Team Herd in Perthshire. Runner-up was Ranfurly Lady Diana 37th from David and Jonny Hazelton’s herd in Dungannon.

The male championship was judged by local breeder Robin Boyd from the Slievenagh Herd, Potglenone, who put forward the April 2019 Mavsey Kinetic from Jonathan Gunn.

Robin Boyd said: “This young bull is well grown for his age. He carries plenty of muscle and shape, and has both style and correctness. He’s very much a modern type of Simmental and with a lot of future ahead of him.”

The reserve male title went to the senior bull Lisglass Goldstar, stock bull in Gordon Clarke’s Broombrae Herd in Cupar, Fife. He was bred by Ballyclare herd owners Leslie and Christopher Weatherup.

Mr Boyd added: “The Virtual Show has been a huge success and has really highlighted some tremendous Simmental cattle and bloodlines. It’s been great to watch the show unfold across the various classes. There were a lot of good young bulls shown, but the senior class of 57 bulls was I think a stand-out. It really was terrific to see the depth of quality of these working stock bulls in such numbers and in herds across the UK.”

Northern Ireland-based breeders excelled in the competition, which is testimony to the quality of Simmental genetics and the high standard of stockmanship in local herds.

The Virtual Show kicked off in mid-June with the autumn born bull class (July to December 2019).

The 68-strong entry was judged by Pat Kelly from Tempo. First place went to David and Jonny Hazelton’s July born Team Celtic son Ranfurly Knockout. Second place went to Billy Robson, and sons Michael and Norman, for the July born Kilbride Farm Kells by Sneumgaard Imperator. Leslie and Christopher Weatherup scooped sixth place with the September born Mullyknock Gallant son Lisglass Kirk.

The autumn born heifer class attracted 90 entries placed by Danish judge Henning Hansen. Taking first prize was the Hazelton family’s October born Omorga Murray daughter Ranfurly Lady Diana 37th. Pat and Frank Kelly, Tempo, claimed second prize with the September born Ashland Lucy Kay by Atlow Dixon; while Harry and John Moore, Beragh, won fourth prize with the November born Dermotstown Delboy daughter Omorga Kizzy. Fifth prize went to Philip and Avril Whyte, Portglenone, for the July born Calfpark Ellie by Ranfurly Confederate. Claiming sixth place was Corrick Khloe, a November born Kilbride Farm Delboy daughter bred by Cecil McIlwaine, and son Scott, Newtownstewart.

The mature bull class judged by John Rixon from the Lopemede Herd in England attracted 57 entries.

The November 2015 NI-bred Lisglass Goldstar, sired by Dermotstown Delboy, took first prize for Scottish breeder Gordon Clarke. Third place went to the January 2017 Dermotstown Delboy son Hiltonstown Indiana, bred by Richard Rodgers, and owned by RJ McKane, Ballymena. The October 2014 Kilbride Farm Delboy son Omorga Five Star, bred by Harry and John Moore from Beragh, and owned by Jonathan Gunn from Caithness won fifth prize.

Scottish breeder Billy MacPhearson judged the 157 entries in the cow class. Standing second behind the class winner and the show’s female and overall champion, was the Robson family’s September 2015 Kilbride Farm Eunice 213G by Crugmelyn Brenin. Third place went to the March 2013 Cairnview Snazzy daughter Kilbride Farm Dora 67E owned by Richard Cumming.

Taking seventh was the six-year-old Hillcrest Champion daughter Raceview Favourite owned by Leslie and Christopher Weatherup. Andrew and Zara Clarke, Tynan, were awarded fifteenth place with the February 2015 Kilbride Farm Comber daughter Breaghey Golden Girl.

Finlay McGowan from the Dirnanean Herd in Perthshire judged the 2020 spring born bull calf class which attracted 84 entries. The 113-strong spring born heifer calf class came under scrutiny from Dan Evans from the Wroxall Herd.

The junior bull class (January to July 2019) attracted 59 entries judged by Garrett Behan from the Clonagh Herd in Portlaoise. Third place went to Cecil and Scott McIlwaine’s Corrick Kansas, a May 2019 entry sired by the home-bred Corrick Hamlet. The June born Team Celtic son Lisglass Kojak stood eighth for Leslie and Christopher Weatherup; while tenth place went to the May 2019 Dermotstown Delboy son Knockreagh Kilroy bred by NI Club chairman Conrad Fegan, and father Val, from Rostrevor.

Michael Barlow from Lancashire judged the commercial class, open to a calf or group of calves sired by a Simmental. Progeny of Omorga Five Star took fourth place for J Gunn; with seventh place going to progeny of Omorga Horton owned by Andrew and Zara Clarke.

Scotsman Stewart Stronach from the Islavale Herd placed the group of heifers. Harry and John Moore’s Omorga prefix took second prize; with third going to the Dungannon-based Ranfurly Herd; and fourth going to the Weatherup family’s Lisglass prefix.

Rounding off the competition was a fun class for young members, judged by Judy Borlase from the Sacombe Herd in Hertfordshire. Congratulations to Danny Clarke from Tynan on taking fifth prize.

British Simmental Cattle Society president Michael Barlow said: “Congratulations to the champion exhibitors, and to all of those who have won and were placed in classes.

“We set out to provide a fun event that would involve our breeder members and which would showcase the Simmental breed. I think we’ve achieved that and more and look forward to the Society building on this event next year.”

Whilst the ‘Virtual’ Show has been hugely popular the British Simmental Cattle Society is presently looking at options to reschedule the planned 50th anniversary show and sale for 2021.

r The Northern Ireland Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club has announced that its annual autumn sale is scheduled to take place at Dungannon Farmers’ Mart on Friday, October 23.

The catalogue will include a selection of service age bulls and pedigree females, all of which will be veterinary inspected prior to the sale. The event is generously supported by Bimeda.

Entry forms will be posted to club members in due course and prospective buyers are advised to register in advance with the auctioneers. Access to the salering will be restricted and the auction can be viewed online via the LSL App.

Anyone wishing to bid using the Livestock Live online system, must register with the mart at least 24 hours prior to the sale.Vendors and purchasers must adhere to the strict Covid-19 protocols.

Everyone is advised that face coverings will be mandatory and that under 16s will not be permitted within the mart premises.

Further details and guidelines are available from Dungannon Farmers’ Mart on 028 8772 2727.

Watch press for details or follow the NI Simmental Club on Facebook.