Northern Ireland British Blue Cattle Club
Knockagh Red-Letter Day in British Blue Showring
By Julie Hazelton
The Knockagh British Blue Herd owned by father and daughter team Jim and Laura Ervine, Newtownabbey, had a red-letter day at the Four-Breed Calf Show, held at Dungannon on Saturday 27th November 2021.
The County Antrim-based herd, founded in 1998, clinched an array of awards at the one-day event, including the female, reserve male and supreme overall championships.
The female and supreme overall British Blue champion was Knockagh Rihanna exhibited by Laura Ervine, Newtownabbey. Adding his congratulations is Paul Elwood, HVS Animal Health, sponsor.
Claiming the day’s female and supreme overall championships was the ten-month-old heifer Knockagh Rihanna. Sired by the popular AI bull Empire D’Ochain, she is the result of an ET flush from the home-bred Gitan Du Pti’t Mayeur daughter, Knockagh Lass – one of six pedigree cows in the herd, which is managed alongside a 50-cow commercial herd, and a cross-bred store cattle and beef finishing enterprise.
Securing the reserve male championship was the second prize yearling bull Knockagh Paddy, by Joker Du Pont D’Herbais. This ET bull is also bred from Knockagh Lass, making him a half-brother to the supreme show champion.
Grace Elwood, Crossgar, exhibited the first prize senior bull and male champion Bethel Pablo ET. Included is judge Jim Sloan from Kilkeel.
Judge Jim Sloan from Kilkeel, County Down, praised the quality of calves on parade. He awarded the male championship to the senior bull class winner Bethel Pablo exhibited by Grace Elwood from Crossgar. Established twelve years ago, the Bethel prefix comprises of six pedigree females.
The male champion is the result of an ET mating between Springhill Mighty Mate, and the Solway View Dynamite daughter Springhill Nadia – bought privately as a heifer from James and Sam Martin, Newtownards.
Ivan and Jenny Gordon, Kilkeel, won the reserve female and reserve supreme British Blue championships, with the junior heifer Springbank Roxy. Included are sponsor Paul Elwood, HVS Animal Health; and judge Jim Sloan, Kilkeel.
Ivan and Corinna Gordon, Kilkeel, were delighted to secure the reserve female and reserve supreme championship ribbons with the eight-month-old heifer Springbank Roxy. Sired by Cubitus De Pre Rosine, she is bred from the Twyning Ash Vaughan daughter Springbank Nick Nack - one of two breeding females in the herd, which is managed alongside a 150-cow Holstein herd and a flock of pedigree Suffolk sheep.
Judge Jim Sloan, Kilkeel, congratulates Jim and Laura Ervine, Newtownabbey, on winning the female and supreme championships with Knockagh Rihanna; and the reserve male championship with Knockagh Paddy.
The prize for the best pair of British Blue calves went to Jim and Laura Ervine with Knockagh Paddy and Knockagh Rihanna. Runner-up was Oliver McCann, Castlewellan, who exhibited the July-born Cromwell Fendt daughters Drumboy Rita and Drumboy Rihanna.
The NI British Blue Club is indebted to everyone who contributed to the success of the inaugural Four Breed Calf Show. Special thanks to judge Jim Sloan, sponsors Oddball Engineering, Dunbia, HVS Animal Health and the British Blue Cattle Society.
Results from the judging ring:
Senior bull, born between 1/9/20 and 30/11/20 – 1, Grace Elwood, Bethel Pablo ET by Springhill Mighty Mate; 2, Jim and Laura Ervine, Knockagh Paddy by Joker Du Pont D’Herbais; 3, Jack and Anne Morrison, Chatham Preston by Chatam Karl.
Jason Edgar, Downpatrick, exhibited the first prize senior heifer Ballyhossett Primrose.
Senior heifer, born betw4een 1/9/20 and 30/12/20 – 1, Jason and Jennifer Edgar, Ballyhossett Primrose by Woodview Solo; 2, Ivan and Corinna Gordon, Springbank Paislee by Tintin De My; 3, Jack Smyth, Smyths Party Girl by Dryborrows Cawdale; 4, Jack and Anne Morrison, Chatham Pauline by Boros De Ironman.
Laura Neill exhibited the first prize junior bull Ballylucas Pixel, bred by Samuel Cleland, Downpatrick.
Junior bull, born on or after 1/12/20 – 1, Samuel Cleland, Ballylucas Pixel by Immense D Yvoir.
Junior heifer, born on or after 1/1/21 – 1, Jim and Laura Ervine, Knockagh Rihanna by Empire D’Ochain; 2, Ivan and Corinna Gordon, Springbank Roxy by Cubitus De Pre Rosine; 3, Oliver McCann, Drumboy Rihanna by Cromwell Fendt; 4, Ivan and Corinna Gordon, Springbank Raina by Heros De Peroy.
Pair, property of exhibitor – 1, Jim and Laura Ervine, Knockagh Paddy and Knockagh Rihanna; 2, Oliver McCann, Drumboy Rita and Drumboy Rihanna; 3, Ivan and Corinna Gordon, Springbank Raina and Springbank Paislee; 4, Jack and Anne Morrison, Chatham Preston and Chatham Pauline.
Jim Sloan, Kilkeel, judged the British Blue classes.
Keeping an eye on the British Blue judging.
