Ballymena Autumn Sale

Selective trade for quality at Ballymena

The Northern Ireland Blue Cattle Club held their Premier Autumn Show and Sale at Ballymena Livestock Market on Friday 25^th October 2013, kindly sponsored by Danske Bank.

The judge was Samuel Cleland from Downpatrick owner of the Ballylucas herd. As a British Blue Cattle breeder for many years, he has great knowledge and interest in the breed and was delighted to take up the challenge.

Supreme Champion Springhill Grumpy with Sam Martin,
Judge Sam Cleland, owner James Martin and sponsor Richard
Graham from Danske Bank, Ballymena.

His Champion was Springhill Grumpy from Martin Brothers, Newtownards. This spectacular 24 month white bull sired by Harpon de L’Orgelot and out of Springhill Ella, was chosen as the Male Champion and went on to secure the Overall Supreme Championship, but left the ring unsold.

Reserve Supreme Champion Chatham Henry with owner
David Morrison, judge Sam Cleland and sponsor Richard
Graham from Danske Bank, Ballymena.

Taking the Reserve Male and Overall Reserve Champion was Chatham Henry from JM Morrison & Son, Ballymoney. Sired by Paulern Verdi and out of Chatham Winkle, he finds a new home with Shirley Swain, Dungannon for 2,200gns. The leading price of the day came from the same stable in the form of Chatham Harold a well grown white bull, again, by the Morrison’s renowned stock bull Paulern Verdi but this time out of a Lenborough Oliver daughter, Chatham Bea, backed up with tremendous performance figures, being at the top of the breed for Calving Ease, in the top 10% for Growth, Scrotal Size, Carcase Weight and Intramuscular Fat and having a Carcase Profitability Index in the top 5%. He sold for 3,250gns to David Clark, Antrim.

Chatham Harold with owner Jack Morrison, judge Samuel
Cleland and sponsor Richard Graham from Danske Bank,
Ballymena

Selling at 2,000gns was Bethel Horatio from P Elwood. A son of Empire D’Ochain and out of the Blak Du Baty sired Bethel Catherine. A bull in the top 10% of the breed for Growth and Carcase Profitability Index, will be finding a new home with RJ McNeill, Glenarm, Ballymena.

Drumboy Eclipse with owner Oliver McCann, judge Samuel
Cleland and sponsor Richard Graham from Danske Bank,
Ballymena.

1^st place in class 1 was Drumboy Eclipse, a magnificent black bull sired by Springbank Blackstar and out of the Hazelwood Freshman sired Springbank Bella, from Oliver McCann from Castlewellan. He sold to N Frazer, Armagh for 1,420gns.

Club Secretary Libby Young presenting a gift to the judge
Samuel Cleland with sponsor Richard Graham from Danske
Bank, Ballymena.

Leading the females was Annaghone Candy from Norman Hammond. Sired by Gitan and out of the Totem De Chocquenee sired Annaghone Scarlett ET, she sold for 2,500 gns to EA & DA Ellis, St Ives, Cornwall. The same buyers also secured the first prize-winner, Blackford Hannahs Harlequinn, from Harold McKee, Kilkeel. Sired by Springbank Dancer and out of Blackford Eminence, this 14-month old, correct heifer sold for 1,000gns.

Blackford Hannahs Harlequinn with judge Samuel Cleland,
owner Harold McKee and sponsor Richard Graham from
Danske Bank, Ballymena.

Also from the Annaghone stable, was Annaghone Faith, another Gitan sired young cow, but this time out of Annaghone Wilma. She sold to William Ward, Crumlin, Co Antrim for 1,600gns. The same buyer also purchased her heifer calf, Annaghone Isla – sired by Bringlee Blackstar, for 1,250gns.

Show Results: -

Bulls

Class 1:

1^st Lot 1 – Drumboy Eclipse ET (Oliver McCann)

Class 2:

1^st - Lot 6 - Springhill Grumpy (Martin Bros.)

2^nd – Lot 7 – Mountjoy Galway (Desmond McAskie)

3^rd – Lot 2 – Rostrevor Gaston ET (Martin McGinn)

Class 3:

1^st – Lot 10 - Chatham Henry (JM Morrison)

2^nd – Lot 11 – Mountjoy Havana ET (Desmond McAskie)

3^rd – Lot 9 – Springhill Glen (Martin Bros)

Class 4:

1^st – Lot 13 – Chatham Harold (JM Morrison)

2^nd – Lot 12 – Bethel Horatio (P Elwood)

Supreme Champion – Springhill Grumpy

Reserve Supreme - Chatham Henry

Females

Class 7:

1^st – Lot 22 – Blackford Hannahs Harlequin (Harold McKee)

Leading Prices:

Bulls:

Lot 13 – Chatham Harold (3,250gns)

Lot 10 – Chatham Henry (2,200gns)

Lot 12 – Bethel Horatio (2,000gns)

Females:

Lot 15 – Annaghone Candy (2,500gns)

Lot 19 – Annaghone Faith (1,600gns)

Lot 20 – Annaghone Isla (1,250gns)

Lot 22 – Blackford Hannahs Harlequin (1,000gns)

Auctioneers: J A McClelland & Sons