British Blues win Battle of Antrim
Saturday 24th July 2010 was yet another triumph for British Blue Cattle breeders
when the nation’s top terminal sire took the Interbreed Championship
at Antrim Show.
Zara Chestnutt of Bushmills winning the Interbreed Championship and
Norbrook Blue Championship with her cow, Clougher Wilma, which had an equally
impressive calf at foot.
Interbreed beef judge Peter Henshall, a former Limousin
Society chairman from Shropshire, noting how rarely a top show cow produces
such as stunningly good calf.
“The turn out of stock at Antrim and appreciative gallery was amazing
with the British Blue cow awarded the Interbreed Championship a truly exceptional
example of the breed.”
Jim Ervine, Newtownabbey, exhibited the Reserve
British Blue Champion at Antrim, a bull that clearly delighted breed judge
Andy Woodburn from Ayrshire.
“Not only had British Blues the largest turnout of stock at Antrim Show,
but the quality from top to bottom was amazing,” the Scottish judge
said. “There
was not a British Blue exhibited today that wasn’t a credit to the
breed.”
Jim Reid from Lockerbie, who judged the Heifer Derby, was equally
upbeat in his comments. “The sheer strength of entries for the Ulster
Bank Blue Heifer Derby was amazing, no wonder two rings had to become one
to accommodate this event. Oliver McGuinness’s white heifer was, to
me, the obvious winner, but after that making placings in the right order
was far from easy so good was the line out of stock. That outstanding heifer
from Oliver’s Faughanvale
Herd at Eglinton would take home rosettes from any show anywhere in the land.
“These are Blues bred as they should be with shape and mobility, cattle
with real character able to do the job of producing better paying beef cattle
from suckler and dairy herds alike.”
All with an interest in good cattle
are reminded Zara Chestnutt hosts an open night on the family farm near Bushmills
from 6.30pm on Frid, Aug 13, an opportunity to view the NI Blue Cattle Club
Herd of the Year.
The following day, Sat, Aug 14 Moira Arena again hosts the
Meat Joint Blue Calf Show and Young handlers Competition.
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