Balmoral Show 2022
11th - 14th May
Females dominate British Blue championship line-up at Balmoral
A three-year-old cow caught the eye of English judge Andrew Haste to secure the female and supreme overall championship honours in the British Blue showring at the 153rd Balmoral Show.
Champion - 194 Solway View Oki Doki
The winning entry was Solway View Oki Doki, an Empire D’Ochain daughter exhibited by Robert and Joshua Arrell from Artlone Livestock, Randalstown. Bred by Kevin Watret, she is out of Solway View Elegance, and was purchased privately two years ago. Flushed twice, she is in-calf to the AI sire Bedgebury Kent.
The Arrell family own three pedigree British Blue cows, and were delighted to win their first-ever Balmoral championship. Solway View Oki Doki was the first prize senior heifer at the 2021 show, postponed until September last year due to the pandemic.
Judge Andrew Haste, owner of the Stoneleigh Herd based in Devon, thanked the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society for inviting him to judge, and praised the quality of British Blue cattle on parade. “The champion stood out! She is a strong and powerful young cow, and very correct for her age.”
Reserve Champion - 193 Boroside Lemon
Winning the reserve female and reserve supreme championship ribbons was the second placed cow Boroside Lemon, bred and exhibited by Melvin Masterson, who had made the journey from Enniscorthy in County Wexford. Sired by Dafydd D’au Chene, this December 2017 entry is one of 10 British Blue cows in the herd, which is managed alongside the 120-cow Boroside Holstein Herd.
She has produced a heifer calf, completed an ET programme, and is back in-calf.
202 Knockagh Rihanna
Claiming the junior championship was the January 2021 heifer Knockagh Rihanna ET, bred by Jim Ervine, and daughter Laura, from Newtownabbey.
“This is a phenomenal junior heifer. She is something special and is certain to have another day in the showring,” added the judge.
Sired by Empire D’Ochain, her dam is the home-bred show cow Knockagh Lass – one of six pedigree and 50 commercial cows in the herd.
This eye-catching heifer made her showring debut at the inaugural Four-Breed Calf Show in Dungannon last November, winning the female and supreme overall championship awards
Knockagh Paloma and Knockagh Pixie
The Ervine duo exhibited three full ET sisters from the same mating in the senior heifer class, winning first, second and third rosettes. Knockagh Paloma and Knockagh Pixie, went on to win first prize in the class for the best pair of animals, owned by exhibitor.
207 Smyths Rodger
Jack Smyth from Newtownstewart won the male and reserve junior championships with the home-bred bull Smyths Rodger ET. This fifteen-month-old bull was sired by Solway View Dynamite ET, and his dam is the Empire D’Ochain daughter Droit Isadora ET bred by Richard Mowbray.
Droit Isadora has been flushed to produce pedigree and commercial progeny. She was the dam of the commercial calf champion Jo Jo at the 2021 Ulster Beef and Lamb Championships. The 275gks calf sold at £5,600 for Chris Johnston from Fivemiletown.
The reserve male champion was Jim and Laura Ervine’s Knockagh Paddy. This November 2020 bull was sired by Joker Du Point, and is a son of Knockagh Lass.
Results from the show ring…
Specials
Wilson Perpetual Cup for the champion: Artlone Livestock. Reserve: Melvin Masterson.
The Herdbook Cup for the best junior bull: Jack Smyth.
The Norden Laboratories Salver for the female champion: Artlone Livestock. Reserve: Melvin Masterson.
The Norden Laboratories Salver for the male champion: Jack Smyth. Reserve: William James and Laura Ervine.
Thompsons Perpetual Challenge Cup and Tankard for the best junior heifer: William James and Laura Ervine.
IAM Agricultural Machinery Cup for the best senior heifer: William James and Laura Ervine.
The Hunter Kane and Son Cup for the best senior cow: Artlone Livestock.
NI British Blue Club Shield for the best pair of animals: William James and Laura Ervine.
The Ervine Perpetual Cup for the best pair of animals: William James and Laura Ervine.
Classes
Cow, born on or before 30/09/19 – 1, Artlone Livestock, Solway View Oki Doki by Empire D’Ochain; 2, Melvin Masterson, Boroside Lemon by Dafydd D’Ochain; 3, Thomas O’Doherty, Doon Katie by Boherard Cantona.
Heifer, born 01/10/19 and 30/09/2020 – 1, William James and Laura Ervine, Knockagh Paloma by Empire D’Ochain; 2, William James and Laura Ervine, Knockagh Pixie by Empire D’Ochain; 3, William James and Laura Ervine, Knockagh Perky by Empire D’Ochain.
Heifer, born on or after 01/10/2020 - 1, William James and Laura Ervine, Knockagh Rihanna by Empire D’Ochain; 2, Stephen Gordon, Knockchree Primrose by Ridge Dean Mahogany; 3, Stephen Gordon, Knockchree Pringle by Fenton Galahad.
Bull, born on or after 01/10/20 – 1, Jack Smyth, Smyths Rodger ET by Solway View Dynamite; 2, William James and Laura Ervine, Knockagh Paddy by Joker Du Pont; 3, Melvin Masterson, Boroside Perfection by Gitan Du Pti’t Mayeur.
Pair of animals, property of exhibitor – 1, William James and Laura Ervine, Knockagh Palmora and Knockagh Pixie; 2, Stephen Gordon, Knockchree Pringle and Knockchree Primrose; 3, Melvin Masterson, Boroside Perfection and Boroside Empire.
196 Knockagh Paloma
