2006 Club Report
by Thelma Gorman

I would like to commence my annual review of events within the club at the AGM which was held on Thursday, 30th March 2006. I was indeed deeply honoured to be re-elected for a second term as Chairperson, for what has been so far, a better year than was predicted by many, following the commencement of Single Farm Payments.

Good demand for our bulls and a terrific trade for commercial breeding females have resulted in our breed once again coming to the top of the popularity stakes with progressive suckler farmers who recognise the qualities of Simmental when seeking that ‘ideal’ suckler cow.

Dungannon Farmers Mart was the venue for the first major event of the year and what a success it proved to be. Our annual Spring Show and Sale was held on Monday evening, 10th April, when we welcomed well-known commercial beef producer, Sam Milliken to place a top quality entry of 42 bulls and 8 females in their various classes. Sam picked as his Supreme and Female Champion, Ashland Beauty from the herd of Pat and Frank Kelly, Tempo. This outstanding maiden heifer sired by Raceview Nigel went on to fetch the top price of the sale, 3600 gns. The Male Champion sired by Salisbury Challenger came from David Hazelton’s Ranfurly herd. Romeo 2nd was bred from the herd’s 2003 Reserve Female of the year, South Park King Kong Weikel 2nd and sold for 2600 gns. Hiltonstown Samson fetched top male price of 2700 gns for Robert and Richard Rodgers, Portglenone. The packed gallery of buyers saw the sale finish with an excellent demand for the commercial female entries with suckler farmers willing to pay top prices for quality replacement heifers for their suckler herds.

Ashland Beauty

With club members upbeat after a promising trade for their stock at the Spring Show and Sale, the Summer Show season kicked off with Balmoral Show on May 12th, when the club welcomed Judge, Mr. Alasdair Houston, from Gretna House, in Scotland. Our entries were slightly up on 2005, quality kept the breed prominent amongst its rivals. The RUAS proved highly successful for Joe Wilson and sons, Alan and Keith, from Newry, with their prolific prizewinning homebred show cow, Ballinalare Farm Money Penny, lifting the Supreme Championship and setting a formidable modern day record of three successive Simmental titles. She was followed by Ashland Pretty Lucy in the Reserve Female and Reserve Overall spot for the Kelly family, from Tempo. The Male Championship went the way of Woodhall Premier, owned by Robert and Richard Rodgers from Portglenone, with Omorga Regan from Kenneth Stubbs and family filling the runner-up position. The Simmental marquee as usual proved highly attractive to the breed enthusiasts being well decorated with what the Simmental breed is all about and its appeal to suckler farmers.

In the midst of the show season we had an extremely enjoyable Junior Stockjudging Evening held on the property of Kenneth Stubbs and family at Whitfield Farm, Killadeas, Co. Fermanagh. Set in the midst of the Fermanagh Lakeland, the Drumbulcan Herd provided an excellent evening’s stock judging for members and friends from all parts of Northern Ireland. Master Judges for the evening, Harold Stubbs and William Nelson, gave their reasons for placing the animals following a scrumptious evening tea kindly provided by our hosts.

The four junior members selected to represent the club at the Royal Show at Stoneleigh were Thomas Hamilton and Timothy Hamilton (over 21) and Christopher Boyd and Zara Stubbs (under 21).

The show season continued with results changing to and fro. The Ulster Bank sponsored Bull Derby reached its climax at Clogher Valley Show with David Hazelton’s January 2005 born Ranfurly Shamus being crowned Champion and the Hillcrest King sired son, Sperrinview Striker exhibited by William Ferguson, taking the runner-up spot.

And so to the final show of the season, Enniskillen, which is proving popular for Simmental enthusiasts from near and far, with a large party of breeders from Southern Ireland attending this year. We were delighted to welcome our Judges for finals day, Gerald and Morag Smith, from the famous Drumsleed herd at Fordoun, Aberdeen. Gerald placed the various classes of Simmentals, and Morag judged our Young Stockperson of the Year.

Lifting the Supreme Championship at the third show in succession was the two year old Female Champion, Ashland Pretty Lucy, from Tempo based breeders, Pat and Frank Kelly. Having already won the championship at the previous two shows, Castlewellan and Clogher in the last fortnight, this Freighduff Brendan sired Intermediate Heifer class winner wasn’t to be stopped at her home show in Enniskillen.

In Reserve Supreme position was the Male Champion, Ranfurly Shamus from David Hazelton’s herd at Dungannon. This muscley, stylish son of Carnkern Titan born in January 2005 also lifted the DANI Rose Bowl for best performance recorded bull. The Reserve Female Champion was the winner of the cow class, Ballinalare Farm Money Penny who was shown with her eight month old bull calf at foot, the Omorga Prince sired Ballinalare Farm Tzar, who himself won the calf class before being crowned Junior Champion, owned by Joe Wilson. Filling the Reserve Male position was the promising Hillcrest Naughty sired son, Corrick Supreme from Cecil McIlwaine’s herd at Newtownstewart, in Co. Tyrone.

Ashland Pretty

With the final results of the season now in, the Female of the Year title for 2006 went to Ashland Pretty Lucy from the Kelly family and the Reserve Female title went to Joe Wilson’s Ballinalare Farm Money Penny.

Woodhall Premier

The Male of the Year title was won by Robert and Richard Rodgers, Portglenone, with their stock bull, Woodhall Premier with the Reserve Male of the Year going to David Hazelton’s Ranfurly Shamus.

As well as being the venue for the final points show of the year, Enniskillen showgrounds also played host to the Eprinex Pour-On Pair of the Year final with qualifiers from five shows competing for this prestigious honour. With five quality pairs of cattle entering the ring for the final having qualified at Balmoral, Ballymena, Armagh, and Omagh shows, the Judge, Gerald Smith, chose as his Champions, Pat and Frank Kelly’s pair of rising two year old homebred heifers, Ashland Pretty Lucy and Ashland Juliet. These two animals, sired by Freighduff Brendan and Raceview King respectively, have received many favourable comments from judges and spectators alike over the course of the season.

The winner received five litres of Eprinex Pour-On from Nick Munce, Territorial Manager of Merial Animal Health. In runner-up position, was the Carnkern Titan sired pair of Ranfurly Shamus and Ranfurly Kleeb, bred and exhibited by Dungannon based breeder, David Hazelton. Again homebred, these two animals displayed power and style and are an excellent example of the breed. David received 2.5 litres of Eprinex Pour-On. Each remaining pair received one litre of Eprinex Pour-On. Our thanks go to all our sponsors over the course of the show season.

Whilst preparation and showing were taking place, Young Stockpersons were being assessed on their ability to present and exhibit their animals in the ring, as well as caring for them during the show. The Judge’s wife, Morag Smith judged this competition, and chose as her winner, William Ferguson exhibiting his July 2005 born bull, Sperrinview Striker. Our congratulations to William who was presented with the champion rosette and the Young Stockperson of the Year shield.

The charity barbecue on the first Friday evening in August always provides a chance to unwind after a hectic summer of farming duties and this year was no different. In the relaxing atmosphere that is Dungannon Rugby Club, amidst a spread of salads ‘fit for the Queen’ and the mouthwatering aroma of steaks cooking on the barbecue, the club played host to a packed house of members and friends. With everyone having enjoyed a delicious meal, it was time to raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis and with auctioneer, Noel Erskine taking handsome bids for the kindly donated items in the auction, a most satisfactory cheque was accumulated for charity.

A highly successful Simmental production sale was held by members on Friday evening, October 6th at Dungannon Farmers Mart. This sale proved interesting to many breeders as it contained the major reduction of Sam Watson’s Samark herd. With quality cows and heifers on show, Sam’s stock peaked at 3300 gns. The remainder of the pedigree section proved successful for Andy Weatherup’s Ballyvallough herd at Larne, selling a maiden heifer at 3000 gns. Again the strong commercial element continued with keen demand for quality commercial maiden heifers and prices reaching £1200 in this section.

Once again the Perth Autumn Bull Sales proved highly successful for Northern Ireland breeders. Billy Robson and sons, Michael and Norman lifted the Supreme and Intermediate Championships with Kilbride Farm Strabane sired by Kilbride Farm Newry who commanded the joint top price of 10,000 gns, with Joe Wilson’s Ballinalare Farm Spartacus lifting the Reserve Supreme and Junior Championships and leaving the sale ring with a price tag of 8,500 gns. These honourable results were followed by many noteworthy rosettes and prices, too numerous to mention, for other members as well. Heartiest congratulations to you all.

Special thanks to my Vice-Chairman and Secretary for all his help throughout the year, committee members and anyone else who helped further the club’s success during this period.

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