2007 Club Report
by Robert Forde

Having served a two-year ‘apprenticeship’ under a Chairperson of whom I had the greatest admiration, I knew that I had a hard act to follow, however it was a challenge I was extremely grateful to be offered by the members of the Northern Ireland Simmental Cattle Breeders Club, and when I was elected as Chairman for the ensuing year, 2007/2008 I felt deeply honoured. Honoured to be taking the chair when recognition of members’ achievements in the show and sale ring were being talked about ‘world-wide’.

Forgive me if I start my report one month earlier at the February 2007 Spring Bull Sales in Perth. This was an historic occasion for many, but none more so than John Moore. Omorga Samson was following a trend set by other club members in the recent past, lifting Supreme Championships, but achieving a record price of 22,000 gns was something else. Congratulations John! and well done to all the other club members who attained numerous rosettes in the judging ring, many red, and excellent prices in the sale ring notably Kilbride Farm 11,000 gns, Ashland 11,000 gns and Samark 10,000 gns to name but a few!

April brings early spring grass and with it customers looking for Simmental bulls for turnout, hence our Annual Spring Show and Sale held this year on Monday evening, April 9th. With an excellent turnout of stock in all categories, it proved to be a ‘double top’ in the bull section for the Corrick herd of Cecil McIlwaine, Newtownstewart, who brought out two excellent examples of the breed. In the pre-sale show under the scrutiny of judge, John Moore, Corrick Santa, a December 2005 born son of Omorga Prince emerged as the male and Supreme Champion before going on to sell for the top price of the sale, 3400 gns. His herdmate, Corrick Solomon, a Derrycallaghan Hamilton son, second in his class to the champion, sold for 3100 gns, both bulls selling to prominent suckler/beef farmers in the west of the province.

Reserve Male champion went to W.H. Robson and Sons, Doagh, for a promising 14 month old son of the Kilbride Farm stock bull, Seaview Prince Charming. Kilbride Farm Tiger, sold for 3000gns. Thelma Gorman sold her Woodford Timmy, a Camus Brandy son for 2400 gns. Nineteen bulls sold to average 1928 gns. Best of Opposite Sex to the Champion, Lisglass Tiffany, from Leslie and Christopher Weatherup and bred from their stock bull, Omorga Prince, sold for 2500 gns. Reserve Female went to James and Eileen Hanna, for Stralongford Sandra, again from the herd’s stock bull Omorga Murray, she sold for the top female price of 2700 gns.

The commercial section saw 52 heifers sold to average £753. A flying trade with strong demand from suckler farmers for herd replacements resulted in an excellent display of quality stock selling to a top price of £1150 for a maiden heifer from Michael and Norman Robson, Doagh, who achieved a highly commendable average of £958 each for 5. Incalf heifers sold to £1200. With a much improved show of quality throughout, members went home well satisified with their achievements. Well done to one and all!

No matter how much disruption poor Spring weather brings to the farming fraternity, the month of May always manages to get the ‘show adrenalin’ flowing as the onset of a new season looms large. With no-one really declaring their ‘hand’, club officials wondering will there be a reasonable breed display at the first of the ‘Royals’, one thing is always certain, new stock, unseen before, will always appear for the big one, the RUAS Balmoral Show.

John Moore and Robin Boyd among the cattle during the NI Simmental Cattle Breeders' club annual junior stockjudging competition.

This year, 2007 was no different, and it was one of those newcomers that went right to the top under the expert eye of our judge, Mr. Brian Allan, Glenturk, Scotland. Lifting the Female and Supreme Championship, Ashland Lady Diamond 3rd gave breeders, Pat and Frank Kelly their first Balmoral Championship after being runners-up on different occasions. The Intermediate heifer class winner, sired by Raceview Nigel and from Raceview Lady Diamond, who won the same class in 2002, saw off the challenge in her class of another exceptional heifer, Wesley Abraham’s, Raceview Stella Matilda. Winning the cow class, Mullyknock Princess, sired by Raceview King, and shown with January bull calf at foot, lifted the Reserve Female and Reserve Supreme titles for Robert Forde.

The Male championship went to David Hazelton with Ranfurly Talisman, a January 2006 son of Carnkern Titan, with the Reserve Male title going to Robin Boyd’s son of Kilbride Farm Newry, Slievenagh Talisman. It was rewarding that the breed went on to win second reserve in the interbreed pairs and reserve in the Interbreed group of three.

As usual the Simmental marquee provided a welcome cup of refreshment for members and friends, with many renewing annual acquaintances amidst an impressive display of breed memorabila. Many thanks to those ladies who so willing attended to duties in the marquee.

Our junior stockjudging event took place on Monday evening, 6th June on the farm of John and Diane Moore, at Beragh. A good turnout of members enjoyed viewing the quality stock within the renowned Omorga herd, whilst testing their judging skills on four different classes of stock. A delightful supper was very kindly provided by the host family to whom the Chairman paid tribute. The judging resulted in Christopher Boyd and Zara Stubbs (U21) and Thomas Hamilton and Philip Whyte (U30) representing the club at the junior stockjudging event at the Royal Show. They all performed admirably.

Our annual charity barbeque took place on Friday, 3rd August, at Dungannon Rugby Club, with proceeds going to the Respiratory Unit, Ward 3, Altnagelvin Hospital. As the beneficaries were proposed by John Henderson who had received much medical care there before and after his double lung transplant operation, John donated many prizes including a Pedigree Simmental heifer as first prize in a raffle ticket draw which the club organised to aid the charity fund. Following a magnificent barbeque with all food donated by members and sponsors, a very well supported auction and a bumper sale of raffle tickets, a cheque for £7000 was presented to doctors and staff in Altnagelvin. We are indebted to all those who sold tickets and helped make this event such a success.

As the show season progressed, Armagh Show hosted the John Thompson & Sons Junior Simmental Heifer Derby, for animals born in 2006. Judge, Robin Boyd awarded the championship to Leslie and Christopher Weatherup’s January born heifer, Lisglass Tulip sired by Omorga Prince with Joe Wilson’s Raceview Tia Nicolette in reserve.

Moving on, Clogher Show hosted the final of the Ulster Bank Bull Derby where judge, Mr. Paddy Hennelly tapped out David Hazelton’s Ranfurly Talisman as champion. In runner-up spot was Andrew Hanna’s Stralongford Trojan and Adrian Richardson’s Samark Thor in third place.

With an excellent entry of Simmentals, Enniskillen Show played host to finals day on Wednesday, August 8th. Judge Martin Regan, from Co. Mayo, officiated and had a fine display of quality stock in each class to place. The Male and Supreme Championship was awarded to Kenneth Stubbs stock bull, Omorga Regan. Winning the Senior Bull class, Omorga Murray sired son Stralongford Trojan who also won the DANI Rose Bowl for best performance recorded bull born in 2006. The Reserve Female title went to Mullyknock Princess. As the points from Enniskillen were collated to the rest of the season’s results, the Northern Bank Male and Female of the Year titles were decided for 2007.

The Northern Bank Male of the Year title went to David Hazelton’s Ranfurly Talisman. Sired by Carnkern Titan, Talisman enjoyed a tremendous show season being much admired where ever he went, winning no fewer than five Supreme Championships, Show Supremes and Interbreed titles which helped keep the breed very much in the headlines over the Summer months. The Reserve Male of the Year title went to Slievenagh Talisman from Robin Boyd’s herd at Portglenone. Sired by Kilbride Farm Newry, both these bulls are destined for the Perth Bull Sales in November.

The Northern Bank Female of the Year title for 2007 went to Wesley Abraham’s big powerful intermediate heifer, Raceview Stella Matilda. Sired by Seabank Flint, Stella Matilda managed to keep her female opposition relatively quiet for most of the show season thus winning the title comfortably. The Reserve Female of the Year went to Mullyknock Princess. This young homebred Raceview King sired cow with bull calf at foot won a highly competitive reserve position to the delight of her owner.

Winning ‘back-to-back’ titles in any competition is never easy, but this was something achieved by the Ashland herd in the Merial Animal Health sponsored Eprinex Pour-On Pair of the Year. For the second year in succession, Pat and Frank Kelly produced two homebred heifers to lift the title amidst stiff opposition from six other pairs. Ashland Lady Diamond 3rd sired by Raceview Nigel and Ashland Terrific Lucy by Siegfried were tapped out Champions by judge Martin Regan, who stated that they were “two heifers he would love to take home.” Lifting the Reserve Eprinex Pour- On Pair of the Year title was Adrian Richardson’s Cleenagh Herd also from County Fermanagh. The herd’s stock bull, Dripsey Super King by Raceview King when teamed up with the Sacombe Wishful Thinking sired cow Moness Lady provided another very balanced pair. Our thanks to all the sponsors of the various club competitions for their valued support.

Behind the scenes, a ‘mystery judge’ was doing her rounds, in assessing the candidates for the ‘Young Stockperson of the Year’ award. When the day’s judging events were over, Christopher Weatherup (Lisglass) emerged as the unanimous choice of judge, Marion O’Connell. She stated, that he displayed all the attributes of a keen young stockperson/showman and was a deserved winner. Well done Christopher!

As agreed at Committee, the Club forwarded application forms for grant aid from the Trade Show Access Programme (TAP) run by UK Trade and Industry to acquire stand space at the Irish National Ploughing Match in Tullamore, Southern Ireland and at the Farma Exhibition, to be held in Poznan, Poland. Both applications were successful.

The stand at Tullamore wasn’t very far from home, thus the members who ‘manned’ the stand for the three days at the end of September were very much talking to the ‘converted’ in that the breeders already knew what was available in semen, stock, etc. in N. Ireland. However it gave the club a great insight into what is involved in such a venture.

The Farma Exhibition was attended by our Secretary, Robin Boyd. Robin enjoyed a busy schedule and a steady stream of interest and enquiries about our stock whilst in Poland, with at least one firm enquiry being tenderly brokered by our Secretary as I write. Was it his Polish!

As harvest approached we looked forward to our Autumn show and sale on Friday October 5th with trepidation. Following the press release from the Red Meat Task Force on the depressing profitability outlook of suckler herds in Northern Ireland the day prior to the event, coupled with gloomy beef market prices things didn’t look so rosy. However, farmers are resilient professionals who continue to improve their businesses no matter what the predictions, whereby resulting in a satisfactory trade for the large number of commercials and pedigree stock on offer for their suckler herds.

Pedigree females peaked at 4000 gns paid to William Nelson for his homebred Raceview King sired maiden heifer, Drumacritten Tamara. She was purchased by Joe Wilson for his Ballinalare Farm herd at Newry. Lisglass Trifle sold at 2100 gns for Leslie and Christopher Weatherup followed by 2000 gns for Glebefarm Sophie from Alfie Shaw. Commercial maiden heifers peaked at £640 while in-calf heifers regularly crossed the £800 mark.

With the announcement from DARD that the Premium Quality Beef Herd at Enniskillen College was to be dispersed in the harvest, notable success was achieved by our secretary, Robin Boyd to have a stock bull instated with the herd in the Spring so that a high percentage of the cows could be sold in-calf to Simmental unlike other years when a Limousin bull was used to sweep the cows following a poor conception rate to first time AI.

Negotiations have been ongoing throughout the summer with DARD to find suitable farms in meeting with Department requirements, were the cows could be used to take the project a step further. At the time of writing, two herds have been chosen namely Thomas Moorhead in County Antrim and Steven Maguire in Co. Fermanagh. We wish both farmers well with their new herd additions and look forward to working closely with them in the future as they seek to avail of Simmental’s renowned qualities within their own commercial enterprises.

As uncertainty surrounded the Autumn Bull Sales at Perth 2007 due to the tragic recurrence of Foot and Mouth Disease in Southern England followed by the Bluetongue scourge and all the movement restrictions that that involved, the sales eventually were rescheduled for November 12th to 14th.

With a strong contingent of bulls Perth bound on the ferry from Northern Ireland breeders were optimistic but couldn’t have imagined the success which was to lie ahead. In lifting the Senior and Reserve Senior, Junior and Reserve Junior and Supreme and Reserve Supreme titles in the judging ring for their bulls and prices reaching a climax of 20,000 guineas for Robin Boyd’s Reserve Supreme champion, Slievenagh Talisman followed closely by 16,000 guineas for Andrew Hanna’s Supreme Champion, Stralongford Trojan and other prizewinners reaching 13,000 guineas for Kilbride Farm Tweed from the Robson family at Doagh, Co. Antrim, members returned home with mission extremely well accomplished! One of the most pleasing statistics to develop from this particular Perth Sale was that the six top priced animals were all sired by bulls bred by members here in Northern Ireland – that in itself commands much respect! My congratulations to all those members who represented our club so admirably at Perth this year.

With the Simmental World Congress 2008 coming to the UK, we look forward to the Pre-Congress Tour for delegates to Northern Ireland. Sponsorship continues to be sourced and an attractive itinerary of events are scheduled to give our visitors an appreciative mix of what’s best in our Simmental cattle together with some of the most stunning tourist attractions to be found anywhere in the world. We eagerly await our guests, with a promise that they won’t go away disappointed!

As I complete my report, I would like to thank the officebearers and committee, one and all, for their tremendous support to not only myself but to the many club events that have took place this year. It has been truly appreciated. And to the members – thanks for your company and for your support, in particular, of the summer shows.

May I wish everyone exhibiting stock at the up-and-coming Spring Bull Sales success and ‘good luck’ – due to your expert stockmanship you have helped keep our breed were it deserves to be – at the top!

2006 club report

2005 club report

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