Farlow’s heifer reigns supreme

Hillview Dora, a yearling Charolais heifer shown by Alan Farlow, Garvagh, scooped the female and supreme overall championships in the commercial beef section at Balmoral Show.

A delighted Alan Farlow said that this was his first Balmoral championship title in six years of competing at the event.  “I bought the heifer in Swatragh from noted commercial producer, Sean McCloskey from Claudy. She was sired by Mr McCloskey’s Charolais stock bull and is out of a three-quarter-bred Limousin heifer.”

Alan Farlow runs a herd of 12 suckler cows and a beef finishing enterprise. He also owns an engineering business which specialises in building truck bodies.

Judge, John MacGregor, Kilsyth, Glasgow, said:”This is a real sweet, showy heifer. She caught my eye the minute she entered the showring. This heifer is one of the best I have ever seen, and could compete anywhere in the UK.”

The reserve championship honours went to John Killen, and daughters, Shauna and Katrina, from Crossgar. Their winning entry was ‘Fanta’, a senior Charolais bullock sired by the 18,000gns Perth prize winner, Furey Action – stock bull in Declan and Fergal McKenna’s commercial suckler herd at Clogher. This home-bred entry is out of a Limousin heifer.

John Killen runs a herd of 15 suckler cows and finishes around 120 beef cattle per year. The Killen family are no strangers to success in the fatstock showring. This was their fourth reserve championship since the commercial beef section was introduced to Balmoral Show in 2004. They also scooped the supreme award at last year’s event.

“This bullock is very showy and stylish, and is a perfect match for the overall champion,” added the judge.

The qualifiers for the 2010 Ulster Bank Suckler Heifer Championship were owned by William McAllister, Kells, and Sam Matchett, Portadown.

Results from the judging ring include:

• Leanne Rodgers Perpetual Challenge Cup for the supreme champion: Alan Farlow. Reserve: John Killen.
• Royal Dublin Society Medallion for the best commercial beef heifer: Alan Farlow. Reserve: Alistair Crawford.
• Royal Dublin Society Medallion for the best commercial beef bullock: John Killen. Reserve:  Connell Brothers.
• C vJunior beef heifer – 1, Alan Farlow, Garvagh; 2, Alistair Crawford, Newtownstewart; 3, John Killen, Crossgar.
• Senior beef heifer – 1, Alistair Crawford; 2, Sean O’Brien, Burnfoot, County Donegal; 3, William McAllister.
• Junior beef steer – 1, John Linton, Coleraine; 2, Clarke Johnston, Lisburn.
• Senior beef steer – 1, John Killen; 2, Connell Brothers, Oldcastle, Co Meath; 3, John Killen.
• The Northern Ireland Commercial Cattle Exhibitors Club is staging its 6^{th annual show at the Pedigree Sales Arena, Moira, on Friday, August 20. Further details from club secretary, John Killen on mobile: 07740 484959.}

The reserve champion in the commercial beef section at Balmoral Show was 'Fanta' exhibited by John Killen, and daughters, Shauna and Katrina, Crossgar. Included is judge, John MacGregor, Kilsyth, Glasgow.

Alan Farlow, Garvagh, exhibited 'Hillview Dora', the supreme champion in the commercial beef section at Balmoral Show. Adding his congratulations is judge, John MacGregor, Kilsyth, Glasgow.

Jim Flanagan presents the Royal Dublin Society Medallion for the best commercial beef heifer at Balmoral Show to Alan Farlow, Garvagh.

Jim Flanagan presents the Royal Dublin Society Medallion for the best commercial beef bullock to John, Shauna and Katrina Killen, Crossgar.

Balmoral Show's commercial beef cattle steward, Sam Milliken.

NI Charolais Club chairman, Sandra Cochrane, congratulates Alan Farlow, right, Garvagh, and John Killen, Crossgar, on winning the supreme and reserve championship awards in the commercial beef section with Charolais-sired cattle.

Gillian Orr, Ulster Bank, congratulates Jack Smyth and Sam Matchett, on qualifying for the Ulster Bank's Commercial Suckler Heifer Championship.

Balmoral Show's commercial beef cattle judge, John MacGregor, Glasgow.

Commercial beef cattle exhibitor, Tara O'Brien from Burnfoot, County Donegal.

Keeping an eye on the judging of the commercial beef cattle at Balmoral Show.

Judging of the commercial beef cattle section underway at Balmoral Show.

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