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McKenna’s 2009 champion wins Tullamore Show title
A Limousin bullock, bred by brothers Declan and Fergal McKenna, Clogher, County Tyrone won the overall championship in the commercial section at last weekend’s Tullamore Show.
The bullock named ‘Spooks’ was exhibited by Connell Bros, Oldcastle, County Meath. It was purchased in 2009 after winning the supreme championship at the NI Commercial Cattle Exhibitors Club’s 5th annual show, held at Moira, where he was described by judge, Gareth McGuinness, ‘as a very correct, stylish bullock’.
The McKenna brothers had a very successful day at last year’s Moira show, winning the Limousin championship, the reserve Charolais championship, and the award for the best pair of animals owned by exhibitor. The Moira Show in 2006 also proved memorable, when they lifted the supreme and reserve overall championships, and top honours in the calf section.
The 2006 Moira champion went on to win Allam’s and was sold for an All-Ireland record of £6,800 for a commercial beef heifer, selling to James Higgins, Claremorris, County Mayo; while the calf champion was sold in Roscrea for 8,500 Euro.
Declan and Fergal McKenna have been showing commercial beef cattle since making their debut at Allam’s in 1982. Over the years they have won numerous rosettes and prizes, and their reputation for producing prime beef cattle is synonymous throughout Ireland .
With just over one week to go before this year’s 6th annual show at Moira, the McKenna duo is busy washing and clipping its show team in preparation for the August 20 event. They have already been competing on the local show circuit, winning the calf championship at Clogher – on their first appearance of 2010.
Declan and Fergal McKenna run a herd of over 200 suckler cows, the majority of which are Belgian Blue and other continental crosses. Stock bulls on the farm include five Charolais, two Limousin and one Belgian Blue. AI is used during the winter months when the cows are housed, and Simmental and Limousin sires are specially selected with the aim of producing herd replacements. “The Belgian Blue cross Simmental makes an ideal suckler cow. She has bone, conformation, plenty of milk, a good temperament, and is easy to calve,” explained Declan.
The suckler herd is split into spring and autumn calvers. Heifers are mainly home-bred, and are calved down at around 30 months of age. The cows are wintered on silage, concentrates and minerals, while the calves are introduced to creep feed at an early age. Calves are weaned at seven-months-old, and the potential show calves are picked out and kept separately. Fergal McKenna added:”A fatstock champion should display style, shape, conformation and muscle.”
When selecting stock bulls the brothers are looking for conformation, bone, character and style.
One of the most influential stock bulls to join the herd was the 18,000gns Fury Action –intermediate Charolais champion at Perth in February 2005. He is a Domino son bred from a dam by the noted Oldstone Egbert, and has proved to be a shrewd investment with 2,500 straws of semen having been sold to pedigree and commercial herd owners. Fury Action was the sire of the McKenna’s Clogher Show calf champion; and was also behind the breeding of Mountjoy Echo which won the junior and supreme overall championship for Desmond McAskie at the NI Charolais Club’s May show and sale.
Charolais stock bull, Carrigans Robust, also influenced the herd greatly by producing numerous prize winning cattle, including the All-Ireland record holder.
Fergal, Lauren, Orlagh and Shauna McKenna, Clogher, pictured with their commercial beef calf champion at Clogher Show.
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Entry forms now available for commercial beef show
Moira venue for 6th annual event on Friday, August 20
Schedules and entry forms are now available for the Northern Ireland Commercial Cattle Exhibitors Club’s 6th annual show, which takes place at the Pedigree Sales Arena, Moira, on Friday, August 20 commencing at 1pm.
The event has attracted a generous prize fund, and the schedule includes classes for male and female calves up to 300 kilos, as well as lightweight, mediumweight and heavyweight steers and heifers. Judge for the event is Alfred Jones from Wales.
The schedule also includes classes for steers and heifers sired by Charolais, Limousin, British Blue, British Blonde, Aberdeen Angus, Beef Shorthorn and any other breed. The breed championship classes will be placed by southern Irish producer Gene McCann.
In addition to the cattle classes, there are two classes for young handlers – under 12 years old, and 12 to 16 years old. They will be placed by Tom Stevenson.
The supreme overall champion of the show will receive the prestigious Gary Pickering Memorial Perpetual Cup and a £500 cash award, while the reserve champion will receive £250. The calf champion will receive a £300 cash prize, with £200 going to the runner-up.
The Dunbia Cup will be awarded to the best butchers’ heifer in show. All heifers weighing between 470 and 540 kilos will be eligible for this class, and will come under the scrutiny of noted butcher and pedigree Limousin breeder, Will Corrie from Newtownards.
There is also a class for the best pair of commercial beef cattle property of exhibitor. The winner of this class will receive a £100 cash prize.
The one-day show at Moira will host the final of the 2010 Ulster Bank Suckler Heifer Championship. This competition is now in its second year, and is open to non-pedigree suckler heifers aged between one and two-years-old. Two qualifiers will go forward from each designated show – Balmoral, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Armagh, Omagh, Castlewellan, Clogher and Enniskillen -and a total of sixteen heifers will compete at the final.
John McSorley, chairman, NI Commercial Cattle Exhibitors Club said:”We are indebted to our sponsors for their continued financial support. The show is now in its sixth year, and we hope that the 2010 event is bigger and better than our previous shows. We are also indebted to Willie Wilson of R A Noble and Co for the use of the premises at Moira.”
Club secretary, John Killen added:” Entries will be weighed prior to the show, and the classes will be decided and sub-divided into appropriate weight groups before judging commences. All entries must be bonafide property of exhibitor and halter trained.”
Membership of the NI Commercial Cattle Exhibitors Club is £20 per annum, and entries will only be accepted from fully paid club members. Exhibitors are requested to have adequate insurance cover.
Completed entry forms must be accompanied by the relevant entry fee and returned on or before Friday, August 6. For further details, or to obtain an entry form and schedule, contact club secretary, John Killen, on mobile 07740 484959. Late entries will not be accepted.
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April 2010 - NICCEC Annual Dinner Dance
Brothers Alan and Lee Burleigh, Florencecourt, proudly display the RUAS young handlers award, received by Alan at the NI Commercial Cattle Exhibitors' Club annual dinner, Clogher.
Emma Rodgers, Dromara, with the trophy for best young handler under 12 at the NICCEC annual show, Moira. She received her award at the club's annual dinner, Clogher.
Katrina and Shauna Killen, Crossgar, with the silverware collected by their dad, John, at the NI Commercial Cattle Exhibitors' Club annual dinner, Clogher.
Lauren and Orlagh McKenna, Clogher, proudly show off the silverware collected by McKenna Bros, at the NI Commercial Cattle Exhibitors' Club annual dinner, held at Clogher.
Dessie and Amy O'Hanlon, Drumintee, Newry, were among the prize winners at the NI Commercial Cattle Exhibtors' Club annual dinner, Clogher.
Young members of the NI Commercial Cattle Exhibitors' Club pictured at its annual dinner, Clogher.
The McAllister family from Aghadowey, Hugh, Cecilia and Naomh, collected an award at the NI Commercial Cattle Exhibitors' Club annual dinner, Clogher.
Seven-year-old Naomh McAllister, Aghadowey, pictured at the NI Commercial Cattle Exhibitors' Club annual dinner, held at Clogher.
Special guest, Willie Wilson, R A Noble and Co, Clogher, congratulates Gareth Small, Kilkeel; Orlagh and Lauren McKenna, Clogher; and Emma Rodgers, Dromara, all of whom won awards at the NICCEC annual show, Moira. They received their prizes at the NI Commercial Cattle Exhibitors' Club annual dinner, Clogher.
Cormac McKervey, Ulster Bank, congratulates Paul Rainey, at the NI Commercial Cattle Exhibitors' Club annual dinner, Clogher.
Proudly displaying the trophy they collected at the NI Commercial Cattle Exhibitors' Club annual dinner, Clogher, are Malachy McGrath and Karanne McCartan, Annacloy
The Campbell family from Derriaghy, Aaron, Aiden, Damien and Gerard, collected an array of prizes at the NI Commercial Cattle Exhibitors Club annual dinner, Clogher.
Nigel and Sandra Cochrane, Portadown, pictured at the NI Commercial Cattle Exhibitors' Club annual dinner, Clogher, with the Dunbia Cup for the best butchers' heifer at the NICCEC show, Moira.
James Alexander, Randalstown, collected an array of silverware, won throughout the 2009 show season, at the NI Commercial Cattle Exhibitors' Club annual dinner, Clogher. Adding his congratulations is special guest, Willie Wilson, R A Noble and Co.
James and Victoria Currie, Ballymoney, pictured with one of the trophies awarded at the NI Commercial Cattle Exhibitors' Club annual dinner, Clogher.
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April 2010 - Ulster Bank continues to back Suckler Heifer Championship
By Julie Hazelton
Following on from the success of last year’s inaugural competition, Ulster Bank has confirmed its continued support for the Suckler Heifer Championship organised by NI Commercial Cattle Exhibitors’ Club.
The Ulster Bank Suckler Heifer Championship is open to all non-pedigree suckler heifers, aged between one and two-years-old. The competition will kick off at Balmoral Show, and will run throughout the forthcoming show season.
Keen cattle exhibitors, Shauna and Katrina Killen, Crossgar, met up with Ulster Bank's David George to launch the 2010 Ulster Bank Suckler Heifer Championship. Looking on is John Killen, secretary of the NI Commercial Cattle Exhibitors Club. Picture: Julie Hazelton
Two animals will be selected at each of the qualifying shows, and will go forward to the final which takes place in August. The eight qualifying shows are Balmoral, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Armagh, Omagh, Castlewellan, Clogher and Enniskillen.
John Killen, secretary of the Northern Ireland Commercial Cattle Exhibitors Club said: ”We are indebted to Ulster Bank for its continued sponsorship of this competition. To be eligible, exhibitors must enter in their respective class at each qualifying show. The final will be held at the club’s 6th Annual Show, which takes place at the Pedigree Sales Arena, Moira, on Friday, August 20.”
Last year’s competition was won by a thirteen-month-old Charolais heifer shown by Gordon Cutler from Enniskillen. Reserve place went to a Limousin heifer exhibited by Dessie O’Hanlon from Drumintee, Newry.
Ulster Bank’s senior agricultural manager, Cormac McKervey, said:”Ulster Bank has been involved with the NI Commercial Cattle Exhibitors’ Club since its inception in 2004, and we are delighted to offer our continued support for 2010.
“The Ulster Bank Suckler Heifer Championship was launched last year. The qualifying shows were very well supported, and the final line-up at Moira was a great spectacle with 16 heifers competing for the title. This competition highlights the quality of commercial suckler heifers in Northern Ireland, and it is great to see the dedication of the exhibitors who produce and show these heifers.”
John Killen concluded by urging all commercial cattle breeders to support the 2010 agricultural shows. “Shows are a great shop window for our livestock, and I want to encourage everyone to participate.”
For further information about the Ulster Bank Suckler Heifer Championship, or other events in the club’s calendar, contact NI Commercial Cattle Exhibitors’ Club secretary, John Killen on mobile: 07740 484959.
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