The Irish Limousin Cattle Society and the Northern Ireland Limousin club joined forces for the second year to hold the IAWS/Ulster Bank All-Ireland Limousin Bull & Heifer Derby at Virginia Show on the 20th August – in what turned out to be a huge success showcasing the top quality Limousin cattle on the island of Ireland.
The Derby final had attracted 15 bulls and 16 heifers all of which qualified at various shows North & South of the border. Judging this event Matt Ridley from the Haltcliffe herd in Cumbria, England who had a very difficult job selecting his top cattle as the depth of quality in both the bulls and heifers was as good as he had ever seen at a show. He said that he knew that Ireland had a great history of cattle breeding but the quality of cattle on show was really magnificent.

Bull Derby

In the Bull derby, there was a lot of deliberation between the top 5 bulls, which were of tremendous high quality, Matt Ridley selected as his champion Fedneyhouse Callum, owned by John and Margery Adams, Banbridge. Callum is by the Mas Du Clo sired bull Ulm and out of his homebred cow Fedneyhouse Sally. The judge commented that his champion was a worthy winner – he had tremendous hind-quarters and second thigh, good character and would be his choice of a breeding bull for either a pedigree or commercial herd.

All-Ireland Bull Derby Champion - Fedneyhouse Callum presented by Davis Jardine Plaque presented to Marjorie Adams by Peter Ging IAWS

In reserve place was Millgate Caesar from Michael Loughran, Cookstown, and shown by his daughter Christine. Caesar although being the youngest of the NI bulls was eagerly admired by the judge. He said this bull was “all of a type, a lovely bull, great legs and tremendous quality”

All-Ireland Bull Derby Reserve Champion - Millgate Caesar with Michael & Christine Loughran and Peter Ging from IAWS

Matt Ridley went on to say that Peter Murphy in third and Laurence McEldowney in fourth completed a group of 4 top bulls which were of tremendous quality. Peter had 2 bulls in the final with a Pacha son Carrickaldreen Cracker out of a Dauphin cow Carrickaldreen having the edge on his other bull Carrickaldreen Celtic.  Laurence McEldowney completed the NI quartet with Carntogher Crackpot, a Woodhouse Vince son and out of Carntogher Rascal a Daim daughter. Next in line was the top placed bull of the Southern breeders – Moloskey C Hawk, a son of Ronick Hawk and out of a homebred Mas du Clo cow. C Hawk was owned by Brendan Clancy, Co. Clare

Heifer Derby

With a very large crowd eagerly watching the judging, it was the turn of top females in Ireland to come under the critical eye of Matt Ridley for the Heifer Derby. Again the competition was fierce, especially as the heifers shown by the President of the Irish Society and the Chairman of the NI Club were pulled out in the judge’s first draw of 8 heifers.

All the eyes were focused on William Smith, Co. Meath and Milbrook Baby, a 2 year old Brookmill Usefill daughter to see if he could repeat his success at Castlewellan last year. It wasn’t long until the cheers went up and William gave a smile as his ‘Baby’ stood proudly at the top of the line to be crowned as the Ulster Bank Champion All-Ireland Heifer for 2008. A stylish feminine heifer, she was a worthy winner.

All-Ireland Heifer Derby Champion - Milbrook Baby with William Smith

The Reserve Champion Heifer was Bridgeford Brooke, another two year old daughter of Samy. Brooke was owned and bred by Bryan McElroy, Co. Down

All-Ireland Heifer Derby Reserve Champion - Bridgeford Brooke with Brian McElroy

Showing pedigree came through in the third place spot with Baileys Countess. Exhibited by Pat Greaney on behalf of owner Tom Bailey, this Ronick Hawk heifer was out of top show cow Marlhill Tess.

Baileys Countess with handler Pat Greaney being presented with her plaque for 3rd place by Minister of State, Tony Kileen TD with Ann Calwell and Anne Marie Butler of Ulster Bank.

Two other Hawk heifers took forth and fifth place for John Lynch, Co. Longford and Sean O’Sullivan, Co. Kerry respectively.

There were exhibitors from as far afield as Derry to Kerry but all knew that they had witnessed some of the best young Limousin stock on the island of Ireland. With some higher placings for the Northern cattle – the challenge shield was retained by the Northen Ireland Limousin Club – well for another year anyway!

We would like to acknowledge the help and support of Ned Duffy Virginia Show, DAFF and DARD, IAWS and Ulster Bank and off course all the exhibitors for making the event a spectacular success.

Bull Derby - Bulls born after 1st January 2007 (1-6 line up) Place: Name: Sire: Dam: Exhibitor: 1st Fedneyhouse Callum ULM Fedneyhouse Sally John Adams 2nd Millgate Caesar Ballyline Udolf Hollybank Angel Michael Loughran 3rd Carrickadreen Cracker Pacha Carrickdreen Ursula Peter Murphy 4th Carntogher Crackpot Woodhouse Vince Carntogher Rascal Laurance McEldowney 5th Moloskey C Hawk Ronick Hawk Moloskey A392 Brendan Clancy 6th Ampertine Cedric Sympa Ampertine Vanity James McKay

Heifer Derby - Heifers born after 1st June 2006 (1-6 line up) Place: Name: Sire: Dam: Exhibitor: 1st Millbrook Baby Brookmill Useful Millbrook Nighengale William Smith 2nd Bridgeford Brooke Samy Bridgeford Saskia Bryan McElroy 3rd Baileys Countess Ronick Hawk Marlhill Tess Tom Bailey 4th Ballinascraw Classic Ronick Hawk Ballinascraw Victoria John Lynch 5th Castleview Camelia Ronick Hawk G7 Sean O’Sullivan 6th Milburn Bobby Dazzler Mas Du Clo Olympe Richard O’Beirne

Back to top >>>

• Shows 2011
• Shows 2010
• Shows 2009
• Shows 2008
• Shows 2007
• Shows 2006
• Shows 2005

© Irish Limousin Cattle Society Limited

Tel: 353 (0)25-85036

Fax: 353 (0)25-85060

Email: admin@irishlimousin.com