By Julie Hazelton
A flashy heifer bred by the Armour family from Dromore won the junior and supreme overall Aberdeen Angus championships at the 153rd Balmoral Show.
This is the family’s second successive Balmoral breed title in eight months, having won the supreme award with junior cow Woodvale Miss Annie U436 at the 2021 show, which was postponed until September due to the pandemic.
Scottish judge Brian Clark, from the noted Duncanziemere herd based at Cumnock in Ayrshire, tapped out Woodvale Delia X867 from the six contenders in the championship line-up at Balmoral Park.
Bred by Alwyn and Carol Armour, and sons Lee, Craig and Adam, this 14-month-old heifer was sired by the 15-cow herd’s former stock bull Oak Moor Lord Ivanho U419. Her dam Woodvale Delia T101 was sired by the 24,000gns February 2016 Stirling breed champion Tonley Evor P044.
Alwyn Armour explained: “I bought the maternal grandam Carlhurlie Delight N959 for 3500gns at Carlhurlie dispersal sale at Stirling in 2016. She was in-calf to Evor, and the result was the heifer’s dam Woodvale Delia.”
Judge Brian Clarke said: “This heifer is very correct and was an easy winner. She is sweet and feminine, and has that little bit of extra flash.”
Taking the reserve championship plaudits was the four-year-old cow Drumcorn Lady Ida U492 from John and Ann Henning’s herd at Moira. She was one of three Drumcorn-owned first prize winners com-peting in the championship.
By the AI sire Blelack Duke J262, the reserve champion is out of the home-bred Drumcorn Lady Ida M895. She was shown with her February-born heifer calf at foot. The calf is one of the first progeny from the herd’s 4000gns stock bull Solitude Elite V777 ET, himself a first prize winner at the 2022 show.
Now in its 30th year, the Drumcorn prefix has exhibited cattle at 28 consecutive Royal Ulster Agricultural Society shows. This was its sixth reserve breed championship at Balmoral.
Last year’s show proved a memorable occasion for the Hennings with maternal sisters Drumcorn Lady Ida U492 and Drumcorn Lady Ida V665 winning the exhibitor-bred interbreed pairs award.
The May 2019 Lady Ida V665, by Weeton Panther S498, won a red ticket at this year’s show. At foot was her four-month-old bull calf by Solitude Elite V777 ET.
First-time exhibitors William and Jane Dodd, and sons Jamie and Lewis, from Saintfield, won the reserve junior and best of opposite sex to the champion awards with the home-bred Glenbrae Red Maverick X164.
This 14-month-old bull was sired by Mosshall Red Evolution P353, and is out of the Scottish-bred Gannon Red Mary S654, one of 15 pedigree cows in the herd founded in 2012.
The Dodd family also won the prize for the best pair of Aberdeen Angus cattle. The winning duo were Glenbrae Red Maverick X164 and Glenbrae Red Prince X083, both March 2021 sons of Mosshall Red Evolution P353.
Neville and Ivan Forsythe, Moneymore, secured the Thomp-son’s award for the best pair of heifers. The winners were Coltrim Lady Jane X585 and Coltrim Jemma Erica X633, April and May 2021 daughters of Coltrim Javier Eric U911.
Results from the judging ring
Specials
Aberdeen Angus Perpetual Challenge Cup for the champion: Alwyn and Carol Armour and Sons. Reserve: John and Ann Henning.
Award for the junior champion: Alwyn and Carol Armour and Sons. Reserve: William and Jane Dodd.
WJ Carson Memorial Perpetual Challenge Cup for the exhibitor-bred champion: Alwyn and Carol Armour and Sons.
JD Templeton Memorial Perpetual Challenge Trophy for the best yearling bull: William and Jane Dodd.
Drumlister Trophy for the best animal of opposite sex to the champion: William and Jane Dodd.
Thompsons Crystal Trophy for the best pair of heifers: Neville and Ivan Forsythe.
Classes
Cow, born on or before 31/12/18 – 1, John and Ann Henning, Drumcorn Lady Ida U492 by Blelack Duke J262; 2, John and Ann Henning, Drumcorn Ergessa R186 by Blelack Prince J165; 3, Iain Colville, Glen Cowie Black Helena T236 by The Moss Quebec K027.
Cow or heifer, born in 2019 – 1, John and Ann Henning, Drumcorn Lady Ida V665 by Weeton Panther S498.
Heifer, born between 01/01/20 and 31/12/20 – 1, Iain Colville, Glen Cowie Black Emerald by Blelack Evolution R454; 2, TJ Duffy, Millbawn Twinkle by Rawburn Jagger Eric R094.
Heifer, born on or after 01/01/21 – 1, Alwyn and Carol Armour and Sons, Woodvale Delia X867 by Oak Moor Lord Ivanho U419; 2, Neville and Ivan Forsythe, Coltrim Lady Jane X585 by Coltrim Javier Eric U911; 3, Neville and Ivan Forsythe, Coltrim Jemma Eric X633 by Coltrim Javier Eric U911.
Bull, born prior to 01/01/21 – 1, John and Ann Henning, Solitude Elite V777 ET by Netherallan Peter Pershore E052.
Bull, born on or after 01/01/21 – 1, William and Jane Dodd, Glenbrae Red Maverick by Mosshall Red Evolution P35; 2, Alwyn and Carol Armour and Sons, Woodvale Powerplay X893; 3, Iain Colville, Glen Cowie Royal Duke X951 by Stouphill Eligh U217.
Pair, property of exhibitor – 1, William and Jane Dodd, Glenbrae Red Prince X083 and Glenbrae Red Maverick X164; 2, Alwyn and Carol Armour and Sons, Woodvale Delia X867 and Woodvale Powerplay X893; 3, Neville and Ivan Forsythe, Coltrim Jemma Eric X633 and Coltrim Lady Jane X585.
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