It was a day to remember for Alywn Armour and family, Dromore, Co Down, after their two-year-old cow, Woodvale Miss Annie U436, claimed the overall beef honours at Balmoral Show, marking their first inter-breed and breed championship wins all in one go.
Describing his championship line-up as a ‘maternal masterclass', judge John Elliott, Roxburghshire, said his champion was not only looking the part but ‘raising the part with an extraordinary calf at foot.' He described the young cow as balanced and correct with a good udder.
Calf
Shown with its December-born heifer calf at foot, the homebred Oak Moor Mr Paul daughter is one of 15 pedigree Aberdeen Angus cows kept by Mr Armour, his wife Carol and son Adam, alongside pedigree Beef Shorthorns and Dorset sheep.
Claiming the reserve ticket in the beef section was the homebred Limousin cow Jalex Mya from James Alexander, Randalstown, Co Antrim. Described as having ‘terrific muscle' by the judge, the five-year-old Bassingfield Hobama daughter was shown with its April-born heifer calf at foot.
Shortlist
A third breed champion pulled into the Mr Elliott's final shortlist of four was the Hereford champion, six-year-old cow Solpoll 1 Starlet M19 from John and William McMordie, Newtownards, Co Down. The homebred Panmure 1 Henry daughter is out of a dam by Solpoll 1 Dynamite, breed champion at Balmoral in 2009, 2010, and 2011.
The fourth and final tapped out the judges final four was the Beef Shorthorn champion, Cherryvalley Pearl, a 2019-born heifer from the 60-cow herd at Cherryvalley Farm, Crumlin, Co Down. Marking the first breed championship win for the partnership, this was the Creagh Malibu daughter's first time out.
Beef results
Inter-breed (J. R. Elliott, Roxburghshire) Sup., A. Armour, Woodvale Miss Annie U436 (Aberdeen Angus); res., J. Alexander, Jalex Mya (Limousin)
Inter-breed junior beef (J. R. Elliott) Sup., R. McWilliams, Stranagone Reagan (Charolais); res., D. M. G. Small and B. Wilkinson (Limousin cross)
Aberdeen Angus (D. Evans, Middlesbrough) Sup., A. Armour, Woodvale Miss Annie U436; res., A. Shortt and T. Smyth; Crew Blackbird
Hereford (J. Thomas, Cornwall) Sup., J. and W. McMordie, Solpoll 1 Starlet M19; res., J. and W. McMordie, Solpol 1 Triupmh
Charolais (R. Irvine, Morayshire) Sup., H. and H. Heron, Gretnahouse Pouncer; res., R. McWilliams; Stranagone Reagan
Simmental (R. Boyd, Ballymena) Sup., J. McKane, Hiltonstown Indiana; res., J. Henderson, Drumsamney Lady Jane
Limousin (S. Priestly, Cumbria) Sup., J. Alexander, Jalex Mya; res., T. Shields, Tweeddale Redhot
British Blonde (N. Rogers, Powys) Sup., Rogers Livestock, Hillhhead Rose; res., S. Savage, Shanvalley Penrose
British Blue (L. Morgan, Powys) Sup., O. and A. McGuinness; Faughanavale Pure Class; res., O. and A. McGuinness, Faughanavale Peggy
Salers (N. Austin, Kirkcudbrightshire) Sup., J. and E.A. Elliott, Drumlegagh Oceana; res., J. and E.A. Elliott; Drumlegagh Poppy
Commercial (Lynsey Bett, Stirling) Sup., J. Alexander, Big Day Out; res., D. M. G. Small and B. Wilkinson (Limousin cross)
Beef Shorthorn (C. Ivinson, Cumbria) Sup., Cherryvalley Farm, Cherryvalley Pearl; res., A. Shaw, Glebefarm Duchess Molly
Dexter (S. Adcock, Staffordshire) R. Lavery, Derryola Dixie; res., M. Bloomer; Northbrook Atlas;
Irish Moiled (P. Boal, Galway) B. O'Kane; Woodbine Casper; res., R. and L. Davis; Ballyvesey Palm
