A record number of prime beef cattle were presented to Welsh judge, Arfon Jones, at the Northern Ireland Commercial Cattle Exhibitors' Club's 6th annual show, held at Moira.
The one-day showcase event attracted over 120 entries, with both novice and experienced exhibitors competing for a share of the bumper prize fund.
Claiming the supreme championship honours was Xtra Factor, a heavyweight Limousin heifer exhibited by Clive Hoey, Fivemiletown, Co Tyrone. This super heifer was bred from a British Blue cow, and was purchased from Sean McCloskey, Claudy, Co Londonderry. She scooped the reserve championship at Ballymena Show in May, and was crowned commercial beef champion at Enniskillen Show a few weeks ago.
This heifer also claimed the Limousin championship ribbons.
Scooping the reserve supreme championship was the Charolais heifer, Hillview Dora, shown by Alan Farlow, Garvagh. Sired by a Charolais bull, and out of a three-quarter-bred Limousin heifer, she was also bred by Sean McCloskey, and was purchased at Swatragh Mart. This heifer claimed the championship honours at Balmoral, Ballymena and Ballymoney.
Patrick John O'Kane, and son, Sean, from Dunloy, claimed the calf championship ribbons with a Charolais heifer calf sired by the herd's stock bull, Curragh Cahir Bill. They also received the trophy for the best exhibitor-bred calf.
Runner-up in the calf championship was the second prize winning heifer calf bred by Gerry Law who runs a 160-cow suckler herd based at Kesh. This home-bred entry was sired by the herd's Charolais stock bull, Waterview Victorious, and is out of a British Blue cow.
The husband and wife team of Nigel and Sandra Cochrane, Portadown, won the trophy for best butchers' heifer for the second year in succession. Their British Blonde cross heifer caught the eye of class judge, Will Corrie, Newtownards.
The award for the best pair of cattle went to a well-matched pair of Charolais heifers shown by McKenna Bros; while the runner-up award went to James Alexander, Randalstown, for a Charolais heifer and bullock duo.
The Charolais championship went to a heifer calf owned by Gerry Law, Kesh. Standing in reserve position was a heifer calf exhibited by McKenna Bros.
Sarah and Sam Matchett, Portadown, had a clean sweep in the Aberdeen Angus line-up, claiming both the champion and reserve prizes.
The reserve Limousin leader was a lightweight steer shown by McKenna Bros. Lauren McKenna has affectionately named this steer 'Spooks Junior'', after last year's overall champion, 'Spooks' - he has scooped numerous championship awards in southern Ireland for new owners, Connell Bros, County Meath.
The British Blue championship was secured by a heifer owned by James Alexander, Randalstown; while the reserve championship went to heifer brought out by brothers, Derek and Alan McCrea, Strabane.
Snapping up the British Blonde championship was a heavy heifer shown by Allister Crawford and Richard Beattie from Newtownstewart, County Tyrone. Standing in reserve position was a heifer exhibited by John Killen, and daughters, Shauna and Katrina, Crossgar.
A bullock exhibited by Robert Simpson, Aughnacloy, claimed the Beef Shorthorn championship, with the runner-up ribbons presented to a bullock brought out by Jack Smyth, Strabane.
The any other breed champion was a Simmental heifer shown by Gerry Law, Kesh.
The young handlers' competition was judged by Tom Stevenson from Scotland. He awarded first prize in the under 12-year-old class to Aaron Campbell from Lisburn. The winner of the 12 to 16-year-old class was Louise Breen from Clogher.
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