| 2019-08-27 |    |
Northern Ireland Blue Cattle Club Herd Competition
James Martin and son Sam of Newtownards, Co Down won the NI Blue Cattle Club Herd Competition sponsored by Bimeda.
The results of this popular competition were announced at the Blue Club charity BBQ in aid of Pancreatic Cancer NI. Sam Robinson and family of the Killinchy Woods Herd were runners up to the Springhill Blues.
Oliver McCann, Drumboy Herd, took the best brood cow award with James and Sam Martin awarded the best bull prize.
Chelsea Best and Brian O'Hare continued their successful show season by taking the best heifer award. Sam Robinson and family gaining the best calf first place.
The evening at Ballynahinch Rugby Club also raised funds for Pancreatic Cancer NI with an auction supported by local businesses and conducted by Tom Edgar, father of the BIMEDA Herd Competition judge, Jason. As ever the rural community bid briskly to raise funds for charity.
News then reached the BBQ party that at the Commercial Cattle Show in Dungannon that forenoon the Blue Championship winner, shown by Messrs Small and Dufton, Strathearne Commercials, went on to take the overall Heifer Championship and Overall Champion of the Show Rosette! The Blue class having being sponsored by the NI Blue Cattle Club.
Reflecting on the successful year of summer showing NI Blue Cattle Club chair Basil Dougherty of Kircubbin noted that the theme of 2019 had been to encourage young people in the show ring
Certainly this had been achieved with the success of young exhibitors like Max Robinson and Chelsea Best with Brian O'Hare at local shows such as Antrim being reflected in the herd competition results. The Bank of Ireland sponsored heifer derby and young handlers event at Antrim Show had been enjoyed by all, a great experience for many young folk and the first outing for the Club's new display unit.
Looking forward to the autumn Basil Dougherty urged members to support the British Blue section of local suckler sales. All in the run up to the main event of the year for breeders in Northern Ireland. The British Blue Cattle Society Show and Sale of bulls and females in Dungannon's very central mart on Friday, October 25.
Plans are likewise afoot for the NI Blue Cattle Club Annual Dinner and prize giving on Saturday, November 30 in the popular Temple Golf Club, Lisburn.
