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2008 Calf Spectacular & Young Handler Championship

On Saturday 13th September the Young Limousin Breeders of Northern Ireland put on what can only be described as a superb show of first class Pedigree Limousin and Limousin-Cross Calves, with top notch showmanship, at Moira Pedigree Sales Arena. This year’s show attracted a large number of spectators not just from across the Province but also from the South of Ireland and the UK Mainland.

Willie McIlroy handling Brian McIlroys 2008 Calf Champion, also Pictured is David Rankin

The day began with the Ulster Bank Young Handlers Championship, where competitors prepared their calf under the watchful eye of the Preparation Judge, Miss Catherine Lawson; they were then asked to show the calf for the Second Judge, Mr. Trevor Masterson.

The day began with the Ulster Bank Young Handlers Championship, where competitors prepared their calf under the watchful eye of the Preparation Judge, Miss Catherine Lawson; they were then asked to show the calf for the Second Judge, Mr. Trevor Masterson. The competition was as tight as ever and both judges struggled to choose their prize winners.

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Jonathon Wilson, Intermediate and Overall Champion Young Handler

Stephen Shanks, Junior Champion Young Handler

Willie McIlroy Senior Young Handler

 In the Junior Young Handlers Section it was Stephen Shanks (12) who took the title and was awarded the McCracken Family Salver. Jonathon Wilson (16) won the LW Surplus & Son Salver in the Intermediate Section, while the Senior Young Handler proved to be even harder to distinguish than in previous years with competitors showing immense professionalism throughout.  For the first time ever in the competition’s history there was a tie in this class between Kim Steele-Nicholson (20) and William McElroy (24). Both competitors where then asked to bring their animals into the ring, and show them in front of the Referee Judge, Mr. Jim Bloom, the current BLCS Chairperson. Mr. Bloom stated that he also found it difficult to find a fault with either competitor and after much consideration it was agreed that William McElroy would take the Senior Young Handler Title.
After the excitement of the Senior class, the three prize winners were asked back into the ring for the final of the Ulster Bank Young Handlers Championship. Jonathon Wilson, the Intermediate Young Handler winner, was finally awarded the Ardigon Salver for the Ulster Bank Young Handlers Overall Champion. William McElroy took the Ulster Bank Reserve Championship and Stephan Shanks followed on as the Ulster Bank Second Reserve Young Handlers Champion.

Benedict Savage with the Reserve Champion Calf

Stephen Clyde with the Second Reserve Calf
The day swiftly moved onto the Pedigree Limousin Calf Spectacular, where Mr. Trevor Masterson again had the difficult task of selecting the prize winners. It was Nenuphar offspring who stole the show and took the top two titles. Brian McElroy’s heifer, Bridgeford Chloe, was named the Overall Calf Spectacular Champion 2008. This heifer was a daughter of his famous cow Bridgeford Saskia who has previously won the NI Heifer Derby twice and was the female champion at the International Limousin Congress in 2004. This September ‘07 born calf showed great character and the judge said that she had great Limousin qualities and spectators should definitely watch out for her in the forthcoming show season. Mr. McElroy from Dromore, Co. Down is the first breeder ever to win the Calf Spectacular for a second time and his heifer also won the McDonalds of Sprucefield Cup for the Best Exhibitor Bred Calf.

The Commercial Champion, Exhibited by Gareth Small

In the Commercial Calf Spectacular it was a new exhibitor to the show, Gareth Small, who took the Championship with a Shatton Pedro calf, while James Alexander Randalstown, Co. Antrim was awarded Reserve Commercial Calf Champion and Second Reserve Commercial Champion with two of his entries.

The David Adams-Heaslip cup for Endeavor was awarded to Lesley-Anne Beacom

Martin and Emma Rodgers with the Broadhooks Cattle Co cup

Ulster Bank Young Handlers Competition

Junior Young Handlers: 1st Stephen Shanks 2nd Emma Rodgers 3rd Richard Fleming

Intermediate Young Handlers: 1st Jonathon Wilson 2nd Emma Murphy 3rd Frank McAuley

Senior Young Handlers: 1st William McElroy 2nd Kim Steele-Nicholson 3rd Jeremy Aiken

Young Handlers Champion: Jonathon Wilson

Reserve Young Handlers Champion: William McElroy

Second Reserve Young Handlers Champion: Stephen Shanks

Broadhooks Cup: Emma & Martin Rodgers

David Adams-Heaslip Cup for Endeavor: Lesley-Anne Beacom

 

Pedigree Calf Spectacular

Class 1: 1st H Savage 2nd F McAuley 3rd D Hume

Class 2: 1st B McElroy 2nd R Crawford 3rd D Hume

Class 3: 1st H McCracken 2nd J Ferguson 3rd J Gilliland

Class 4: 1st G Rodgers 2nd W Wilson 3rd F McAuley

Class 5: 1st J Gilliland 2nd R Crawford 3rd B McElroy

Class 6: 1st RS Clyde 2nd J Wilson 3rd B McElroy

Progeny Class: 1st F McAuley 2nd H McCracken

Best Exhibitor Bred Animal: Bridgeford Chloe - Brian McElroy

 

Commercial Calf Spectacular

Class 7: 1st G Small 2nd J Alexander 3rd J Alexander

Class 8: 1st J Alexander 2nd K Fox 3rd J McComb