Its a Classic day for Ivaniskey at Balmoral

Classic Miss Belle was awarded the supreme championship in the Blonde classes at Balmoral under the watchful eye of Judge Samantha Brown from Hackleton Blondes, Northampton.

Females led the way this year with Miss Belle bred by Dermot McCusker from Co. Down and exhibited and owned by William McElroy of the Ivaniskey herd also from Co.Down. She is a January’16 daughter of the renowned sire, Budore Utah. Having won the senior heifer class, she went on to win female championship and triumphed by lifting the supreme champion ribbons and the BOCM Silcock challenge trophy for Champion British Blonde.

Hillhead Nadia was close on the heels of Miss Belle by being tapped up for reserve champion position. Nadia, a homebred heifer from Rodgers Livestock from Co.Down was born May’17 daughter of Allacott Herbert. Nadia started her day winning the junior heifer class before lifting the newly presented Paul McGarry perpetual trophy for Junior Champion presented by the McGarry family; then going onto lift the trophies for Reserve Blonde Champion and Exhibitor bred champion.

Male champion went to Silverwood Noah bred and exhibited by Norman McKnight from Co.Down. Noah born May’17 sired by Ardmore Gargoyle also lifted the MR Rodgers trophy for junior bull and took the reserve junior championship. Noah was joined by his stable mate Silverwood Nat, again born May’17 and sired by Ardmore Gargoyle to take the Saville Tractors trophy for the pairs class.

Senior bull Hillhead Mario, born Feb’16; again from Rodgers Livestock and sired by Allacott Herbert lifted the Drumraymond Blonde trophy.

Senior cow Budore Garnet sired by the same bull as the champion Budore Utah, bred and exhibited by Eamon McGarry from Crumlin born April’11 lifted the Irish Club Cup.

Intermediate heifer Shanvalley Madonna bred and exhibited by Sean Savage from Co.Down, sired by Shanvalley Fighter born July’16 lifted the Hillhead trophy.

The Northern Ireland stock judging team consisting of Frances McDaid, Henry Griffin, Brian McGartland and William McElroy did it again this year winning Champion interbreed stock judging team and well done to Henry Griffin who was second in the individual championship. Thanks must go to Brownlow radiators for sponsoring the stock judging event.

Special thanks must go to everyone that has helped to make this year’s 150th show such a success, special mention goes to Oddball engineering, Bo Davidson, ABP, Natural Stock Care, Thompsons and Ganson for their continued support to the Blondes.