Jackson butchers buy prizewinners

An entry of 63 beef cattle was judged by Jim Gibbs, Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland.

In an address prior to the sale, Mr. Gibbs complimented the high quality of the animals on show.

An extremely large attendance of customers and spectators witnessed a “tremendous trade” for all the cattle in the auction ring resulting in £3,000 being paid for the supreme champion (a Lim heifer) sold by Drumhilla farms, Newtownards and purchased by local butchers Ivan and John Jackson, Ballynure.

Jackson’s Butchers also purchased the “butchers’ best”, a BB heiferm presented by Martin and B Johnston, Toomebridge, which sold at £2,000.

The YFC champion presented by Crawford Wilson, Islandmagee, also sold for £2,000 to Tom McMaster butchers, in Whitehead.

Although Jackson’s Butchers, Ballynure, bought 13 top quality beef heifers, other butchers purchasing were T McMaster, Whitehead; S McGookin trading as E Jenkins, Ballyclare; Sam Carmichael for McKee’s butchers, Maghera; D&A Lamont, Cullybackey; Linden Foods. Granville; Jim Dillon, Coleraine; Paul Sloan, Rasharkin; Derek Frew, Randalstown; Barry Hutton, Cookstown and Trevor Wallace, Dromara.

Ballymena Mart would like to thank the main sponsors of the show: Newport Collection, Danske Bank and Bank of Ireland for their generous support.

The young handlers then “strutted their stuff” to be judged by Margaret McQuiston, Brigadoon who awarded Adam McGookin, Gleno Valley YFC the senior championship with Amy Wilson, Gleno Valley YFC, Reserve Champion.

Adam McIvor, Dungannon, won Junior Champion with Victoria Workman, Reserve Champion. The Matchett Family Perpetual Cup was presented to Adam McGookin, Ballynure, being Overall Champion Young Handler of the Show.

Highest prices and

placings

Drumhilla farms, Newtownards Lim £3,000 (Lim champ); David Spiers, Katesbridge Char, £2,075; Crawford Wilson, Islandmagee Lim £2,000 (YFC champ); M Johnston, Toomebridge BB £2,000 (butchers best); Lim £1975, BB £1,909; WP Keenan, Crossgar Lim £1,764; M Johnston, Toomebridge Lim £1753; Crawford Wilson Par £1,750 (AOB champ); WP Keenan Lim £1,725; Eric and Norman Cousley, Moneymore Char 780kg £,1700; Crawford Wilson Blonde £1,700 (Blonde reserve champ), M Johnston Char £1,696; I McCaughern, Rasharkin Lim £1,669 (Lim reserve champion); M Johnston BB £1,620 (BB champ); A&M&V Armstrong, Straid BB £1,618; Robert Workman, Kilwaughter Char £1,616 (Char champ); O Loughran, Cookstown £1,612; WP Keenan, Crossgar BB £1,598 (BB reserve champ); Patrick Turner Char £1,560, J Neill, Crossgar Lim £1555, George McIvor, Dungannon £1536, M Johnston £1,519, C Collier, Dundrod BB £1,500 (YFC reserve champ); M Johnston, Blonde £1,400 (Blonde champ); Ken Buchanan, Larne Lim £1,431 (1st YFC blk); Robin Nicholson, Monkstown BB £1,325; M Johnston Blonde, £1,351; WJ Ervine, Newtownabbey Lim £1,441; IM McCracken, Greyabbey Lim £1,352; Sidney Rea, Straid Char £1,352; WJ Ervine BB £1,456; Robin Nicholson BB £1,419; WJ Ervine, £1,264, Ken Buchanan £1,275; Robin Nicholson, £1,377, £1,479.

Christmas show and sale of lambs

An entry of 28 pairs of fat lambs was presented at the annual Christmas fat stock show and sale in Ballymena.

Alfie Murray, of A Murray family butchers, Killyleagh, kindly judged the event, awarding champion pair of lambs to Patrick Brolly, Claudy, with his first prize Beltex weighing 21.5kg and selling to Jackson’s Butchers, Ballynure, for £180 each.

Elizabeth and James Gould, Ringsend, were awarded reserve champion for their first prize Charollais selling for £150 to McKees, Maghera. First prize Dorset T Wright, Ballymoney selling to Jenkins butchers, Ballyclare for £110. Jenkins also purchased first prize Suffs at £130 from E & J Gould, Ringsend. Graham Martin, Broughshane, received first for Texels selling to McKee’s, Maghera, for £90. McKees, Maghera also purchased first prize Mules from S Wilson, Ballymena at £90 and the first prize BF from John Hamilton, Cushendun at £80. Many thanks goes to all purchasers, respective breed societies and Fane Valley for their kind sponsorship of class winners and Jackson’s, Ballynure, for sponsoring championship prizes.

Ruling prices

P Brolly, Claudy, 2 Bel 21.5kg £180 (first & champ); E & J Gould, Ringsend 2 Char 26.5kg £150 (first Char ); 2 Suff 27kg £130 (1st Suff); Ian McCaughern, Rasharkin 2 Bel 25.5kg £120; P Brolly 2 Bel 23.5kg £112; (second), T Wright, Ballymoney 2 Dor 21kg £110 (first), Ian McCaughern, Rasharkin 2 Bel 22kg £105; Paul Woodside, Carrick 2 Tex 24kg £100 (second), T Wright, Ballymoney 2 Dor 21kg £98; M Moffett, Broughshane 2 Char 25kg £95 second), P Brolly, 2 Bel 24.5kg £95; (third), Sidney Rea, Straid 2 Char 25kg £90; (third), TA Fenton, Rasharkin 2 Char 23.5kg £90; S Wilson, Ballymena 2 Mule 24.5kg £90 (first); Graeme Martin, Broughshane 2 Tex 27.5kg £90; (first), SF Carson, Ballee 2 Tex 29.5kg £88; Paul Woodside, Carrick 2 Tex 25kg £88; M Moffett, Broughshane 2 Dor 26kg £86 (third), John Byrne, Antrim 2 Tex 30.5kg £86; (third), M Moffett 2 Dor 24kg £85; (second), E & P McCormick, Cushendun 2 BF 23.5kg £82; (second), F Connon, Ballymena 2 Mea 23kg £82 V Hamilton, Cushendun 2 BF 20kg £80; (first), S Wilson, Ballymena 2 Mule 24kg £80; (second), R Hunter, Larne 2 Bel 21.5kg, £80.