Balmoral Show returned to its normal May fixture in 2022, following disruption over the Covid period, making it the second show at the showground in eight months.

Northern Irish breeders put forward a strong entry of 46 cattle from 13 different exhibitors and were pleased to welcome South African judge PJ Budler to the show to sort the line ups. These days, PJ is best known for his organisation of the Hereford Champion of the World competition which he runs from his Texas base and over time has enjoyed success within the Hereford, Angus, Red Angus, Braford and Brahman breeds.

Dorepoll 1 Sally 679 from JE and RI and W Haire

Leading Wednesday’s judging and taking the supreme champion title was Dorepoll 1 Sally 679 from JE and RI and W Haire, Dundrod, Co Antrim. This heifer was born in February 2021 and led the youngest female class in the show, before winning the grand female and supreme titles. With a pedigree packed full of Dorepoll breeding, it is by Dorepoll 1 639 Perfection, while grand dam Dorepoll 1 262L Sally also stood champion at the show, back in 2013. It also won the breed’s junior and female championships.

Richmount 1 Treadstone from James Graham

Taking the reserve supreme was Richmount 1 Treadstone from James Graham, Portadown, Co Armagh. By Australian sire Mawarra Mustang, it is out of Richmount 1 Laura, a Barbern Gargantuan daughter. Born in September 2019, it was also the grand male championship after standing at the top end of the most senior bull class. This bull’s maternal sister stood reserve champion at the 2019 Balmoral Show. The first calf born from Treadstone was exhibited at the foot of the first prize winning cow, Richmount 1 Mabel.

Ballypallady 1 Top Notch from Stephen Cherry

Co Antrim’s Stephen Cherry secured the reserve grand female position with Ballypallady 1 Top Notch. The winner of the senior heifer class, it is a daughter of one of the herd’s foundation females Hawkesbury 1 Veronica and was sired by Dorepoll 1 499 Heritage, a bull which twice won the senior bull class at Balmoral Show.

Dorepoll 1 639 Perfection from JE and RI and W Haire

The Haire family also lifted the reserve male championship with the five year old stock bull Dorepoll 1 639 Perfection, the first calf of which is this year’s champion Sally 679. Its pedigree is full of home breeding being a son of Manhattan and out of Tessa 545E, which is also a previous Balmoral reserve female champion.

Richmount 1 Mabel from James Graham

Another victor from the Graham stable, this time Richmount 1 Mabel led the senior female class. By Richmount 1 Kaiser which is a Greenyards 1 Dougie son this seven year old is a maternal sister to the 2011 Balmoral Show female champion.

Solpoll 1 Starlet V11 from J and W McMordie

Solpoll 1 Starlet V11 from J and W McMordie, Ballygowan, Co Down took the red ticket in the intermediate heifer class. This October 2020-born daughter of the 2018 Balmoral champion Starlet P2 was sired by Herberry 1 Herbert. The Solpoll team also won the group of three with Starlet V11, Duchess V23 and Herberry 1 Humberto.

Country Crest Jack from Peter and Ciaran Kerr

Irish-bred Country Crest Jack from Peter and Ciaran Kerr took the bull, born on or after 1 April 2020, and on or before 31 December 2020 class. By Moyclare Phoenix, it is out of Ballyaville Isla and was senior male champion at last year’s calf show.

Kinnego 1 Valentino from Peter and Ciaran Kerr

The youngest bull class was led by Kinnego 1 Valentino, again from Peter and Ciaran Kerr which went on to take the reserve junior champion title. January 2021-born, this junior bull is by Kinnego 1 Rocketman and out of Lusky 1 Hope, a Solpoll 1 Classic daughter. No stranger to success Valentino was placed best spring-born calf in last year’s herd competition.

The progeny pair was won by James Graham and his duo of Treadstone and Tabitha, both sired by Mawarra Mustang.

Judge, PJ Budler

Judge PJ Budler congratulated exhibitors who had brought out cattle and commented he hoped the UK could again become a global source of genetics for the Hereford breed. He gave comments on every animal present during their classes and before tapping out his supreme champions commented the champions had the ability to work in a variety of markets across the world and said he was impressed with the strong entry of quality cattle in front of him.

During the week’s interbreed classes, Solpoll 1 Starlet V11 was native and reserve interbreed beef performance champion, while Solpoll 1 Duchess V23 stood reserve native champion for J and W McMordie.

The last class of the week was the native team of five which was won by the Herefords . Representing the breed was by Richmount 1 Treadstone from J Graham, Ballypallady 1 Top Notch from Stephen Cherry, Solitude 1 Helen T991 from A McMordie, Solpoll 1 Starlet V11 from J and W McMordie and Dorepoll 1 Sally 679 from JE, RI and W Haire and were chosen as winners for the second year in succession.

Judge William Smith, Meath said: “There’s a good bull dominating four exceptional females. The females are really well balanced. The group caught my eye from the minute they came in, they’re easy winners.”

Elsewhere, the Hereford team won the interbreed stockjudging competition, and consisted of William McMordie, Solpoll Herefords; Will Awan, Midford Herefords; Ciaran Kerr, Kinnego Herefords and Greer Watson, Barnburn Herefords.