Combining their National Calf Show and the exciting new ‘Northern Stars’ female sale at Ballymena Mart on 31 October, the Northern Ireland Hereford Breeders’ Association event was supported with strong numbers forward and plenty of bidding interest on the day.
Supreme Male Champion Solpoll 1 Donovan
Calf show judge Mr Michael Barrett of the Inchvale herd, Co. Cork, awarded the top prize in the male section to the September 2025-born bull Solpoll 1 Donovan from J & W McMordie, Ballygowan. An AI son of the Australian import The Ranch Remington R028, the Senior and Supreme Male Champion Solpoll 1 Donovan is out of Solpoll 1 Starlet V2, a Herberry 1 Herbert daughter.
Reserve Supreme Male Champion Annaghbeg Oscar
The Reserve Supreme Male Championship went to the Junior Male Champion Annaghbeg Oscar from M & L Moore, Aughnacloy. Sired by Cave Hill Max and out of Annaghbeg Jolie, this January 2026-born calf happens to be the namesake of the Moore’s son Oscar, who achieved his own big success on the day by winning the championship in a competitive Young Handlers’ section, judged by Oliver Taggart.
Champion and Reserve Young Handlers’ awards were presented by judge Oliver Taggart
Supreme Female Champion Nancy Kiwi
In the heifer standings, it was the Junior Female Champion Nancy Kiwi from G & T Morton, Armagh, which also triumphed in the Supreme Female Championship. Full sister to the 2023 NIHBA Calf Show Junior Male Champion Nancy Volvo, Kiwi is sired by Glaslough Volvo, a Cill Cormaic Napoleon son, and her dam is the Steil Gerard daughter Nancy Chloe.
Reserve Supreme Female Champion Solpoll 1 Fashion D26
From the same March to April 2026 class as the champion, the Reserve Supreme Female Championship went to Solpoll 1 Fashion D26, bred and exhibited by J & W McMordie. Born by ET in April 2026, Fashion D26 is the progeny of two homebred animals: the 10,000gns Solpoll 1 Bruno by Square-D Diesel 957U, and Solpoll 1 Fashion R11 by Panmure 1 Henry.
Reserve Senior Male Champion Richmount 1 Del Boy
Winner of the Reserve Senior Male Championship was Richmount 1 Del Boy, a December 2025-born calf sired by Fisher 1 Jaguar J347 and out of Richmount 1 Poppy EX92, bred and exhibited by BJ Graham, Portadown. Full brother to the NIHBA Bull of the Year 2025/26 Richmount 1 Cracker Corleone, Del Boy continues to add to his own prize haul, including a class win at the 2026 NIHBA National Show and the Reserve Breed Championship at Antrim Show back in July.
Reserve Junior Male Champion Sessiagh 1 Dynamite
Reserve Junior Male Champion was Nathaniel Shaw’s Sessiagh 1 Dynamite, born in January 2026 by Panmure 1 Henry and out of Drumcarbinpoll 1 Snow, purchased in the 2021 Genetic Gems sale and dam of the 2024 NIHBA Calf Show Female Champion Benburb 1 Bethany.
Senior Female Champion Ballypallady 1 Diva
The Senior Female Championship was won by Ballypallady 1 Diva, a September 2025-born Solpoll 1 Perfection daughter from S Cherry, Templepatrick. Diva’s dam, Ballypallady 1 Waikiki, was Female Champion at Balmoral in 2025, and together the pair won a strong class of cows and calves at the 2026 NI National Show in Armagh.
Reserve Senior Female Champion Kinnego 1 Darla
Reserve Senior Female was Kinnego 1 Darla from C Kerr, Craigavon, winner of the class for heifers born November to December 2025 and sired by the Kerr’s homebred stock bull Kinnego 1 Valentino.
Benburb herd wins Best Pair of Calves
The best pair of calves was won by Alan Shaw with the homebred pair Benburb 1 Dallas by Benburb 1 Alan, and Benburb 1 Daisy by Panmure 1 Henry.
Top price: Solpoll 1 Pansy C27 sold for 6200gns to M Goulding
The inaugural Northern Stars female sale held on Halloween day saw some fireworks with an excellent clearance of 92% on the females. Setting a new NI sale female record price of 6200gns was Solpoll 1 Pansy C27 from John & William McMordie. This 18-month-old in calf heifer was sired by herd stock bull Fabb 1 Top Prize with a brother having been Champion at the February Bull Sale and her granddam being described as one of the herds standout cows. Backed with Top 5% Terminal & Self Replacing Figures she was knocked down to Matthew Goulding for his Gouldingpoll herd in Co Kerry. Not finished with his purchases there Matthew also purchased the second youngest offering this time from Trevor & Sheevaun Andrews with Mountview 1 Paige. A 13-month-old heifer she was sired by the 2024 Balmoral Show Champion Kinglee 1 Victorious, a son of very successful Cleland 1 Nelson and sold for 4700gns.
M Goulding also picked up Mountview 1 Paige for 4500gns
Solpoll 1 Amber C6 sold for 6000gns
The days second highest price also went to the Solpoll Herd with the 6000gns sale of Solpoll 1 Amber C6. Selling with Top 1% Terminal & Self Replacing figures and again sired by Fabb 1 Top Prize her dam Amber A2 had previously been Female Champion at the Calf Show. Born in October 2024 she sold due to calve next spring to the Beatty family’s Castlepoll Herd.
Annaghbeg Kaitlyn sold for 5400gns to S Curry
Selling for 5400gns was Annaghbeg Kaitlyn from Mark & Lawrence Moore. A daughter of their successful stock bull Cave Hill Max she had previously been Junior Female Champion at the 2025 Calf Show and picked up numerous rosettes over the summer show season her full brother stood Junior & Reserve Male Champion at this year’s Calf Show. Selling due to Calve in May to the herds new stock bull she sold to S Curry.
C McMullan secured four lots, including Kinnego 1 Daisy at 5000gns
Volume buyer Cathal McMullan took home 4 heifers including the youngest heifer on offer, the 11-month-old Kinnego 1 Daisy. Bred by Ciaran Kerr and with a pedigree full of homebred genetics she was offered as a one-off opportunity to buy the only Kinnego 1 Valentino daughter being offered for sale with all his other daughters being retained she sold for 5000gns. Joining Daisy was a pair of heifers from Raymond & Stuart Pogue, Tullymore 1 Victoria, born in June 2025 this in calf heifer was a daughter of the homebred Glenside Trillick who was the Bull of the Year and Junior Champion at Balmoral Show in 2023 and a dam line that’s has bred well for the herd. Selling at 4800gns her herd mate Tullymore 1 Viviana sold for 3800gns, this time a daughter of the AI sire Netherhall 1 Daffy her homebred dam was a daughter of Fisher 1 Rancher. Rounding off his purchases was the 15-month-old Nancy Jill from Glenn & Tracey Morton at 4000gns, the first daughter to be offered for sale by stock bull Lisrace Lackey Boy 25th with Jill’s dam line tracing back to the herds foundation female.
Somerville 1 Bluebell sold for 4500gns
The first heifer into the ring was Somerville 1 Bluebell from Heather King. Born in August 2024 she was a maternal sister to this year’s Balmoral Champion and a daughter of Fabb 1 Northern Star. Selling due to calf next March to the Neal Fraser and family for 4500gns.
Marching this price was Sessiagh 1 Calamity Jane, also sired by the previously mentioned Northern Star she was a maternal sister to this year’s National Show Champion as well as being a daughter of the 2018 National Show Female Champion. Born in June 2025 she sold to Frances and Niall Fox.
Alan Shaw offered 2 May 2025 born daughters of Sessiagh 1 Superduty and both went to the same buyer David Brooks. First up was Benburb 1 Christina whose homebred dam traces back to the Appel herd, she sold for 3800gns, herd mate Benburb 1 Chloe sold for 3400gns. Another smart maiden heifer her dams breeding went back to their herds foundation female Shraden 1 Alice.
The 12 females sold to average £4908.75 with a clearance of 92%
Young Handlers under 12
1st & YH Champion Oscar Moore
Young Handlers 12 and over
1st Keziah Shaw
2nd Hollie Taggart
3rd Bobby Morton
Best pair of calves
1st A Shaw, Benburb
2nd J & W McMordie, Solpoll
3rd M & L Moore, Annaghbeg
4th A Shaw, Benburb
5th G & T Morton, Nancy
6th BJ Graham, Richmount
7th C Kerr, Kinnego
8th J, K & H Taggart, Carney Hill
9th JE & RI & W Haire, Dorepoll
Bull born on or between 01/09/2025 and 31/10/2025
1st Solpoll 1 Donovan, J & W McMordie
2nd Solpoll 1 Denzil, J & W McMordie
3rd Mountview 1 President, T & S Andrews & family
4th Benburb 1 Dave, A Shaw
Bull born on or between 01/11/2025 and 31/12/2025
1st Richmount 1 Del Boy, BJ Graham
2nd Annaghbeg Napoleon, M & L Moore
3rd Umgola 1 Hugo, S Baxter
Senior Male Champion Solpoll 1 Donovan, J & W McMordie
Reserve Senior Male Champion Richmount 1 Del Boy, BJ Graham
Bull born on or between 01/01/2026 and 28/02/2026
1st Annaghbeg Oscar, M & L Moore
2nd Sessiagh 1 Dynamite, N Shaw
3rd Solpoll 1 Dynamo, J & W McMordie
4th Ringdufferin 1 Isaac, MH Farms Ltd
Bull born on or between 01/03/2026 and 30/04/2026
1st Benburb 1 DJ, A Shaw
2nd Dorepoll 1 Duke, JE & RI & W Haire
3rd Carney Hill 1 David, J, K & H Taggart
4th Analiza 1 Ruckus, M & L Armstrong
Bull born on or after 01/05/2026
1st Nancy Kit, G & T Morton
2nd Nancy Kingfisher, G & T Morton
3rd Benburb 1 Dallas, A Shaw
4th Kinnego 1 Daylight Daddy, C Kerr
5th Ringdufferin 1 Ivan, MH Farms Ltd
6th Lusky 1 Dexter, WJ Gill
Junior Male Champion Annaghbeg Oscar, M & L Moore
Reserve Junior Male Champion Sessiagh 1 Dynamite, N Shaw
Supreme Male Champion Solpoll 1 Donovan, J & W McMordie
Reserve Supreme Male Champion Annaghbeg Oscar, M & L Moore
Heifer born on or between 01/09/2025 and 31/10/2025
1st Ballypallady 1 Diva, S Cherry
2nd Magheracastle 1 Dixie, T Nevin
3rd Mountview 1 Poppy, T & S Andrews & family
4th Benburb 1 Alice 19th, A Shaw
Heifer born on or between 01/11/2025 and 31/12/2025
1st Kinnego 1 Darla, C Kerr
2nd Ballypallady 1 Drop-Dead Gorgeous, S Cherry
3rd Kinnego 1 Daisy, C Kerr
4th Annaghbeg Yoko, M & L Moore
Senior Female Champion Ballypallady 1 Diva, S Cherry
Reserve Senior Female Champion Kinnego 1 Darla, C Kerr
Heifer born on or between 01/01/2026 and 28/02/2026
1st Richmount 1 Duchess, BJ Graham
2nd Dorepoll 1 Sparkles, JE, RI & W Haire
3rd Ringdufferin 1 Isabella, MH Farms Ltd
4th Ringdufferin 1 Irene, MH Farms Ltd
Heifer born on or between 01/03/2026 and 30/04/2026
1st Nancy Kiwi, G & T Morton
2nd Solpoll 1 Fashion D26, J & W McMordie
3rd Lusky 1 Diva, WJ Gill
4th Benburb 1 Daisy, A Shaw
5th Lusky 1 Daf, WJ Gill
Heifer born on or after 01/05/2026
1st Benburb 1 Alice 26th, A Shaw
2nd Annaghbeg, M & L Moore
Junior Female Champion Nancy Kiwi, G & T Morton
Reserve Junior Female Champion Solpoll 1 Fashion D26, J & W McMordie
Supreme Female Champion Nancy Kiwi, G & T Morton
Reserve Supreme Female Champion Solpoll 1 Fashion D26, J & W McMordie