Breed Champion Sessiagh 1 Billie Ray from Nathaniel Shaw
It was some day for Young Hereford Breeder Nathaniel Shaw, taking the top spot at the NIHBA National Show with his homebred heifer Sessiagh 1 Billie Ray. Billie Ray started by winning the second class of the day, ‘Heifer born on or after 01/01/2024 and on or before 30/06/2024’, before being tapped out as Female Champion and then Overall Supreme Champion. Sessiagh 1 Billie Ray is a March 2024-born heifer, sired by Dendor 1 Kohinoor and out of Graceland 1 Nicola, a Fisher 1 Jubilee daughter. Billie Ray caught the eye of the judge, Mrs Caroline Davies, Herefordshire with Caroline commenting that “my champion heifer was oozing style and power and is an excellent example of the breed.”
Reserve Breed Champion Lusky 1 Cornelius from Mr John Gill
Taking the Reserve Breed Championship was rising two-year-old bull Lusky 1 Cornelius, exhibited by Mr John Gill. Cornelius is a July 2024-born bull sired by Lusky 1 Van Dyke, a Peartree 1 Gordon son. Lusky 1 Cornelius won the ‘Bull born on or after 1st January 2024 and before 31st December 2024’ class, beating three other entries, before being tapped out as Male Champion and Reserve Breed Champion. Lusky 1 Cornelius is no stranger to the show ring this summer having won his class at both the 2026 Lurgan and Balmoral Shows.
Reserve Male Champion Solpoll 1 Cherokee, exhibited by Mr Donald Beattie
Standing Reserve Male Champion to Cornelius and picking up the Junior Male Championship was the 2026 Balmoral Show Overall Junior Champion Solpoll 1 Cherokee, exhibited by Mr Donald Beatty. Cherokee is a 16-month-old Rempstone 1 Worldwide son which Donald purchased privately from the McMordie family earlier in the year. Cherokee’s dam is Shancorpoll 1 Oll1 Uakea, a Fabb 1 Northern Star daughter. Cherokee won the ‘Bull born on or after 01/01/2025 and on or before 31/08/2025’ class, beating four other entries.
Reserve Female Champion Solpoll 1 Starlet D4 from J & W McMordie
Solpoll 1 Starlet D4 exhibited by J & W McMordie took the Reserve Female Championship, Junior Female Championship, Overall Junior Championship and Overall Calf Champion after winning the ‘Heifer born on or after 01/01/2025 and on or before 31/08/2025’ class. Starlet D4, a September 2025-born heifer is sired by the renowned Panmure 1 Henry and out of Solpoll 1 Starlet G13, a Solpoll 1 Dynamite daughter. Starlet D4 is a full sister to Solpoll 1 Nobility who sold to Rempstone and Solpoll 1 Starlet L3 who is the dam to Solpoll 1 Vanquish.
Taking the Reserve Female Junior Champion was Sommerville 1 Clementine exhibited by Heather King. An April born 2025, Fabb 1 Northern Star heifer out of Sommerville 1 Willow, a Gouldingpoll 1 Stockman daughter.
Reserve Calf Champion and Reserve Junior Male Champion was awarded to Richmount 1 Del Boy, a December 2025 Fisher 1 Jaguar son out of Richmount 1 Poppy, a Grousehallpoll 1 Premier daughter.
Winning the Progeny Pair, best pair by the same dam or sire, went to Ryan and Russell Kelly, with the boys also winning the best Group of Three.
The Champion Young Handler was Keziah Shaw and the Reserve went to Oscar Moore.
A total of 67 entries were forward, and the Herefords won the best display of cattle in the Grand Parade. Thanks to Caroline Davies for making the trip across the water and doing a fantastic job judging.
Words: Maddie Clarke
Results
Cow or Heifer born on or before 31/12/2023, in calf or with own calf at foot
1st Ballypallady 1 Waikiki, Stephen Cherry
2nd Richmount 1 Seasalt, Bradley Graham
3rd Lisnaree 1 Tina Turner, Emma McCrea
4th Umgola Chi Chi, Stephen Baxter
5th Lusky 1 Topaz, John Gill
Heifer born on or after 01/01/2024 and on or before 30/06/2024 in calf or with own calf at foot
1st Sessiagh 1 Billie Ray, Nathanial Shaw
2nd Glassdrummond Blossom, D & A Murray
3rd Solitude 1 Helen B233, Andrew McMordie
4th Carneyhill 1 Lady 13th, J, K & H Taggart
5th Benburb 1 Beauty, Alan Shaw
Heifer born on or after 01/07/2024 and on or before 31/12/2024
1st Solpoll 1 Dainty C9, J & W McMordie
2nd Benburb 1 Alice 13th, Simon Greer
3rd Benburb 1 Alison 2nd, Alan Shaw
4th Carneyhill 1 Emma 13th, J, K & H Taggart
5th Sommerville 1 Blossom, Heather King
Heifer born on or after 01/01/2025 and on or before 31/08/2025
1st Sommerville 1 Clementine, Heather King
2nd Rossdowney 1 Coco, R & R Kelly
3rd Keenagh Nicola, R & R Kelly
4th Solpoll 1 Eunice C23, J & W McMordie
5th Annaghbeg Kaitlyn 027, M & L Moore
Heifer born on or after 01/09/2025 and on or before 31/12/2025
1st Solpoll 1 Starlet D4, J & W McMordie
2nd Ballypallady 1 Diva, Stephen Cherry
3rd Tamnabrady 1 Gem, Emma McCrea
Heifer calf born on or after 01/01/2026
1st Lusky 1 Diva, John Gill
2nd Richmount 1 Duchess, Bradley Graham
3rd Tamnabrady 1 Gucci, Emma McCrea
Bull born on or before 31/03/2024
1st Glenside Trillick, R & S Pogue
2nd Rempstone 1 Worldwide, J & W McMordie
3rd Carrowboy 1 Perfect, MH Farms Ltd
4th Moyadd 1 Bulmers, Ciara Fitzpatrick
Bull born on or after 01/04/2024 and on or before 31/12/2024
1st Lusky 1 Cornelius, John Gill
2nd Richmount 1 Cracker Corleone, Bradley Graham
3rd Moyadd 1 Challenger, Ciara Fitzpatrick
4th Benburb 1 Bruce, Alan Shaw
Bull born on or after 01/01/2025 and on or before 31/08/2025
1st Solpoll 1 Cherokee, The Beattie Family
2nd Nancy Jack Daniels, Tracey Morton
3rd Carneyhill Cadbury, J, K & H Taggart
4th Hockleypoll 1 Yum Yums, The Leader Family
5th Hockleypoll 1 Sir Viz, The Leader Family
Bull calf born on or after 01/09/2025 and on or before 31/12/2025
1st Richmount 1 Del Boy, Bradley Graham
2nd Solpoll 1 Donovan, J & W McMordie
Bull calf born on or after 01/01/2026
1st Rossdowney 1 Dallas, Ryan and Russell Kelly
2nd Sessiagh 1 Dynamite, Nathaniel Shaw
Progeny Pair, Best Pair by same dam or sire
1st Ryan and Russell Kelly
2nd Heather King
3rd J, K & H Taggart
4th Alan Shaw
5th Bradley Graham
Group of three
1st Ryan and Russell Kelly
2nd J, K & H Taggart
3rd Alan Shaw
4th J & W McMordie
5th The Leader Family
Junior Young Handlers
1st Oscar Moore
2nd D & A Murray
3rd Paul Greer
Senior Young Handlers
1st Keziah Shaw
2nd Hollie Taggart
3rd Bobby Morton
Champion Young Handler Keziah Shaw
Reserve Champion Young Handler Oscar Moore
Junior Female Champion Solpoll 1 Starlet D4, J & W McMordie
Reserve Junior Female Champion Sommerville 1 Clementine, Heather King
Female Champion Sessiagh 1 Billie Ray, Nathanial Shaw
Reserve Female Champion Solpoll 1 Starlet D4, J & W McMordie
Junior Male Champion Solpoll 1 Cherokee, The Beattie Family
Reserve Junior Male Champion Richmount 1 Del Boy, Bradley Graham
Male Champion Lusky 1 Cornelius, John Gill
Reserve Male Champion Solpoll 1 Cherokee, The Beattie Family
Calf Champion Solpoll 1 Starlet D4, J & W McMordie
Reserve Calf Champion Richmount 1 Del Boy, Bradley Graham
Junior Champion Solpoll 1 Starlet D4, J & W McMordie
Reserve Junior Champion Solpoll 1 Cherokee, The Beattie Family
Supreme Champion Sessiagh 1 Billie Ray, Nathanial Shaw
Reserve Supreme Champion Lusky 1 Cornelius, John Gill