BYGONE DAYS: Friesian bull takes top price at RUAS spring sale

There was a busy day at the RUAS spring show and sale at Balmoral in 1982 with the main interest centring on the the sale of British Friesians, reported Farming Life.
Eleven-year-old Ruth Smiley from Carrickfergus, Co Antrim, with a prize winning Hereford owned by her uncle Mr John Barron. Picture: Randall Mulligan/Farming Life archivesEleven-year-old Ruth Smiley from Carrickfergus, Co Antrim, with a prize winning Hereford owned by her uncle Mr John Barron. Picture: Randall Mulligan/Farming Life archives
Eleven-year-old Ruth Smiley from Carrickfergus, Co Antrim, with a prize winning Hereford owned by her uncle Mr John Barron. Picture: Randall Mulligan/Farming Life archives

The top price was paid to Dungannon breeder Ronald McLean for his year old Friesian bull Relough Creative. H Calderwood and Son from Dungannon paid 2,100 guineas for the animal.

Beef breeders were particularly please with the returns they received in the ring in the Hereford section and while their numbers were not as strong as the Friesians, their top price of 1,250 guineas paid to Armoy farmer Jack Morrison reflected the increase in interest that the breed was enjoying at that time.

Once again stalwart Samuel Kelly, the only breeder to turn out in the dairy Shorthorn section took almost 1,500 guineas for his three animals and achieved a top price of 660 guineas for a young bull, more than what was being offered to some of the major dairy exhibits.

Carolyn Lamb from Richhill, Co Armagh, and her brother Mark, with their Aberdeen Angus supreme bull and reserve. Picture: Randall Mulligan/Farming Life archivesCarolyn Lamb from Richhill, Co Armagh, and her brother Mark, with their Aberdeen Angus supreme bull and reserve. Picture: Randall Mulligan/Farming Life archives
Carolyn Lamb from Richhill, Co Armagh, and her brother Mark, with their Aberdeen Angus supreme bull and reserve. Picture: Randall Mulligan/Farming Life archives

Dairy shorthorns

Bull born before April 30, 1980 – 1 and 2, Samuel J Kelly, Castlecaulfield, Co Tyrone.

Hereford

Bull born between January 1 and May 31, 1981 – 1, Jack Morrison, Armoy, Co Antrim; 2, G S McGimpsey, Holywood, Co Down; 3, Samuel Hill, Armoy. Bull born June or July 1980 – 1, William McEldowney, Maghera, Co Londonderry; 2, J C Morrison, Castlewellan, Co Down; 3, F W McMordie and Sons, Ballygowan, Co Down. Bull born between August 1, 1980 and April 30, 1981 – 1, Bartley Finnegan, Dungannon, Co Tyrone; 2, T T Simpson, Ballyclare, Co Antrim; 3, T T Simpson, Ballyclare. Heifer, born before June 1, 1980 – 1, Samuel Douglas, Dungannon, Co Tyrone. Heifer born after June 1, 1980 – 1, John Barron, Carrickfergus, Co Antrim; 2. F W McMordie and Son. Dairy Shorthorn bull born before April 30, 1981 – 1 and 2, Samuel J Kelly.

Mr James Gabbie from Crossgar, Co Down, with his Landrace reserve champion gilt at the Balmoral show and sale in February 1982. Picture: Randall Mulligan/Farming Life archivesMr James Gabbie from Crossgar, Co Down, with his Landrace reserve champion gilt at the Balmoral show and sale in February 1982. Picture: Randall Mulligan/Farming Life archives
Mr James Gabbie from Crossgar, Co Down, with his Landrace reserve champion gilt at the Balmoral show and sale in February 1982. Picture: Randall Mulligan/Farming Life archives

Aberdeen Angus

Bull born in 1980 – 1, Mark W Lamb; 2, Mark W Lamb; 3, Thomas A McLaren. Bull born between January 1, 1981 and April 30, 1981 – 1, Mrs Doreen Mills, 2, Charlie Gracey. Heifer of any age – 1, Charlie Gracey.

Dairy and beef championship special prize presented by E T Green went to Thomas S Wallace, the reserve was the Crawford Brothers.

E T Green prize for best beef animal was awarded to Jack Morrison. The reserve was awarded to Bartley Finnegan.

The first prize Hereford bull of William McEldowney from Maghera, Co Londonderry, paraded by Mr Gilbert Crawford at the Balmoral show and sale in February 1982. Picture: Randall Mulligan/Farming Life archivesThe first prize Hereford bull of William McEldowney from Maghera, Co Londonderry, paraded by Mr Gilbert Crawford at the Balmoral show and sale in February 1982. Picture: Randall Mulligan/Farming Life archives
The first prize Hereford bull of William McEldowney from Maghera, Co Londonderry, paraded by Mr Gilbert Crawford at the Balmoral show and sale in February 1982. Picture: Randall Mulligan/Farming Life archives

Special prize for best Hereford animal was awarded to Jack Morrison. The reserve was Bartley Finnegan.

Plaque for best Hereford female was awarded to Samuel Douglas. The reserve was John Barron.

Special prize for best group of three Herefords was awarded to T T Simpson. The reserve award also went to T T Simpson.

Special prize for second best group of Hereford was awarded to Samuel J Kelly. Mr Kelly was also awarded the reserve prize too.

John Shaw from Dungannon, Co Tyrone, with his Simmental bull at the Balmoral show and sale in February 1982. Picture: Randall Mulligan/Farming Life archivesJohn Shaw from Dungannon, Co Tyrone, with his Simmental bull at the Balmoral show and sale in February 1982. Picture: Randall Mulligan/Farming Life archives
John Shaw from Dungannon, Co Tyrone, with his Simmental bull at the Balmoral show and sale in February 1982. Picture: Randall Mulligan/Farming Life archives

Irish Aberdeen perpetual trophy for best bull was awarded to Mark W Lamb. He also picked up the reserve award.

The Blakiston-Houston perpetual challenge cup for best Aberdeen Angus heifer was awarded to Charley Gracey.

British Friesians

Sale and prices in guineas: Heifers – John Thompson and Sons, Bangor, Co Down, 580; James Johnston, Magherafelt, Co Londonderry, 580; C S and C D Cunningham, Newtownards, Co Down, 940; James Johnston, 600; David McCollum, Coleraine, Co Londonderry, 820.

Bulls – David Kennedy and Son, Downpatrick, Co Down, 950; William Montgomery, Newtownards, 420; McKnight Brothers, Banbridge, Co Down, 780; William and Ivan Henning, 410; Samuel Hall, 420; 440; William Montgomery, 540; Robert Cromie, 580; Owen J Martin and Sons, Newry, Co Down, 380, W R Cooper, Ballygawley, Co Tyrone, 820, Andrew Reid and Son, Banbridge, 540; Verdun S Hunter, Dungannon, 600, Mr and Mrs Samuel Rodgers, Strabane, Co Tyrone, 850; D D McDowell, Newtownards, 400; Robert A Gray, Craigantlet, Co Down, 500; Derek Dunn, Omagh, Co Tyrone, 600, T J Morrison and Sons, Downpatrick, Co Down, 500; James Warden, Bangor, Co Down, 540; Robert Mulligan, Banbridge, 740; Brian J Mallon, Toomebridge, Co Antrim, 880; William Montgomery, 600; Crawford Brothers, Brookeborough, Co Fermanagh, 720; Francis D H Boyd, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, 600.