Portadown Sale

Thursday 22nd November 2001

The Thirteenth Annual Belgian Blue Show & Sale attracted a tremendous crowd to the Portadown venue this week, with an overflowing sale ring greeting auctioneer Tom Clarke at starting time. The extreme muscling of this popular breed attracted both suckler and dairy farmers to the event, resulting in a swift clearance for the entire catalogue.

The sale ring leader at 4,000 gns. came from Jack & Ann Morrison’s Chatham Herd, situated at Armoy, Co Antrim. This well known enterprise has dominated the sale return at numerous events to date, a feat repeated at this show & sale, where three of the top four prices came from these willing sellers. Chatham Silas is by the stock bull Lenborough Oliver, who collected Male and Reserve Supreme Championships at Balmoral last year.

The weight recording figures were also good for this outstanding March 2000 born bull, with a Beef Value of BB19 ranking him high in the Breed’s league table. The final bidder for this all white bull was Matt Workman.

The Supreme Champion was a well-balanced black & white bull from the Lukeroyal herd of Mel & Diane Lucas, Antrim. Ministre De La Chevratte sired this great all rounder, with the dam being by Indecis Du Stordeur. There was a real tussle of bids for this Champion with the bidding finishing at 3,400 gns., paid out by T Whiteside. Dessie Rainey congratulated Mel on his success on behalf of the Northern Bank, who kindly sponsored the judging classes, placed by Jim Sloane, Kilkeel.

Jack & Ann Morrison were back in the money at 3,300 gns. with their son of Railway View Hector, Chatham Southwind. Railway View Hector has had a profound impact on the Chatham Herd over the years, with progeny consistently selling into dairy and suckler herds at high prices. Southwind is out of a Stoneleigh Devonian Diablo daughter, and has a Beef Value of BB15. Another bull by the same sire notched up 2,800 gns. in the sale ring for the Chatham Herd. The breeding of this bull is very similar to his team-mate sold previously for 3300 gns.

Another all white bull made headlines at 2300 gns. when Norman Hammond’s son of Savant De Pierrecome came under the hammer. Spotted by the judge earlier in the day where he was placed third in a very strong class, this bull was also picked out by a number of potential buyers keen to purchase.

It took 2,250 gns. to secure Boyhill Robert from Trevor Beacom, Maguiresbridge. This son of Gortagarron Lancelot has already proven he is a good stock-getter having fun with heifers all summer.

The Reserve Champion was an eye-catching, all white bull from Andrew Craig’s Woodview Herd, Coleraine. This class leader is sired by Navire De Septon and sold for 2,100 gns..

There was fierce demand for the select entry of females on offer, with a terrific heifer from Desmond McAskie, Omagh, topping the charts at 2,250 gns.. This choice entry has tremendous breeding in her pedigree with both Alambic and Garanti De Maurage, featuring.Weight recording details were also well above average, with a Beef Value of BB17.

Martin Bros travelled from Newtownards with a lovely pair of heifers sired by Totem De Chocquenee. Bidding was brisk here with 2,050 and 1,800 gns. paid out accordingly.

A feature of this sale is always a good entry of commercial Belgian Blue cattle and this year’s selection was of a very high quality. The Champion came from W Rogers, Newry for a clean-eared steer, weighing in at 400 kilos and fetching £575 (147 pence per kilo).

Michael McNally, Cookstown brought out a really good heifer tipping the scales at 350 kilos and selling at £570 (163 pence per kilo).

Leading prices in gns. – Bulls

J M Morrison & Sons	Chatham Silas	4000 gns.
Mel Lucas	Lukeroyal Snort	3450 gns.
J M Morrison & Sons	Chatham Southwind	3300 gns.
J M Morrison & Sons	Chatham Simon	2800 gns.
Norman Hammond	Annaghone Rampus ET	2300 gns.
Trevor Beacom	Boyhill Rambo	2250 gns.
Andrew Craig	Woodview Roland ET	2100 gns.
Desmond McAskie	Hooton Shergar	2050 gns.
Mel Lucas	Lukeroyal Sugar Daddy	2000 gns.
Patrick McMenamin	Broomfield Scott	1950 gns.
Olive Robinson	Sherwood Reuben ET	1900 gns.
Robert McCormick	Baronagh Blues Stalone	1850 gns.
Basil Dougherty	Greenfield Senator	1700 gns.
Martin Bros	Springhill Rum	1250 gns.
Robert McCormick	Baronagh Blues Solomon	1150 gns.
Females
Desmond McAskie	Mountjoy Ragtime ET	2250 gns.
Martin Bros	Springhill Susie ET	2050 gns.
Martin Bros	Springhill Sasha	1800 gns.