THE junior leader from across the water in Northern Ireland has secured the supreme Simmental championship for the Nelson family - William and sons, George and Keith. 

Their 19-month-old son of Dermotstown Delboy, a bull they have used regularly on their 25-cow herd near Rosslea, Enniskillen, had already landed the top ticket in the Fermanagh breeders' class at Enniskillen Show, and is out of Drumacritten Bella, a Dripsey Super King daughter. 

"I was looking for bulls that could walk and that were good on their legs and feet, and it was good to see that those in the championship were good on their legs," said the judge, Norman Robson, of the Kilbride Farm team that runs 100 cows and has produced a top price of 22,000gns for Kilbride Farm Foreman. "The champion is a tremendous all-rounder with plenty size and strength that is good on his legs and was nice and balanced overall."

Taking the reserve supreme spot was the intermediate champion, Blackford Iolair from Billy MacPherson, daughter Anne and her husband Raymond, of Blackford, Croy, Inverness. This champion of champions from Nairn Show also landed the continental M and S Beefbreeder title at the Royal Highland. His sire is the 18,000gns Kilbride Farm Doubleaction while his mother is Blackford Waxwing, a Kilbride Farm Strabane daughter. 

Reserve junior was Stewart Stronach's Islavale Imperial, a Curaheen Giant 2 son from Berryleys, Keith, while reserve intermediate was Hiltonstown Irish, a Dermotstown Delboy son from Richard Rodgers, Race Road, Portglenone. 

Among the seniors, Gerald, Morag and Douglas Smith's Auroch Ace-sired Drumsleed Icicle from Fordoun, Laurencekirk, was champion, while in reserve spot was David and Jonny Hazelton's Ranfurly Impeccable, a Raceview King son from Cohannon House, Bovean Road, Dungannon. 

That concludes the judging on day two of the Stirling Bull Sales. The Simmental entry will be sold at 11am tomorrow, starting with females (71 + 34 calves), including drafts from the Boars Head, Kennox, Bruchag and Cairnview herds as well as the Mendick dispersal, before bulls (112) are sold at 1pm.