NI Simmental Club charity barbecue and awards night held in Dungannon

The Northern Ireland Simmental Club hosted their annual awards night but brought back an old tradition by hosting a charity barbeque event at Dungannon Rugby Club on Saturday, September 5.

Members, friends, family, sponsors and charity representatives enjoyed a meal provided by Andrew Burleigh from Riverside Quality Meats, Ballinamallard and Viola Hamilton before Trevor Wylie took centre stage leading the charity auction.

Shane McDonald, club chairman, reflected on the successful 2026 show and sale season as he led the prize giving presentation.

The Spring Club Sale (March) – Danske Bank Silver Saver for Best Pedigree Animal and the SH Watterson Perpetual Cup for the Highest Priced Bull Winner was awarded to Ryan Gilmour with Gillview Ranger.

The Best Opposite Sex Winner Cup was awarded to William and George Nelson with Drumnacritten Robin.

For the May Club Sale, The Bruces Hill Cattle Company Trophy winner was Sean Burns with Longbeach Rocky.

Award winners from Balmoral Show were as follows:

Overall Champion winner, Crystal Glasses winner, Bobbie Dickson Perpetual Championship Trophy winner, Silver Award for the best exhibit bred in NI winner was Joe and Alan Wilson for Ballinalare Farm Nikita. They also won the Perpetual Cow Bell, Bangor & Six Road Ends Farmers Union Perpetual Trophy for the Champion Simmental Female.

The Trophy for the Best Simmenal Male Winner and the William Black Memorial Perpetual Cup for Male Champion was awarded to Robert Forde for Mullyknock Scorpio.

The Bobbie Gamble Perpetual Challenge Trophy for the Best Simmental Female born on or after January 1, 2023-30, June 2024, was won by Leslie Weatherup for Lisglass Sapphire.

For younger members there were several awards up for grabs. The Young Stockperson of the Year 2026 Shield and Thelma Gorman Cup was won by Lucy Hazelton. The Carnkern Cup was won by Rhys Rodgers and the Open Class winner at the NI Stock Judging Competition was won by Martin Cunningham.

Also, the Betty Walker Memorial Perpetual Challenge Cup and Club Member of the Year winner was awarded to Lexi Heatrick for her advocacy for the breed throughout the 2026 Show Season.

For the 2026 Show Season, the Danske Bank Female of the Year Crytal Bowl and Cow Bell winner was awarded to Joe and Alan Wilson with Ballinalare Farm Ritz.

The Danske Bank Reserve Female of the Year Crystal Bowl went to David and Jonny Hazelton for Ranfurly Weikel 56th.

The Danske Bank Male of the Year Cow Bell was awarded to Robert Forde for Mullyknock Scorpio.

The Danske Bank Reserve Male of the Year Crystal Bowl winner was Leslie Weatherup with Lisglass Showman.

Prizes for the NI Simmental Club National Show were also awarded:

Guinness Cup for the Overall Champion: David and Jonny Hazelton for Ranfurly Lady Diana 41st .

Irwin’s Feed Perpetual Cup for the Best Junior Bull: Neil & Cecil McIlwaine with Corrick Spartan.

The Valley Hotel Perpetual Cup for the Best Heifer Calf born in the year of the show: Joe and Alan Wilson with Ballinalare Farm Tikita.

Edward Orr Memorial Perpetual Cup for the Best Bull Calf born in the year of the show: Shane and Paul McDonald with Coolcran Titan.

Following this, Dungannon Farmers Mart auctioneer, Trevor Wylie provided the night’s entertainment conducting the charity auction of various items including several donations of top class straws which proved popular.

Chosen charities for the night were Air Ambulance Northern Ireland and Friends of Anchor for which a sum total of £10,000 was raised.

The club would like to extend their thanks to all involved in making the return of the Charity BBQ a great success and an enjoyable evening for all.