Fresh from their Champion of Champions success at the 2025 Balmoral Show, P.J. Maginn & Sons returned to the top of the honours board once again by securing the 2026 overall Salers championship with the imported cow Perle.
The January 2019-born French-bred female, sired by Jaguar and out of Jacinthe, continued the Lisnamaul herd’s remarkable run of success at Balmoral. After winning the senior cow class, Perle went on to claim the female championship before being tapped out as supreme overall champion by judge A. McClymont of the Cuil pedigree Salers herd, Newton Stewart.
It proved a memorable day for the Maginn family, who also secured the junior male championship with Lisnamaul Vessel and won the pairs competition with the Lisnamaul Salers team.
Reserve overall champion honours went to the well-known Drumlegagh herd of J.& E. A. Elliott with Drumlegagh Troy, adding another accolade to an already impressive show career. The September 2023-born homebred bull is by the influential sire Rocky and out of Drumlegagh Princess. Troy first secured the senior bull class before later lifting the male championship.
Rocky’s influence was evident throughout the Balmoral classes, with the sire appearing repeatedly in the Drumlegagh line-up. His progeny included Class 616 winner Drumlegagh Tami, Class 618 winner Drumlegagh Ultra-Violet and reserve junior female champion Drumlegagh Veronika.
The return of the Brookfields herd to the Balmoral show ring was warmly welcomed, with Brookfields Salers enjoying a highly successful day for Mr G. & Mrs R. Wilson, assisted throughout by their granddaughter Sophie Wilson, who has become a familiar young face around the Salers ringside in recent seasons.
The overall junior championship went to Brookfields Viola, a March 2025-born heifer by Brookfields Tennessee and out of Brookfields Reagan. The stylish young heifer also secured the junior female championship. Reserve junior female champion was Drumlegagh Veronika from J.& E. A. Elliott, a June 2025-born Rocky daughter out of Drumlegagh Sasha.
Brookfields Salers also claimed reserve junior male championship honours with Brookfields Venezuela, another Tennessee-sired entry, this time out of Brookfields Ruthie.
In the senior female class for cows born on or before 31 December 2022, Perle headed a strong line-up ahead of Drumlegagh Savannah from J.& E. A. Elliott. Born on 11 May 2022, Savannah is by Forez and out of Drumlegagh Odesa. Third place went to Ashcroft Saffron from Kelly Farms, an April 2022-born daughter of Olive out of Ashcroft Valseuse 2nd.
Class 616 for 2023-born cows or heifers in calf or in milk brought further success for the Elliott family with Drumlegagh Tami. The December 2023-born heifer is by Rocky and out of Drumlegagh Karena. Standing second was the successful 2025 campaigner Lower Bolie TikTok from Brian & Pearse O’Kane. Born on 7 April 2023, the Bacardi Herbie daughter is out of Lower Bolie Peggy-Sue.
The senior heifer class was won by Ballykeel Unreal from Mr S. Connell. Born on 15 March 2024, the stylish young female is by Mathieu and out of Ballykeel Oonagh. Standing second was Lisnamaul Unique from P.J. Maginn & Sons, a Sidney daughter born on 2 April 2024 and notably out of the overall champion Perle. Third place went to Drumlegagh Ursinia from J.& E. A. Elliott, a June 2024-born Rocky daughter out of Drumlegagh Poppy.
Class 618 for heifers born between July and December 2024 was won by Drumlegagh Ultra-Violet from J.& E. A. Elliott. Born on 7 September 2024, she is another daughter of Rocky, this time out of Drumlegagh Pricilla.
One of the strongest classes in terms of entries came in the youngest female section, where Brookfields Viola topped the line-up before later securing both the junior female and overall junior championship honours. Second and reserve junior female champion was awarded to Drumlegagh Veronika from J.& E. A. Elliott and standing third was Lower Bolie Vogue from Brian & Pearse O’Kane, a January 2025-born daughter of Whitebog Convener out of Lower Bolie Sophia ET, while fourth place went to Lisnamaul Vicki from P.J. Maginn & Sons, a Sidney daughter out of Lisnamaul Kelly.
The female championship was ultimately awarded to Perle, with Brookfields Viola standing reserve female champion.
The junior bull section also attracted a strong entry and produced the junior male champion in the shape of Lisnamaul Vessel from P.J. Maginn & Sons. Born in April 2025, the young bull is by Sidney and out of Lisnamaul Gaga. Standing second and taking the reserve junior male championship rosette was Brookfields Venezuela from Mr G. & Mrs R. Wilson. Third place went to Lisnamaul Vincent from P.J. Maginn & Sons, another Sidney son, out of Lisnamaul Ohanna, while fourth was awarded to Lower Bolie Va-Va-Voom from Brian & Pearse O’Kane, by Lower Bolie Top Gun out of Lower Bolie Peggy-Sue.
Second prize rosette in the senior bull class behind the winner Drumlegagh Troy was Urbain from Kelly Farms. Born on 26 December 2022, the powerful bull is sired by Nevers and out of Mesange and has already enjoyed a successful show career during 2025.
Following the individual championships, Brookfields Viola was tapped out as overall junior champion, with Lisnamaul Vessel taking reserve junior champion honours.
The pairs competition rounded off the Salers judging, with championship honours going to the Lisnamaul Salers team from P.J. Maginn & Sons. Reserve pairs went to Brookfields Salers, while Drumlegagh Salers secured third and Lower Bolie Salers took fourth place.
Capping an extremely successful day for Northern Ireland breeders and providing an excellent showcase for the Salers breed, Sophie Wilson was awarded the Stockman’s Plaque. Perle and the Lisnamaul team also claimed the best turned out animal award, while a special plaque donated by Carrick View Salers for a young person demonstrating enthusiasm and developing stockmanship skills during 2025 was awarded to Eva McClenaghan of Slievenaman Salers.
The Salers Cattle Society would also like to extend sincere thanks to the three ring stewards for the smooth and efficient running of the classes throughout the day, ensuring judging proceeded seamlessly from start to finish. Appreciation is also extended to judge A. McClymont for his time, expertise and considered judging of an excellent display of Salers cattle at Balmoral. Special thanks must also go to Lorraine and Tony Rea for their continued dedication and support on the Salers stand, a role they have carried out with tremendous commitment and enthusiasm for more than 20 years. Their ongoing contribution and promotion of the breed at Balmoral Show is greatly valued by exhibitors, members and visitors alike.
SHOW RESULTS
CLASS 615 – COW, born on or before 31 December 2022, in calf or in milk
1st – Lot 295, Perle – P.J. Maginn & Sons
2nd – Lot 297, Drumlegagh Savannah – J.& E. A. Elliott
3rd – Lot 296, Ashcroft Saffron – Kelly Farms
CLASS 616 – COW or HEIFER, born in 2023, in calf or in milk
1st – Lot 299, Drumlegagh Tami – J.& E. A. Elliott
2nd – Lot 298, Lower Bolie TikTok – Brian & Pearse O’Kane
CLASS 617 – HEIFER, in calf or calf at foot, born on or after 1 January 2024 and on or before 30 June 2024
1st – Lot 300, Ballykeel Unreal – Mr S. Connell
2nd – Lot 301, Lisnamaul Unique – P.J. Maginn & Sons
3rd – Lot 302, Drumlegagh Ursinia – J.& E. A. Elliott
CLASS 618 – HEIFER, born on or after 1 July 2024 and on or before 31 December 2024
1st – Lot 303, Drumlegagh Ultra-Violet – J.& E. A. Elliott
CLASS 619 – HEIFER, born on or after 1 January 2025
1st & Junior Female Champion – Lot 305, Brookfields Viola – Mr G. & Mrs R. Wilson
2nd & Reserve Junior Female Champion – Lot 308, Drumlegagh Veronika – J.& E. A. Elliott
3rd – Lot 304, Lower Bolie Vogue – Brian & Pearse O’Kane
4th – Lot 307, Lisnamaul Vicki – P.J. Maginn & Sons
Female Championship
Female Champion – Lot 295, Perle – P.J. Maginn & Sons
Reserve Female Champion – Lot 305, Brookfields Viola – Mr G. & Mrs R. Wilson
CLASS 620 – BULL, up to 2 years old on day of show
1st & Junior Male Champion – Lot 311, Lisnamaul Vessel – P.J. Maginn & Sons
2nd & Reserve Junior Male Champion – Lot 309, Brookfields Venezuela – Mr G. & Mrs R. Wilson
3rd – Lot 310, Lisnamaul Vincent – P.J. Maginn & Sons
4th – Lot 312, Lower Bolie Va-Va-Voom – Brian & Pearse O’Kane
CLASS 621 – BULL, over 2 years old on day of show
1st – Lot 314, Drumlegagh Troy – J.& E. A. Elliott
2nd – Lot 313, Urbain – Kelly Farms
Male Championship
Male Champion – Lot 314, Drumlegagh Troy – J.& E. A. Elliott
Junior Male Champion – Lot 311, Lisnamaul Vessel – P.J. Maginn & Sons
Junior Championship
Junior Champion – Lot 305, Brookfields Viola – Mr G. & Mrs R. Wilson
Reserve Junior Champion – Lot 311, Lisnamaul Vessel – P.J. Maginn & Sons
Overall Championship
Overall Champion – Lot 295, Perle – P.J. Maginn & Sons
Reserve Overall Champion – Lot 314, Drumlegagh Troy – J.& E. A. Elliott
Pairs
Champion Pairs – Lisnamaul Salers
Reserve Pairs – Brookfields Salers
3rd – Drumlegagh Salers
4th – Lower Bolie Salers
