The Irish Simmental Cattle Society once again held its national finals at the prestigious Tullamore Show. Entries for the breed were one of the highest of all breeds in attendance, with over 100 cattle on show.

With both numbers and quality on show, the day stands as the pinnacle event in the Simmental calendar. Given the task of judging the society’s 24th national show was breeder Neil McIlwaine, who runs the well-known Corrick herd in Newtownstewart, Co Tyrone.

After much deliberation over his final championship, McIlwaine eventually made his way to tap forward Clonagh Darling Eyes ET from Garrett Behan, Ballyfin, Portlaoise, Co Laois, as the overall Simmental champion for 2017. This was the 2012-born cow’s fourth national title, but her first time to win the overall championship.

Sired by the three-time national champion Banwy T-Rex, she is out of Milton Senhorita ET who herself won two national titles. This topped a highly successful day for the Behan family who ended up with five national titles and three reserve national titles from their 17 cattle exhibited at the show. Further adding to Darling Eyes’ achievement on the day was that two of these national titles were acquired by embryo transfer progeny of the champion.

The reserve overall champion went to the male champion and national yearling bull champion Raceview Herman. Exhibited by Peter and Marion O’Connell, Mallow, Co Cork, this September 2016-born bull is sired by Kilbride Farm Delboy and is out of a Kilbride Farm Newry dam Raceview Bounty Matilda. The bull has been a regular attendee at the local summer shows, this year picking up numerous breed and interbreed championships, including the southern club’s yearling bull championship.

The reserve female champion went to the national senior heifer champion Tawley Gretta exhibited by Kieran and Paul Mullarkey, Ballinfull, Co Sligo. Born in January 2015, this heifer is sired by Monaduff Snorter and bred from Annadale Dainty, an Auchorachan Wizard dam. Gretta is no stranger to the show ring having also secured the reserve female championship at last year’s national finals at the same venue, after securing the overall championship at Balmoral earlier that year.

Always the bridesmaid never the bride, the Mullarkey family did the double reserve also exhibiting the reserve male champion in the form of Lissadell Jackpot VIP. This February-born bull calf class winner was sired by the same bull as the male champion Kilbride Farm Delboy, while the dam was Corbally Eires VIP.

To start proceedings, the Simmental young members held two young stockperson classes. These classes were judged by Zara Clarke and Conor Maher from Newport, Co Tipperary, won the 16 to 21 age class. James Kelly from Ballynacally, Ennis, Co Clare, was selected as the top handler in the 12 to 15 age class.

The other class winners were as follows

  • National weanling heifer: Clonagh Hazel Eyes ET sired by Kilbride Farm Dragoon and exhibited by Garrett Behan, Ballyfin, Co Laois.
  • National yearling heifer: Seaview Harriet sired by Kilbride Farm Delboy and exhibited by Tony O’Leary, Ballincollig, Co Cork.
  • National junior heifer: Clonagh Gucci Eyes ET sired by Banwy T-Rex and exhibited by Garrett Behan, Ballyfin, Co Laois.
  • National intermediate heifer: Broomfield Girly Gina sired by Anatrim Bodybuilder and exhibited by Sean Brady, Castleblayney, Co Monaghan.
  • National junior cow: Fearna Faith sired by Anatrim Bodybuilder and exhibited by Martin Mooney, Shannon Harbour, Co Offaly.
  • National weanling bull: Clonagh Hawk Eye ET sired by Kilbride Farm Dragoon and exhibited by Garrett Behan, Ballyfin, Co Laois.
  • National junior bull: Clonagh Hard Man sired by Kilbride Farm Dragoon and exhibited by Garrett Behan, Ballyfin, Co Laois.
  • National junior progeny pair: Rathnashan Harper ET and Rathnashan Harriet ET exhibited by Nigel Hogan, Bennekerry, Co Carlow.
  • February-born heifer calf: Clonagh Jessie Girll sired by Kilbride Farm Dragoon and exhibited by Garrett Behan, Ballyfin, Co Laois.
  • December/January-born heifer calf: Tawley Hanna sired by Hillcrest Butcher and exhibited by Declan Oates, Castlegal, Co Leitrim.
  • December/January-born bull calf: Bearna-Dhearg Honda 50 sired by Kilbride Farm, Newry, and exhibited by Willie O’Halloran, Golden, Co Tipperary.