The Stanley family from Knockbrown, Bandon, Co Cork, won the overall inter-breed beef female championship with their senior Belgian Blue heifer Knockbrown Holly. This senior heifer was born in September 2013 and is sired by the AI bull Harrison. This heifer won the overall Belgian Blue breed champion on the day too and was the breed champion at Bandon Show last month.
The top championship in the inter-breed male section went to Albert and Jennifer DeCogan, Killamuckey, Castlemartyr, Co Cork, with their senior Aberdeen Angus stock bull, Wedderlie BlackBox J935. This September 2009-born bull was imported from the UK and is sired by Abberton Mr Bionic G441. This bull has won a plethora of championships in recent years, including the male championship at the National Livestock show, Tullamore, last August.
The overall inter-breed pedigree calf championship was won by Peter O’Connell, Mallow, Co Cork, with his Simmental heifer calf, Raceview Gyspy Verona. This young heifer calf was born in September 2015 and is sired by the AI bull Anatrim Bodybuilder. This young calf beat out stiff competition from over 20 young calves of both sexes across all breeds.
The junior inter-breed pedigree calf championship, open to male and female calves born in 2016, was won by a Belgian Blue heifer calf, Doon Karly exhibited by Tim O’Donovan, Dunmanway, Co Cork. This February 2016-born heifer calf is sired by the Belgian-bred AI bull Victorieux D’au Chene. Tim O’Donovan’s Doon Belgian Blue herd also won the inter-breed best group of three prize with three young Belgian Blue calves.
Overall championship
Aside from the top inter-breed championships, an overall breed championship was presented in each individual beef breed too. The Limousin championship was won by Donal Moloney, Ardnacrusha, Co Clare, with his yearling bull Ardnacrusha Jaguar. This bull was the overall breed champion at this year’s RUAS spring show at Balmoral and is sired by Wilodge Vantastic. Donal also won the reserve championship with his heifer Ardnacrusha Jasmine, also sired by Wilodge Vantastic.
Tony O’Leary, Ballincollig, Co Cork, claimed the overall Simmental championship with his cow Littlerock Dervela Annie. This four-year-old cow is sired by Kilbride Farm, Newry, and was shown with a young bull calf at foot. The reserve Simmental champion went to Gordon and Susan Salter, Dunmanway, Co Cork, with their senior heifer Mohona Flight who is sired by Curraheen Wakeman.
The Aberdeen Angus championship was won by Mogeely Miylo P291 exhibited by Albert and Jennifer DeCogan, Killamuckey, Castlemartyr, Co Cork. This senior heifer is sired by the three-time All-Ireland Aberdeen-Angus champion Rosemead Karona J957. The DeCogan duo also took home the reserve Aberdeen Angus championship with their senior stock bull, Wedderlie Black Box J935.
The Hereford championship went to Trevor Dudley, Dovea, Thurles, Co Tipperary, with his senior bull Glaslough Judge. Judge was born in March 2010 and was also the Hereford champion at Bandon show last month. The reserve Hereford championship was awarded to Adrian Bateman, Riverstick, Co Cork, with his 10-year-old cow Slieveroe Elsie. This cow went on to take the reserve inter-breed beef female championship across all breeds later in the show.
Commercial championship
There was a particularly small Charolais entry with Cottage Gemma emerging as the supreme champion for owner John Ward, Bantry, Co Cork. This cow was born in November 2011 and is sired by Utrillo Mic and is out of Cottage Emilie ET.
The commercial championship went to Billy Gubbins, Kilfinane, Co Limerick, with an 18-month-old commercial Charolais bullock out of a half-bred Charolais/Salers cow.
Two young handler classes were held on the day with entrants competing in the under 13 years and under 17 years categories. Aidan Kinahan, Kilfinane, Co Limerick, won the junior section, while Rachel Moloney, Ardnacrusha, Co Clare won the senior section.
In the dairy section, the overall Shorthorn championship went to Jimmy and Linda O’Donovan, Schull, Co Cork with Gortnamona Pansy 8. This eight-year-old cow is sired by Coutover Fellow and is out of Gortnamona Pansy 7. The reserve Shorthorn championship went to Tom Roycroft, Dunmanway, Co Cork, with Fanore Cookie who is sired by Rowanberry Coleman.
The supreme Jersey championship was awarded to Robert Shannon, Ballinascarthy, Co Cork with his third calved senior cow, Gabriel Legal Kirsty. This cow is sired by Tollenaars Impuls Legal and is classified EX90.
The Holstein Friesian section attracted a huge entry with well over 60 cattle catalogued. The supreme championship was won by Jerry and Diarmuid Murphy, Innishannon, Co Cork, with Lissaniskey Frontrunner Laura. No stranger to success at Clonakilty, this fifth-calved cow was also the supreme champion at last year’s show. She is sired by Morsan Frontrunner and is classified EX92.