The Eikon Exhibition Centre in Lisburn played host to the 37th annual Royal Ulster Agricultural Society (RUAS) Winter Fair on Thursday 14 December.
There were approximately 170 entries on the day, with exhibitors travelling from as far south as Co Cork.
Taking on the difficult task of judging was Mike Duckett from Wisconsin, USA. Mike is no stranger to the show ring, having won the supreme championship at the Word Dairy Expo on four occasions.
????That’s a wrap ????
— Shanon Kinahan (@_shanonkinahan_) December 14, 2023
The Supreme Champion at the 37th @RUASWinterFair goes to @HallowHolsteins with Hallow Solomon Twizzle 3 ???
Don’t forget to pick up next weeks @farmersjournal for the full show report ??@FJ_Pedigree @FJDairy pic.twitter.com/WF7LjrsFE6
With many tough calls to be made on the day, his final decision was both his easiest and most difficult.
Each of the breed championships were simply excellent and the supreme championship title could have gone to any of the day's winners. However, there could be only one.
Having found success in the class for cows in milk having had four or more calves on the day of the show, Hallow Solomon Twizzle 3 was tapped forward by judge Mike Duckett as the Holstein breed champion before she went on to represent the Holsteins in the interbreed championship.
Taking on the Ayrshire, Red and White Holstein, Dairy Shorthorn, Jersey and Ayrshire, Solomon took her success for the Hallow herd one step further when she was tapped out as the supreme champion of the 37th RUAS Winter Fair.
??Judge for the day Mike Duckett has narrowed his @HolsteinUK line up down to just 4?? Top spot goes to @i_h_f_a @HallowHolsteins with Hallow Solomon Twizzle 3?? Massive Congrats to Philip, Linda, Will, Kate and all the Hallow team?? @FJ_Pedigree @farmersjournal @FJDairy pic.twitter.com/bRonQTuXy5
— Shanon Kinahan (@_shanonkinahan_) December 14, 2023
Hallow Solomon Twizzle 3 is a January 2018-born cow sired by Solomon out of a homebred dam, Hallow Advent Twizzle 3.
She was bred and exhibited by Philip and Linda Jones from Gorey, Co Wexford, making this their sixth supreme championship title win at the Winter Fair.
It’s time for the Ayrshire Championship here at the @RUASWinterFair ??@FJ_Pedigree @farmersjournal pic.twitter.com/p319aPkk96
— Shanon Kinahan (@_shanonkinahan_) December 14, 2023
An incredible line up for the @jerseycattleuk Championship at the @RUASWinterFair ?? Top spot goes to the Sizzler syndicate with Treasure Andreas Fernleaf @farmersjournal @FJ_Pedigree @FJDairy pic.twitter.com/0SteoppNE2
— Shanon Kinahan (@_shanonkinahan_) December 14, 2023
Massive congratulations to @Peterhynes15 and family from #Cork who have come out on top in the 1st Holstein class of the day??2nd also comes south to Steve & Maria McLoughlin ???? @FJ_Pedigree @i_h_f_a @farmersjournal @FJDairy https://t.co/u1dcMuHciy pic.twitter.com/fnl3MAt590
— Shanon Kinahan (@_shanonkinahan_) December 14, 2023
Make sure to pick up your copy of next week's Irish Farmers Journal for a full show report.
Delighted to be back at the @EikonExhibition centre this morning for the Royal Ulster Winter Fair?Mike Duckett all the way from the USA has the task of judging today?? I’ll be posting from @farmersjournal Instagram throughout the day so head over there for updates! @FJ_Pedigree pic.twitter.com/dnKJyCJYNN
— Shanon Kinahan (@_shanonkinahan_) December 14, 2023