Brother and sister Andrew and Catherine McCarthy were selected to judge this year’s highly contested Irish Shows Association All-Ireland Suckler Heifer Championship. From a line-up of nine high-quality heifers, the Limousin X heifer entered by Colm and Martin Harold of Letterkenny, Co Donegal, secured first position. This TVR-sired heifer, now just over two years old, was reserve champion suckler-type heifer at Swinford in 2015.

Commercial

In the commercial section, Colm and Martin Harold continued their success with their February-born heifer calf taking commercial champion. The Charolais X calf is sired by a CF52 stockbull and out of a Belgian Blue X dam.

Judge Sean Sherman from Rathdowney, Co Laois then went on to selected Dermot Mullany’s cow and calf pair as his reserve champion. This EPI-sired cow was shown with her third calf at foot, a January-born TVR heifer calf.

Simmental

In the Simmental section, Tawley Gretta, owned by Kieran Mullarkey, Grange, Co Sligo, was tapped forward as champion by judge Sean McGarry, Co Longford. Gretta, a January 2015-born heifer sired by Monaduff Snorter was later made Interbreed Pedigree Champion of the show.

Reserve champion in the Simmental ring went to the Flatley brothers, Glenamaddy, Co Galway, with their Anatrim Bodybuilder junior heifer, Lakeview Grammy, who was second to the champion in the earlier class.

Charolais

In the Charolais section, judge Sean Sherman selected an April-born heifer as his champion – Ballinagrogy Martina, owned by Marty Merrick from Crossmolina, Co Mayo, and sired by Rancard.

Reserve champion in this section was then awarded to the McHugh Family with their bull calf.

Angus and Belgian Blue

Champion Angus on the day was awarded to Coolcran Francis, a six-year-old Jetta-sired cow, with her January bull calf at foot, owned by Michael Horan, Knockmore, Co Mayo.

Champion Belgian Blue of the show, selected by Sean Sherman, was awarded to Rathlacken Jake – an Adajio sired, September-born bull, owned by Sean Bourke, Rathlacken, Ballina, Co Mayo.

Limousin and interbreed

The Limousin championship, judged by Andrew McCarthy, Co Clare, saw Clewbay Kerry owned by Padraig Golden, Westport, Co Mayo, taking top spot. The October-born Huntershall Gladiator-sired heifer calf then went on to receive reserve interbreed champion of the show.

Reserve Limousin Champion was also won by Padraig Golden with his TVR-sired, 15-month-old bull.

In the interbreed line-up judged by a combined panel of the day’s judges, Simmental champion Tawley Gretta for Kieran Mullarkey was tapped forward as Interbreed champion.

National young stockperson

The National young stockperson final, sponsored by the Irish Shows Association and Swinford Show, was also taking place on the day. This competition, running throughout the day, was scored on stock judging, grooming and handling ability.

Judges Catherine McCarthy and Mariellen McGarry selected Luke Barnett, Raphoe, Co Donegal, as their champion young stockperson, closely followed by Saoirse Oliver, Swinford, Co Mayo, in second place and Jack Vahy, Castlebarn, Co Mayo, in third.

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Commercial heifer sweeps the board at Cappamore show