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Huge crowds once again flocked to Bonniconlon Show to enjoy everything it had to offer. The weather was the only disappointment and two torrential showers, one in the morning and a second mid-afternoon, made underfoot conditions very difficult for man and beast.
However, the rain did not dampen the spirits of the many Mayo supporters who watched the game live on the large outdoor screen provided by the show.
Four rings were in use all day, with two dedicated to pedigree cattle and two to commercial. Arthur Bredin and John O’Connell had the honours of judging in the commercial rings, with Patrick Brady, Jennie Aherne, Christy Comerford and Larry Crilly in the pedigree rings.
Pedigree sections
The Belgian Blue champion was Spotfield Lexus ET, sired by Attribute (AFT) and exhibited by the Ronan brothers.
Reserve went to James and Ruth McNally, Longford, with Dunbeggan Knox, a December 2016 bull by Lennie Van Het Caloenhof.
The Angus champion was a heifer calf, Kerins Nikemi, born on 25 October 2016, sired by Redwood Eiger [RWZ]. Her dam is Kerins Kemi and she was shown by Niamh Brennan for Bernard Kerins.
Reserve also went to Bernard for a 2017 bull calf.
The title of champion Charolais went to the McGovern family, Sligo, with their January 2017 bull calf by Prime Roberto, out of a CF52 cow.
Reserve Charolais went to Karl Kelly, Sligo, for his heifer Ardabrone Molly E.T, born in October 2016, by Inverlochy Ferdie. Her dam is Sagesse Brillante, out of Uranus.
Shorthorn Champion went to Noel and Lisa Dowd with Creaga Heidi.
Heidi’s sire is Crega Flash and her dam is Crega Dazzle. She is no stranger to championships, with three All-Irelands and also numerous interbreed championships to her name.
Meanwhile, the salers champion and reserve went to Bernard Hunt, Gurteen, Co Sligo, with his 2017 heifer by Beguin, out of dam Sligo Jasmine, as the champion.
The reserve title went to his bull calf Sligo Rebel, by Ulsan.
Top honours in the Simmental championship went once again to Kieran and Paul Mullarkey’s Tawley Gretta. Sired by Monaduff Snorter and bred from Annadale Dainty, an Auchorachan Wizard dam.
Kieran and Paul also had the reserve champion, a very impressive young February 2017-born bull, Lissadell Jackpot.
Gretta’s winning didn’t stop there, she was also the western people’s Connaught champion heifer, interbreed pedigree champion and reserve overall champion of the show.
Fearna Glamour was reserve western people’s Connaught champion heifer. While Gerry Lenehan’s Rathlee Hamlet came out on top in the interbreed bull competition.
Winner of the VK Agri crossbred national champion heifer was Sandra Killoran, and winner of the VK Agri crossbred yearling national champion heifer was Declan Oates.
The Limousin champion went to Gerry Walsh for his September 2016-born heifer by Glen, out of a Neuphar dam.
Reserve went to the Ardnacrusha Limousin herd for its bull Lord of the Rings.
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