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The Irish Angus bull calf competition again made its way to Iverk Show, and with it came a prize fund of over €20,000. Forty bulls took to the ring across the two bull classes, with the winner of each going home with a cheque for €2,000.
Ben and Elaine Ryall, who run the 80-cow Fellfort herd in Cork, were at the helm on the day, carefully deliberating over the pre-qualified bulls in each class before making their final decision.
The first round of bulls into the ring were born between December 2016 and April 2017. Leading the charge in this class was first-time winner Pat Murray with December-born Shingaun Noel. Sired by Bunlahy John G, he is out of a homebred dam by the name of Shingaun Karley, and qualified at this year’s Charleville Show. During judging this bull was chosen by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who walked him around the show ring during his visit to the Angus arena.
Junior all-Ireland bull champion Shingaun Noel.
Reserve all-Ireland calf championship honours in the junior class went to Kerry’s Denis Twomey for his bull Tubridmore Prime Minister. Denis has been a regular exhibitor at shows throughout the country over the past number of years, with this win being one of his biggest highlights yet. Homebred on both sides, the bull is sired by Tubridmore Monarch and also qualified at Charleville Show.
Senior
In the senior class, John Appelbe from Cork clinched the overall title for the second year in a row. Carrying the same name as the junior champion, Carrigroe Noel was a firm favourite for the Ryall duo. The September 2016-born Noel is sired by stock bull Rathosheen Hugo, who also sired last year’s champion, which went on to claim the overall championship at the society’s all-Ireland.
Close on his heels in a very strong class of senior bulls was Drumcarbin Nutcracker from Shane McKiernan, Ballinagh, Co Cavan. This powerful September-born bull is sired by Retties JFK, while its dam is homebred Drumcarbin Kim.
Females
The female section also saw big prizemoney up for grabs, with the winner of each class receiving €400. After securing top of the senior cow class, the McEnroe family went on to claim the overall championship with Liss Myrlo R532.
Female champion Liss Myrlo.
Although in the senior cow class, this stylish cow only just turned two years in March and was shown with her April heifer calf at foot. Sired by Mogeely Lord Harrow, Myrlo goes back to one of the foundation female lines in the nearly 70-year-old Liss herd in Oldcastle.
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