Belgian Blue breeders the length and breadth of the country made their way to Tinahely showgrounds on bank holiday Monday to compete in the €4,000 FBD calf championship. A regular occurrence at Fairwood Park, the calf finals have now become the one to win for up and coming Belgian Blue stars.

Tasked with judging the four all-Ireland calf championships was well-known breeder John Searson and his daughter Leanne.

Having completed their judging of the senior animals for the show, the duo quickly turned to their first all-Ireland class for bull calves born between 1 September 2016 and 31 December 2016.

Eight bulls took to the show ring for this tough class in which Laois breeder Denis Foynes led the charge. His bull Castleduff Kieran is sired by Edifiant and out of a homebred Empire daughter.

Following close on his heels was Melvin Masterson, Enniscorthy, with Boroside Knight. This embryo transfer-born calf is sired by Mannequin and out of Boroside Glenda, a daughter of foundation cow Rosemount Daisy.

Next through the ring were the females falling under the same age category. Picking a winner here proved the most difficult task of the day, with 12 top-quality heifers forward.

After much deliberation, the father and daughter outfit selected Laois breeder David Pearson’s Boherard Kit Kat as the champion. This September-born heifer is out of Belgian-bred bull Monin Chapelle.

Laois was again on top, securing the reserve senior female all-Ireland. This time it was Tommy and Pauline Fitzgerald, Clonaslea. Heatherview Kate was the successful heifer and her sire was the highly successful AI bull Dynamite.

On to the junior calves born in 2017 and again the bulls led the way. Topping this class was Billy Dunne with Errill Lucky. This stylish January-born black and white bull was sired by old favourite, Empire.

Melvin Masterson also went on to claim the reserve all-Ireland championship in the junior bull class. His bull Boroside Lad is out of the aforementioned foundation cow Rosemount Daisy and sired by D’Ochain.

Longford native George Hagarty was out in front for the junior heifers with the January-born Mack Lady. This heifer, sired by Boherard Cantona, goes back on an Important-bred dam.

Coming in a close second to claim the reserve all-Ireland junior heifer title was Carlow-based Myles McDermott. Rathlyon Lara was the name of this one and she was also sired by Boherard Cantona.

Commercials

Commercial cattle took pride of place at the Wicklow show. Large prize funds in a number of special classes drew breeders from as far as Cork and Kerry to the opposite coast to compete.

The first class to really draw the crowd around the ring was for the €1,300 super calf championships.

To compete, calves had to be born in 2017, so a number of other summer show winners made their way to Tinahely to try to capture their share of the generous prize fund or, even better, the €600 first prize.

Melvin Masterson, Wexford, who had already claimed two reserve all-Ireland titles in the Blue ring went one better to claim the overall super calf title.

This jet-black heifer is sired by well-known Elite Forever Brill and out of a pedigree Belgian Blue cow, making her a full sister to Mr Masterson’s first prizewinner at last year’s Limousin International Congress, which went on to sell for €3,400 at just over six months of age.

Following her win in the super calf competition, she went on to be crowned the female and supreme commercial champion.

The next big competition was the €2,500 Darcy Sands commercial championship. This class saw the champion animal receive a cheque for €1,000, with prize money down to seventh position.

Securing the championship was Chancy Lady. This heifer is no stranger to the show ring, with this her third summer on the scene. The now-30-month-old is sired by Ampertaine Foreman is out of a Belgian Blue-bred dam.

Some of her top accolades include numerous interbreed titles as well as the Greenvale all-Ireland championship last September. She now sets her eyes on Tullamore this Sunday in a bid to claim the senior commercial championship.