TULLAMORE/AIB NATIONAL LIVESTOCK SHOW 2013 12/08/2013

Judge, Colin Wight from Biggar, Lanarkshire was fulsome in his praise for the both his Male and Female Champions.

In ideal weather showing conditions the 2013 Tullamore/AIB show got under way with the young stock people of the future in action.   Leading the way once again was young Conor Craig from Coolarty, Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford who took the junior title.   Popular young breeder, Niall Canning from Rosses Point, in Sligo took the senior title.

Cattle judging classes commenced with the senior cows and in front of a packed ringside which included breeders from France, Northern Ireland and Scotland,  the judge tapped forward GOLDSTAR ADORABLE to give the Ryan family their first red rosette of the day.   She was shown with her heifer calf at foot “Goldstar Isabelle” by “Goldstar Echo”.  (Goldstar Adorable also bred “Goldstar Gentleman” Male Champion Charolais at the 2012 Tullamore/AIB livestock show.)

Second in the class was Bobby O’Connell’s cow BALLYBROWN CLARA-BELLE.   (She was also second in her class at the 2012 show)  Shown with her bull calf at foot “Ballybrown Icon”, born 7^th Feb and by “Nelson” she is a very regular breeder with calves born on 6^th Jan. 2011; 3^rd Feb. 2012, 7^th Feb. 2013 and is back in calf again.

Next into the ring were heifers born from Jan. – May 2012.   It was no surprise when the judge tapped forward the multi prize winning heifer SAGESSE HENRIETTA owned by Brian Dolan, Creagh, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway.  Bred by the Canning family from Rosses Point in Sligo this outstanding heifer, born January 2012 was also a first prize winner at the 2012 show and Reserve Junior Female Calf Champion at the 2012 National Charolais Show.

BALLYBROWN HARRIET (by Saphir) secured the second blue rosette of the show for breeder Bobby O’Connell from Ballybrown, Clarina, Co. Limerick.

Third class of the day was for heifers born from 1^st Sept – 31^st Oct. 2012.   Eight outstanding heifers competed in this class with first prize going to Edward Walsh from Aghafad, Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan for AGHAFAD HAVANAISE by Hermes and out of Aghafad Countess by Major. The dam’s 2011 born heifer calf was a second prize winner at the 2011 National Charolais Show.

Second prize went to Jarlath Treacy form Claretuam, Tuam, Co. Galway for the youngest heifer in the class CLAREGAL HOPE by Oldstone Egbert and out of a home bred dam.

Next into the ring were heifers born from 1^st Nov 2012 – 5^th Jan 2013.   Another outstanding class with first prize going to first time exhibitor (at any show) Noel Farrell from Castledaly, Moate, Co. Westmeath.  KILCLEAGH HALEY is by Lisnagre Elite and out of Camross Emma.

Second prize was awarded to Richard Hackett, Coolistuige, Clonlara, Co. Clare for LIMKILN HAVEN by Mozart and out of a home bred dam by Bowerhouse Topper

Kathleen & Michael Hargroves from Ballydavis, Portlaoise, had just two show entries and went home with the Reserve Overall Championship, along with the Heifer of the Year Championship and a first prize red rosette for their 2013 heifer calf, a good day’s outing by any standards.

First to be judged was the 2013 born heifer calf class. Another class with real quality the red rosette went to the Hargroves calf born 13^th Jan. – BALLYDAVIS INCREDIBLE by Fury Action.

Second prize went to the Ryan family from Cabra, Thurles for GOLDSTAR ISABELLE born 2^nd Feb and by Goldstar Echo.

The final female class of the day was the selection of the Heifer of the Year.  A tremendous line up was how judge Colin Wight described this class and following on from the previous class, Kathleen & Michael Hargroves Ballydavis bred heifer just piped Martin Ryan’s Goldstar heifer at the post!.

The 2013 show, Heifer of the Year Championship was awarded to BALLYDAVIS GORGEOUS (born January 2011) by Bova Sylvain.   Ballydavis Gorgeous was also a first prize winner at the 2011 National Charolais Show (She was not shown in 2012)

In second place was GOLDSTAR GODIVA (born Nov. 2011) and by Major.  Goldstar Godiva was a first prize winner at the 2012 National Charolais show.

MALES

With no senior bulls at this show, the first male class of the day was for Bulls born from 1^st Sept – 31^st October 2012.    And what a class it was with thirteen outstanding young bulls.

First prize went to the Ryan family’s GOLDSTAR HUGO.  Born 2^nd September 2012 he is by Jumper and out of Goldstar Florence, a first prize winner at the 2010 National Charolais show.

Standing second was TAWNY HAMISH bred by Ciaran Daly, Tullaghan, Co. Leitrim.  Born 12^th September he is by Cottage Devon and out of a home bred dam by CF 52.

Next class into the ring for bulls born from 1^st Nov. to 5^th Jan was equally competitive.  After much deliberation young Kevin Mulligan (from Rooskeynamona, Mohill,) outstanding young bull ROOSKEYNAMONA HIGH KING by Maerdy Sinndar was tapped forward for the red rosette.

Kevin certainly kept the Mulligan family’s reputation for showing top quality cattle, well and truly intact at this show.  In addition to this red rosette he also took the Reserve Male Championship plus two other third prize rosettes, all in hotly contested classes.

Second in this class was the Ryan family’s GOLDSTAR HARRY POTTER the winner of numerous first prizes at summer shows this year.   He is by Goldstar Echo.

In the bull calf class first place went to Carrickmacross Iarla by Pirate giving Edward Walsh, from Aghafad, Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan his second red rosette of the day.

Second place rosette went to Seamus Byrne, Tomriland, Roundwood, Co. Wicklow for his calf Sportsfield Isaac by Lisnagre Elite.

Junior pair’s class was won by Jim Geoghegan, Streamstown, Mullingar with two very good young bulls Lisnagre Handsome and Lisnagre Hilliard.

Second was Martin Ryan’s pairing of Goldstar Hugo and Goldstar Hector.

To finish off an outstanding day the Ryan family took 1^st and 2^nd places in the senior pair’s class with Goldstar Alsace and Goldstar Adorable taking the red and Goldstar Godiva and Goldstar Grainne taking the blue.   In third spot were Mark and Garret McGovern from Five Mile Bourne, Co. Leitrim with their pairing of Hillview Style Grace and MacMelvin Georgina.  .

Click on link below to view Charolais results.