Last Sunday the FBD National Livestock Show in Tullamore played host to this year’s National Charolais Show. With over 150 Charolais competing for this year’s National titles, Charolais were by far the biggest breed on show. A further testament to the strong position Charolais hold in the marketplace at present. The two packed ringsides from early morning spoke for themselves. The female classes were especially fiercely contested, which highlights the significant improvements which have been made in the maternal traits of the breed. Coming out on top and claiming the Overall National Charolais Championship was Goldstar Pepite, accompanied by her nine month old bull calf, Goldstar Sensation. Exhibited by Martin Ryan from County Tipperary, Pepite is a rising four year old daughter of Matuvu, and the French cow Magesty. This capped off a wonderful day for the Ryan family who presented an impressive line up of sixteen cattle.
Senior and Overall Champion, Goldstar Pepite
It was a memorable day for Simone Mc Cabe and Niall Maguire from County Monaghan. The pair claimed the Senior Male Calf Championship and went on to take the Reserve Overall Championship with their nine month old bull calf, Rockvalley Stetson. This classy young bull is a son of Cavelands Fenian and Birches Pretty Lady.
Senior Male Calf Champion and Reserve Overall Champion, Rockvalley Stetson
The Junior Male Calf Championship went the way of Dundoire Tommy ET, a January 2022 born son of CF 52 and Western Icon. Exhibited by Shane Maguire from County Meath, Tommy is a full brother to Dovea Genetics AI sire, Bud Orpheus.
Junior Male Calf Champion, Dundoire Tommy
The Senior Female Calf Championship came in the form of Lisnagre Show Girl, the property of Jim Geoghegan from County Westmeath. This powerful September 2021 born heifer is a daughter of the Society bull Horace JD, and the homebred cow Lisnagre Nice.
Senior Female Calf Champion, Lisnagre Show Girl
Taking top spot in the Junior Female Calf Championship was Firoda Tilly, exhibited by Brian and Seamus Nolan from County Laois. This stylish heifer is a six month old daughter of the Society bull Neptune, and the homebred cow Firoda Nojack.
Junior Female Calf Champion, Firoda Tilly
Having snapped up the Senior Championship with Goldstar Pepite, the Ryan family went one better when Judges Raymond Irvine and Tracey Gunn tapped out Goldstar Panacotta as the Reserve Senior Champion. Once again this one is a rising four year old, and is a daughter of the French sire Lancelot.
Senior and Reserve Senior Champion, Goldstar Pepite and Goldstar Panacotta
David Watts from County Sligo continued on from his success at last year’s Christmas Cracker Sale, when he was awarded the Reserve Senior Male Calf Championship with Sagesse Sidney ET, an October 2021 born son of CF 52 and Kilcumreragh Grimaldi.
Reserve Senior Male Calf Champion, Sagesse Sidney
Reserve Junior Male honours went the way of John and Megan Searson from County Tipperary with Sheehills Toronto ET, a January 2022 born son of Clenagh Lyle and Sheehills Malificent. The pair also claimed a first prize in the September 2021 born bull class with Sheehills Santiago ET, a full brother to Toronto.
Reserve Junior Male Calf Champion, Sheehills Toronto
Standing Reserve in the Senior Female Calf Championship was Dreamteam Show Queen ET, a eight month old daughter of Fury Action. Show Queen was exhibited by Darragh Mc Manus and Andrew Norris from County Donegal. The pair went on to take home another two red rosettes, for the best bull born in December 2021 and the best pair of animals under 12 months of age.
Reserve Senior Female Calf Champion, Dreamteam Show Queen
The hotly contested Junior Female Calf Championship produced some of the strongest classes of the day. Taking the Reserve Championship in this section was Mashantucket Treasure, a seven month old daughter of the Society bull Stimothee and Liscally Natalie 2 ET. This stylish young heifer was exhibited by Adam Woods from County Cavan.
Reserve Junior Female Calf Champion, Mashantucket Treasure
CLASS WINNERS
First Prize Winner, Drumcullen Superman, exhibited by John Fleury
Best bull born on or between the 1st January 2021 and the 31st August 2021
First Prize Winner, Sheehills Santiago, exhibited by John and Megan Searson
Best bull born in September 2021
First Prize Winner, Dreamteam Sex Symbol ET, exhibited by Darragh Mc Manus and Andrew Norris
Bets bull born in December 2021
First Prize Winner, Sagesse Titus, exhibited Brendan and Niall Canning
Best bull born in February/March 2022
First Prize Winner, Grangewood Rosebud ET, exhibited by Gerry O’ Keeffe
Best Heifer born in 2020
First Prize Winner, Ardabrone Sarah ET, exhibited by James and Karl Kelly
Best heifer born on or between the 1st January 2021 and the 31st August 2021
First Prize Winner, Sagesse Sylvia, exhibited by Brendan and Niall Canning
Best heifer born on or between the 1st October 2021 and the 15th November 2021
The best pair of animals under 12 months of age was awarded to Darragh Mc Manus and Andrew Norris from County Donegal, with Dreamteam Sex Symbol and Dreamteam Show Queen.
Standing top of the line with the best pair of animals over 12 months of age was Martin Ryan and family with Goldstar Pepite and Goldstar Panacotta.
Kate Daly, winner of the young breeders showing class, 17 – 22 years old
Kate Mc Govern, winner of the young breeders showing class, 12 – 16 years old
The Society would like to thank all exhibitors for putting on a wonderful show of cattle on Sunday. A special word of thanks must go to the sponsors from Sunday’s National Charolais Show.
Greenvale Animal Feeds
FBD Insurance
Irish Farmers Journal
Dovea Genetics
Coneyisland Genetics
Aurivo
A.W. Ennis
Corrib Oil
Golden Vale Marts
Bova AI
National Cattle Breeding Centre
Smyths Daleside Feeds