Uno stands as number one in Tullamore
Sunshine and smiles were the theme of the day at the FBD National Livestock Show in Tullamore where the Irish Charolais Cattle Society held their 60th Anniversary National Show.
With record crowds in attendance, a thronged ringside witnessed one of the finest displays of Charolais cattle Europe has ever seen with a whopping 160 entries filling the rings.
The Irish Charolais Cattle Society were honoured to have two well versed Charolais breeders at the helm to take on the extremely difficult task of judging in Mr Andrew Reid of AJR Farms and Andrew Hornall of the Falleninch Herd both in Scotland.
Both exhibitors and spectators can both agree that the duo did an excellent job officiating over the days proceedings with Andrew Reid taking on the task of judging the females whilst Andrew Hornall took on the challenge of the females. They then teamed up to judge the pairs classes and championships.
Championships
Junior Male Calf Championship
The judging of the championships in the Charolais ring commenced with the Junior Male Calf Championship which saw Strokestown, Co Roscommon breeder, Tony Bosquette take the plaudits with his February 2024 born bull, Castlenode Val. Val is sired by Hatenon and out of Sagesse Precious, a daughter of Prime Roberto.
Next to be tapped forward on the day was the Reserve Junior Male Champion which saw Trim, Co Meath breeder Shane Maguire claim victory for his February born bull, Dundoire Victorious. Victorious is a son of Grangwood Royal Oak who himself is out of the renowned Grangwood Emerald and the Major sired dam, Aquanchoua Poppy ET.
Senior Male Calf Championship
In the Senior Male Calf Championship, it was a day of dreams for Mullingar, Co Westmeath native James Geoghegan of the Lisnagre herd. With two entries in the September 2023 born class, James found success with his two entries, Lisnagre Uno and Lisnagre Uno who went on to be tapped out as the Senior Male Calf Champion and Reserve Champion respectively.
Gold ticket winner Uno is a son of the Society bull Horace JD and is out of the Pirate sired dam, Lisnagre Pio making him a sister to the record breaking Lisnagre Triona ET who sold for an impressive €18,000 at the Society’s Elite Heifer sale in 2023.
In the Reserve position was Lisnagre Un Known, this time a Donally New (CF52) and Lisnagre Mindy 2 ET son.
Junior Female Calf Champion
In the female section, the championships kicked off with the baby’s of the days show and in this case. It was Martin Ryan from the Goldstar Charolais herd in Thurles, Co Tipperary that stepped up to take top honours. Born in January 2024 and sired by the Society’s bull Neptune out of the multi show winner Goldstar Pepite, Goldstar Vanilla ET had a sweet finish when she was tapped forward as the Junior Female Calf Champion.
Stepping up to claim the Reserve Junior Female Championship was Brendan Feeney from Enniscrone, Co Sligo with his Neptune sired heifer, Bostonia Venus. Venus is a March born heifer out of the Goldstar Echo daughter, Bostonia One-Echo ET.
Senior Female Calf Championship
In the final of the calf championships, more tough decisions ensued as the judges searched for their Senior Female Calf Champion. Kieran Doddy from Ballymote. Co Sligo found himself taking the plaudits here as his September 2023 born heifer, Tubbernadur Utopia was tapped forward as the champion. Utopia is bred by the Society’s sire Military and a homebred cow, Tubbernadur Ohsha who is also sired by the Society bull, Heracles.
Martin Ryan of the Goldstar herd in Co Tipperary found himself on top once again in the Championships when his October 2023 born heifer, Goldstar Une Star ET was tapped forward as the Reserve Senior Female Calf Champion. Again sired by the Society sire, Neptune, Une Star was bred from a Nadal cow, Goldstar Scarlette.
Senior Championship
Next up in the list of championships was the Senior Championship was saw the Senior Females and Senior Males battle it out for the top spot. With five red ticket winners taking to the ring for the ultimate senior finale, the judges found their 2024 National Senior Champion in Goldstar Sephora once again from the herd of Martin Ryan. Born in December 2020, this French cow is sired by Phocea and is out of Inlove.
With only room for one more Champion in this section, the judges found their Reserve Senior Champion in Crossane4 Tayto from the herd of Eoin McGovern from Kilmore, Co Leitrim. This February 2022 born heifer is another championship wining daughter of Society bull Neptune and is out of a Thrunton Bonjovi dam, Portnason Hermione. Tayto is a maternal sister to the renowned Crossane4 Niamh who herself made waves in Charolais circles having also been crowned Tullamore Champion in recent years.
2024 Overall National Champion
With anticipation building all day, large crowds gathered for what could only be described as the ultimate show down as judges Andrew Reid and Andrew Hornall searched for the 2024 and 60th anniversary National Overall Charolais Champion.
A long line up of worthy winners made this decision very difficult for the Scottish judging duo but in the end, there could only be one.
After much deliberation, the decision was made and it was time to tap forward this years gold medal winner.
With a loud applause, James Geoghegan found himself being tapped forward with his September 2023 born bull, Lisnagre Uno.
With only one more title to go for this years National Show, it was time for the duo to find their Reserve Champion. This time, Sligo native Kieran Doddy found himself being tapped forward with his September 2023 born heifer, Tubernadur Utopia.
The Irish Charolais Cattle Society would like to extend their many thanks to all exhibitors and spectators, on the day and of course to our fantastic judges Andrew Reid and Andrew Hornall and our kind sponsors without whom our National Show would not be possible.
Click here for a full list of results: NATIONAL SHOW RESULTS 2024
** All photos of prize winners will be available soon**