Commercial champion

The Ronan Brothers, Bekan, Co Mayo, saw their March-born heifer calf, sired by Millbrook Dartangan (MBP) and out of a Heros cow, tapped forward as champion. Reserve champion went to the Brennan Family from Cloonacool, Co Sligo, with their LGL-sired January-born bull calf.

Simmental champion

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In the Simmental Section, judge Séan McGarry, Co Longford, tapped forward the junior cow of the Neenan Brothers, Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, as champion. Called Ferna Destiny, the champion is sired by Hercules and had an Anatrim Bodybuilder heifer calf at foot. Destiny was later selected as Swinford Show reserve interbreed champion. Reserve champion went to Gerry Lenehan’s junior heifer Rathlee Farrah.

Limousin champion

Judge Gareth McGuinness had a fantastic lineup of Limousin cattle to choose from, tapping forward the two-and-a-half-year-old senior heifer Meelicaduff Honda, owned by Owen Hester, Castlerea, Co Roscommon. The champion is sired by Vantastic and out of the French cow Etole. Honda went on to become the Swinford Show interbreed champion for the Hester family, selected from a spectacular lineup of breed champions. Reserve Limousin champion went to Donie McKeon, with Milan Jefferson, an October-born bull sired by Ampertaine Foreman.

Charolais champion

The Charolais championship saw the McHugh family do the double. Their four-year-old cow Kilcumreragh Firby was selected as champion. This was followed by their January 2015-born Induran-sired bull calf being tapped out as reserve.

Shorthorn champion

Shorthorn champion went to the Flatley brothers of the Glann herd, Co Galway, with their 2009-born cow Capponellan Nancy, sired by Creaga Cosmo.

All-Ireland National Suckler Heifer Championship Final

Well-known breeder and judge Gareth McGuiness was put through his paces in selecting his lineup of breeding-type heifers in this hotly contested class. Heifers had qualified throughout the summer show season to compete in this final, with a total prize fund of €1,600.

Fifteen of the finest breeding heifers from all corners of the country competed for the red rosette. After much deliberation, Gene McCann’s, Co Meath, Lim X November 2014-born heifer sired by FL25 was pulled into first position. This was closely followed by Martin Harold, Co Donegal, with one of the youngest Lim X heifers in the class in second place.