More than 470 cattle packed the old and new sheds at Carrick-on-Shannon over the weekend for the Midland and Western Livestock Improvement Society’s 12th annual winter fair.

With two rings running, five judges took on the role of officiating the range of classes on offer. Altogether, the 470 cattle were divided into more than 30 classes, with nine overall championships awarded as follows.

Senior Charolais

The senior Charolais championship was awarded to Donegal breeder Christian Wilson for his Charolais-cross heifer. She also secured the title at Ballyshannon Show during the summer, having been purchased at the weanling sale at Raphoe Mart last year.

Placing second in the champion’s class and going on to secure the reserve senior Charolais championship were Michael and Niamh Barron. Sired by Doonally New, this was the heifer’s first day out.

Junior Charolais

Doonally New was also behind the junior champion, who was turned out by the Maxwell brothers, Ballinagare, Co Roscommon. This young heifer came from the 350kg or under class, ticking all the boxes for Charolais judge Andrew Ewing from Scotland.

Standing reserve was a prominent heifer on the show scene from Clive and Roy Stevenson, Letterkenny, Co Donegal. Sired by Fury Action, she picked up a first at Tullamore, as well as the Connacht calf championship in Enniscrone.

Senior Limousin

John McInerney of the award-winning Drummin herd took charge for the Limousin-cross classes where he found his senior champion in the form of Chancey Lady from Michael Martin, Moate. This heifer is no stranger to success, having secured numerous championships throughout the year, including the all-Ireland beef heifer title at Strokestown, reserve overall at Tullamore and the Limousin title at the Roscommon winter fair. The Sire behind this one was Ampertaine Foreman.

Richard O’Beirne was in line to take the reserve championship with his yearling heifer by Gladiator out of a Belgian Blue cow. This heifer claimed the junior championship at the fair in Carrick last year.

Junior Limousin

The McCloskey family claimed the junior championship with their Millbrook Dantangan daughter. She claimed top spot in one of the biggest classes, which saw more than 50 heifers entered.

Senior Belgian Blue

Andrew Ewing was back centre stage for the judging of the Belgian Blue-cross championship and found his champion in the form of Monaghan breeder David Adair’s heifer showing no permanent teeth. Reserve went to the bullock winner of the same class from Ger Ryan, Ballyhooly, Co Cork.

Junior Belgian Blue

David Hegarty was top trump in the strong lineup of Blue-cross calves, with his Imperial daughter from an EPI-bred dam. Coming out on top of the Blue-cross 450kg or under class and eventually tapped forward as reserve junior champion was a young heifer from Phelim McCallion, Co Donegal. Sired by CPW, this heifer was out of a purebred Rocky-sired dam.

Overall Angus

Pat Sheedy found his champion in the Angus ring in the form of Bernard Kerins’ 18-month-old heifer by Lanigan Deep Red Canyon. This heifer performed the treble, having secured the Angus-cross championship at the all-Irelands in Strokestown and Roscommon in the last few months also.

The reserve champion also came with a healthy show record, having won an all-Ireland class at Trim, as well as her class in Roscommon for her owners Oliver and Jason Stanley, Kells. The sire behind this one was Goulding Jumbo King, while the dam was Blue-cross Shorthorn-bred.

Overall Simmental

Sarah Murray, Moate, Co Westmeath, was triumphant in the Simmental ring under judge Alan Veitch. He selected her young heifer calf by Kilbride Farm Delboy as overall champion. This marked the young heifer’s second day out, with the first at Roscommon winter fair where she also secured a red rosette. Standing reserve was Martin McLaughlin with his weanling heifer by Curaheen Dickens.

Overall Blonde

Domcombe Aga Khan was the sire behind John Barry Moran’s Blonde D’Aquitaine-cross champion, while Glenwood Herbert was behind the reserve champion for Patrick Connolly.

Not a star in sight

There wasn’t a €uro-Star in sight for the fair’s sale on Monday last, which saw more than 380 animals go through the ring. Animals started making their way down the lines from 11 in the morning and didn’t stop until after 10pm that night.

This didn’t seem a deterrent, with potential buyers willing to wait around for good-quality cattle, in particular young females, which saw a top of €5,500. Securing the top price was Owen O’Neill for his weanling heifer sired by Millbrook Dantangan. Successful buyer was Seamus Delaney.

Next best at €4,100 was also a Limousin-cross, this time from Dermot Mullaney, Castlebar, for his Elite Forever Brill breeding heifer. This one found a new home with Kieran Flatly, Kilkelly, Co Mayo. Two heifers met trade at €4,000. First in the money were Michael and Niamh Barron with their reserve senior Charolais champion by Doonally New. Matching them was Derrick Forde, Corrandulla, Co Galway, with his young Limousin sired by Millbrook Dantangan, a full sister to the successful show heifer Eliza.

Trade remained strong throughout the day, with over 70% of animals finding new homes; these went both across the water and the border with 18 animals selling for export.