First class of the day was the young stockperson competition, with a huge entry of 38 young people aged from 12 to 17 years of age. Judges Peter Casey and Jeremy McGonigle took an hour to put each one through their paces before choosing Emma Hynes, Athlone, Co Westmeath, as their eventual winner, followed by Sean O’Brien, Burnfoot, Co Donegal, in second.

It is encouraging to see so many young people actively involved in the breeding and showing of cattle.

Simmental

In the Simmental classes, judge Garrett Behan had two national titles to decide on, the first being the national Simmental weanling commercial heifer championship. Champion and reserve here went to the McPadden family, Rhodes, Co Offaly, with both heifers sired by Kilbride Farm Comber. In the national Simmental commercial yearling heifer class, champion went the way of John Brennan, Tubbercurry, Co Sligo, with a Banwy T-Rex-sired heifer. The McPadden reserve was another daughter of Kilbride Farm Comber. In the maiden heifer class, the winner was Gerry Lenehan with a Curaheen Buffalo daughter.

Charolais

Senior Charolais champion went to the Burke family, Croom, Co Limerick, having earlier won a heifer with two or more permanent teeth class. In reserve to her was Owen O’Neill, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, with his heifer showing no permanent teeth class winner.

Junior champion Charolais went to the Maxwell brothers with their male calf 400kg or under, followed by Pearse McNamee in reserve with a heifer from the 450kg or under class, this one sired by Cloverfield Excellent.

A class which saw an entry of close to 40 calves was the Charolais female calf 350kg or under. First and second here went to Cian McGloin with a CSQ daughter and a CF52 daughter respectively, with Ciaran Golden, Westport, Co Mayo, picking up third with a Fiston-sired heifer.

Traditional breeds

Peter Casey and Jeremy McGonigle judged the traditional breeds also. Starting off with the Angus class, the champion went to Fergal Flanagan with a very stylish heifer from the Angus X Female 450kg or under class, followed in reserve by Michael & Mairead Barron, The Rower, Co Kilkenny, with their bullock showing not more than two permanent teeth class winner.

Hereford

In the Hereford bullock or heifer class with not more than two permanent teeth, top spot went to Seamus Neary, Kilkenny, followed by John Gormley, Elphin, Co Roscommon, in second place.

Shorthorn

In the national beef Shorthorn cross heifer born after 1 January 2014, the championship went to Michael Flatley, Kilkelly, Co Mayo, with a CZB-sired heifer. Reserve went to Pauric McBreen, Crosskeys, Co Cavan.

The best butcher’s heifer class with a weight limit of 600kg or under went to Leo McEnroe, Virginia, Co Cavan, with an Angus heifer. Second to him was Seamus Neary, Kilkenny, with a Charolais-bred heifer. Judging here was Barry Brogan, Co Cavan.

Winning the Limousin bullock showing no permanent teeth class was Eamon and Aidan O’Donovan, Cappamore, Co Limerick.

Animals being offered for sale on Monday go under the hammer from 11am.