Gerry and Helen Reynolds along with their sons David and Aiden from Ballinalee, Co Longford, took the male championship and reserve female championship titles at the Aberdeen Angus National Calf Show in Tullamore last Saturday, hosted by the Aberdeen Angus Association.

Showcasing 80 of the best Aberdeen Angus calves in the country, the event was judged by Alan Morrison, who runs the Drummeer Angus herd in Co Fermanagh along with his wife Naomi.

From a strong lineup, Alan tapped forward Bunlahy Minto Jimmy as the supreme male champion. Exhibited by Gerry and Helen Reynolds, Ballinalee, the champion is a Bunlahy John son (he is by Young Dale Superior 14s and was bought by Dovea Genetics) and is out of a homebred dam by Bunlahy Petrina K250.

Just six months old, this bull is no stranger to winning, having taken the championship at Glenamaddy calf show recently.

The judge said: “The male champion is a well-grown calf with a nice head and tremendous breed character. He has developed well through the shoulder, and has great conformation.”

The reserve male title went to Goulding Macbeth, exhibited by the Goulding family, Ballyduff, Co Kerry. At nine months old, he is an Abberton Eminem M285 son and is out of a Young Dale Touch Down 36m daughter.

Meanwhile, in the female ring, Knockadrinan Blackbird P599, a daughter of Nightingale Dunbar K551 (by Bosullow Elmark G209), took the supreme female championship. She was recently bought in a private deal by exhibitors Albert and Jennifer de Cogan, Castlemartyr, Co Cork, for their Mogeely herd from breeder Tom Reynolds, Bornacoola. Out of the dam Fullam Blackbird C123, she was described by the judge as a “strong and powerful heifer that oozes quality right from her muzzle to the tip of tail”.

After taking the male championship earlier, Gerry Reynolds was back in the ring again, this time to take the reserve female championship with his eight-month-old calf Bunlahy Molly Bell.

A daughter of Luddenmore Fionn G441, she is out of the homebred Young Dale Superior 14s daughter Bunlahy Berneice L265 – one of 16 breeding females in the herd.

Senior stockperson results:

1. Eleanor O’Reilly, Castlerahan, Co Cavan.

2. Liam Kelly, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim.

3. A Murphy, Athlone, Co Westmeath.

Junior stockperson

1. John Smith, Mountnugent, Co Cavan.

2. John Chidgey, Carrick-on-Shannon.

3. Stephen Crowe, Mohill, Co Leitrim.