One of the pinnacle events every year on the Irish Holstein Friesian Association (IHFA) calendar is the prestigious Diageo Baileys Champion Cow Competition.

Sponsored by Diageo and Tirlán, this year's event took place on Wednesday 19 August at its spiritual home, Virginia Agricultural Show in Co Cavan.

One of Ireland's largest agricultural shows, Virginia celebrated its 83rd year this year, a real compliment to all organisers involved over the years.

One of the biggest attractions at the show is always the Diageo Baileys Champion Cow Competition, recognised internationally for its exceptional quality and standard.

Making it that bit extra special is the fact that cows from both north and south of Ireland compete on the day.

Speaking after the event, a spokesperson for the IHFA paid tribute to the competition's main sponsors: "Thanks to the vast, high-quality promotional work by Diageo and Tirlán as joint sponsors, the competition is regarded as first class.

"This was reflected in the calibre of top-quality cows and heifers in milk from breeders who travelled from all parts of Ireland, both north and south, to compete."

Swiss judge

Adjudicating in the ring this year was Marcel Egli from Lucerne, Switzerland. A member of the European Holstein and Red Holstein Confederation judges panel, Marcel added a further international dimension to this year’s show.

Diageo Baileys champion cow Coolroehouse Abbott Ann, exhibited by Paul Murphy and Emma Behan. \ Maria Kelly

For his supreme champion for 2026, the Swiss man slapped out Coolroehouse Abbott Ann, exhibited by Paul Murphy and Emma Behan from Mallow, Co Cork.

In doing so, he added a third championship notch to her belt for 2026, having already won supreme champion at the IHFA Emerald Expo and senior champion at the FBD National Livestock Show in Tullamore.

Her exhibitors Paul Murphy and Emma Behan must be commended for bringing her out to such a high standard in quick succession, having won the title in Tullamore just 10 days previous.

Credit must also go to breeders Ursula and John Forrest of the Coolroehouse herd, based in Banteer, Co Cork.

Since purchasing her in a batch of 11 yearlings in March 2022, the Willsbro Abbott daughter has gone on to achieve a multitude of show accolades and successes that only dreams are made of for Murphy and Behan.

Eleven months into her third lactation, Abbott Ann has recorded over 15,900kg of milk and 1,269kg of milk solids to date. Classified EX93 on conformation, she possesses numerous admirable qualities, such as efficiency of production, medium size, balance and tremendous udder quality.

Reserve champion

In reserve was Aliann Pepper Lila Z, exhibited by Alan and Leanne Paul of the Slatabogie herd in Maghera, Co Derry.

Calved six months in her fourth lactation, this Delaberge Pepper daughter is classified EX94. Another impressive stature of a cow, she also won the highest protein award on the day.

Diageo Baileys reserve champion cow Aliann Pepper Lila Z, exhibited by Alan and Leanne Paul, with Stephen McLoughlin, handler, Robert Murphy, Diageo, and Anthony Farrelly, Tirlan. \ Maria Kelly

Honourable mention

Northern Ireland breeders featured well on the day, as Annaghmore Rager KD Jackie, exhibited by Clive and Joel Richardson from Portadown, Co Armagh, achieved the honourable mention having won the award for best heifer in milk and best exhibitor-bred animal.

Classified VG87, she is bred from seven generations of VG or EX dams and is sired by Ri-Val-Re Rager Red.

Best heifer in milk and honourable mention at the Diageo Baileys Champion Cow competition, Annaghmore Rager KD Jackie, shown by Andrea Rafferty. \ Maria Kelly

The award for the highest EBI was presented to Cedarmore Lambda Bazooka, a daughter of Farnear Delta-Lambda-ET, exhibited by John and Bryan O’Connor, hosts of this year's IHFA national open day.

Based out of Kanturk in Co Cork, the O'Connors also stood first in the junior cow class with Willsbro Lambda Galys Vray, another daughter of Farnear Delta-Lambda ET.