The mixed weather wasn’t enough to deter exhibitors on the day with Bandon being the first of the season for many. It proved a day for the Angus breed who secured the overall interbreed champion.

This champion came in the form of Clooncolligan Missie from John O’Brien, Ballymaclody, Co. Cork. This first calver was sired by Drumsna Harry and was purchased in December 2016 for €5,100 at the Elite sale.

Having claimed reserve champion at the show last year, she was out in form to secure the overall breed championship before going on to claim the interbreed title.

Simmental and reserve interbreed champion Seaview Jolene with Ava O'Leary and judge Ben Ryall

Securing the reserve interbreed title was the Simmental champion Seaview Jolene from the O’Leary family, Ballincollig. This September 2017-born heifer was sired by Kilbride Farm Delboy while the dam was Kildera Avril. This pedigree cross is no stranger to winning ways with her full sister securing the senior heifer championship at last year’s national finals in Tullamore. The O’Leary family also secured the male Simmental championship on the day with a son of Delboy called Seaview Jay Z.

The Hereford championship went to Shane O’Driscoll for his September-2017 born bull Butlerstown Breeze. Sired by Trillick Hotspur, this stylish young bull ticked all the boxes for judge David Larkin. The dam of the young bull is Skehanore Violer, a young cow who also placed second in her class on the day.

Dan Tynan was out in front in the Limousin ring with Whitehall Irish. This four-year-old cow was sired by Haltcliffe Dancer and was shown alongside her January bull calf who also placed first in his class. An embryo-born heifer from this cow also secured a red rosette in the young heifer class.

In the Belgian Blue ring, Derrick Forde from Co. Galway was out in force with his renowned breeding cow Corrondulla Gretta. Sired by Empire, this 2012-born cow needs no introduction having bred numerous pedigree and commercial champions.

Bandon Co-Op super commercial young heifer champion with owner Brian Dyer, exhibitor Fergal Flannagan and Bandon Co-Op representative Ger Brickley
The Bandon Co-Op super commercial young heifer class took pride of place in the commercial ring. Top of the line in this class was Claremorris breeder Brian Dyer. His Belgian Blue cross heifer was purchased for €3,000 at the winter fair last October and already claimed at championship at Newmarket on Fergus earlier in the month. Sired by Hazard, the dam is out of a pedigree Charolais cow who won the national show in 2009.

Dairy

First of the dairy breeds through the ring was the dairy shorthorn who was secured by JJ Barrett with Gurtaleen Joy. This seven-year-old cow is no stranger to Bandon having claimed the dairy shorthorn championship at the show for the last three years. Having calved in February the fifth calver is currently giving 28L.

In the Jersey ring Seamus O’Neill was out on top with Bengourwest legal Bambi. This three-year-old cow calved in January and is currently giving 34L a day - she produced nearly 15,000 in her last lactation.

One of the highlights of the Friesian classes was the protein cow championship. Victor Jackson was the judge in the centre of the ring for this one and he found his champion in the form of Laurelelm Destry Fiona. Bred and exhibited by Ricky Barrett this EX92 classified cow is after four calves and is currently giving 54Ls a day. Sired by Scientific Destry, the 2012-born cow gave over 12,000L in her last lactation.