The annual Irish Belgian Blue Cattle Society all-Ireland calf finals returned to Tinahely Show on bank holiday Monday and attracted good entries throughout.
Particular competition was witnessed in the senior calf classes, with entries from across Ireland present.
Securing the September to end of December male class was well-known Belgian Blue breeder David Pearson, Ballacolla, Co Laois.
This speckled blue bull, Boherard Maximus, continued his good run of form, having also collected a red rosette at Ossory and Clonmel shows.
Senior bull calf champion Boherard Maximus from David Pearson. pictured Scott Pearson, Blair Comrie (judge), Denise Dunne FBD and Sean Sherman, Irish begina blue cattle society. \ Eamonn Doran
This embryo-born son of Belgian bull James VD Jorchrishoeve is out of the homebred Boherard Jessie J, herself a daughter of De Fooz.
Close behind in second place was Tullow-based Myles McDermott with his September-born Rathlyon Morgan. This son of Joker Du Pont is out of a homebred Tamhorn Sumo-bred dam.
January onwards champion heifer Rathlyon Niamh ET from Myles McDermott, with Sarah McDermott and Sean Sherman, Irish Belgian Blue Society.\ Eamonn Doran
On to the September heifer calf class and the overall title went to Cork to long-time breeders the O’Donovan family, with Don Moriah.
This heifer has also experienced an outstanding show record to date, taking the breed championship at Ossory and reserve in Newcastle West. Born on 10 September 2018, she is an Imperial daughter out of an Empire-bred dam.
For the reserve senior heifer calf champion, it was back to the pen of David Pearson, with Boherard Mandy. This September-born heifer is a daughter of the popular Kubitus de Bray.
Juniors
On to the juniors and first up was the males, with Longford-based James McNally emerging victorious with Dunbeggan Nigerian.
January onwards champion bull Dunbeggan Nigerian from James McNally with Fergal Manning and Sean Sherman, Irish Belgian Blue Society.\ Eamonn Doran
The ever-popular Imperial was again behind this champion, with the dam from the Rathlyon herd.
Reserve junior male champion went back to the O’Donovan family, with Don Nelson. This Imperial son is again out of an Empire-bred dam.
Following close behind, Nelson’s two full brothers also placed third and fourth respectively.
Scottish judge Blair Comrie’s last class of the day was the junior females from January 2019 onwards. Here, he found his champion in the form of Myles McDermott’s young heifer Rathlyon Niamh ET. This stylish heifer is a daughter of Te Argent Du Golard. Laois breeder Denis Foynes was next best and he secured the reserve junior heifer all-Ireland title with his January 2019 heifer Castlecuffe Noreen.
The annual Irish Belgian Blue Cattle Society all-Ireland calf finals returned to Tinahely Show on bank holiday Monday and attracted good entries throughout.
Particular competition was witnessed in the senior calf classes, with entries from across Ireland present.
Securing the September to end of December male class was well-known Belgian Blue breeder David Pearson, Ballacolla, Co Laois.
This speckled blue bull, Boherard Maximus, continued his good run of form, having also collected a red rosette at Ossory and Clonmel shows.
Senior bull calf champion Boherard Maximus from David Pearson. pictured Scott Pearson, Blair Comrie (judge), Denise Dunne FBD and Sean Sherman, Irish begina blue cattle society. \ Eamonn Doran
This embryo-born son of Belgian bull James VD Jorchrishoeve is out of the homebred Boherard Jessie J, herself a daughter of De Fooz.
Close behind in second place was Tullow-based Myles McDermott with his September-born Rathlyon Morgan. This son of Joker Du Pont is out of a homebred Tamhorn Sumo-bred dam.
January onwards champion heifer Rathlyon Niamh ET from Myles McDermott, with Sarah McDermott and Sean Sherman, Irish Belgian Blue Society.\ Eamonn Doran
On to the September heifer calf class and the overall title went to Cork to long-time breeders the O’Donovan family, with Don Moriah.
This heifer has also experienced an outstanding show record to date, taking the breed championship at Ossory and reserve in Newcastle West. Born on 10 September 2018, she is an Imperial daughter out of an Empire-bred dam.
For the reserve senior heifer calf champion, it was back to the pen of David Pearson, with Boherard Mandy. This September-born heifer is a daughter of the popular Kubitus de Bray.
Juniors
On to the juniors and first up was the males, with Longford-based James McNally emerging victorious with Dunbeggan Nigerian.
January onwards champion bull Dunbeggan Nigerian from James McNally with Fergal Manning and Sean Sherman, Irish Belgian Blue Society.\ Eamonn Doran
The ever-popular Imperial was again behind this champion, with the dam from the Rathlyon herd.
Reserve junior male champion went back to the O’Donovan family, with Don Nelson. This Imperial son is again out of an Empire-bred dam.
Following close behind, Nelson’s two full brothers also placed third and fourth respectively.
Scottish judge Blair Comrie’s last class of the day was the junior females from January 2019 onwards. Here, he found his champion in the form of Myles McDermott’s young heifer Rathlyon Niamh ET. This stylish heifer is a daughter of Te Argent Du Golard. Laois breeder Denis Foynes was next best and he secured the reserve junior heifer all-Ireland title with his January 2019 heifer Castlecuffe Noreen.
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