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Ballina, like so many other shows this year, enjoyed ideal weather conditions. The hard work of the show committee paid off a larger prize fund attracted entries from all the Connacht counties and a large contingent from Donegal. Those attending were treated to an excellent show of cattle and sheep.
Charolais
Stuart Wilson judged the Charolais section and tapped out Drumshane Madamoiselle from Brendan Feeney's Bostonia herd as his champion.
Reserve Charolais went to a September 2017-born heifer owned by Daniel and Eamon O’Connor. Her sire is Goldstar echo out of a Padraic dam.
Belgian Blue
Carraneeney Maggie repeated her Longford success and won the Belgian Blue section. This March 2018-born heifer is owned and bred by Joe Davis and shown by Gillian and Declan Davis. She is a daughter of Gitan and an Adajio Dam.
Simmental
Sean McGarry had the task of judging in the Simmental ring. His overall champion was Loghrea man Mark Neenan's Fearna Harmony. Harmony's sire is Curaheen Vio out of Dam Fearna Destiny. Harmony was also the Athlone Simmental Champion and went on to take the reserve interbreed spot.
Reserve went to Paddy and Elaine Hennelly Co Sligo with Seepa Aster.
Limousin
Benny Savage from the renowned Trueman herd was judge in the limousine section. The largest class of the day was claimed by Michael Oliver who took top spot with Lisnacrann Miss Fuschia. This September 2017-born heifer is by Ronick Hawk out of dam Tullinacurra Fuschia. Reserve went to Clooncara Lucy Loo for David Cogan.
Shorthorn and Angus
There were smaller numbers in the shorthorn and Angus classes, though that did not take away from the quality on display. Champion in the Shorthorn section went to Glann Jane, who also took the 2017-born shorthorn heifer class. This January 2017-born heifer was sired by Doon Erasmus out of dam Woodfield Molly.
The Angus section went to Sligo man John Brennan's Owenmore Maizy by Owenmore Kit. This was a second win in quick succession for Brennan as Maizy claimed top spot in Enniscrone last week to go along with wins in Erris, Grange, Riverstown, Mountbellow and Enniscrone last year.
Pedigree
Pedigree numbers in general were up thanks in no small part to the €500 prize on offer. This class came down to the Simmental and Charolais champions, with Drumshane Madamoiselle getting the nod from judge Benny Savage. Madamoiselle made it a hat-trick of wins by taking the overall champion prize too.
Commercial
Last but definitely not least, was the Commercial section which was judged by Richy Law.
In particular the three calf classes stood out. The Gain female baby calf class was a joy to watch, with Pearse McNamee taking the honours. The Aurivo female calf under 320kg went to the Ronan brothers with their young MBP heifer. The Aurivo bull calf under 350kg went to the Barnett Family, Donegal. These classes were an eye opener for the high quality required to compete on the show circuit this year.
In the older animal sections the high quality of the classes continued. Rickie Law pulled his overall Champion from this section with the McCloskey family, Donegal taking the championship with their black and white, speckled, no tooth heifer. Purchased last year this girl also took the championship in Enniscrone. She is out of a Limousin cross cow and Belgain Blue sire Rossalo. Reserve went to the Maxwell brothers for their butcher’s heifer winner.
Sheep
In the Sheep section Martin Walsh took the Supreme Champion of the show with his Texel champion. Judge Liam Coen gave his Reserve to the Commercial champion for Marie Jennings.
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