The Irish Charolais Cattle Society returned to Tullamore Show again this year to host its national finals. The finals, which boast a prize fund of over €13,000, drew cattle from the four corners of Ireland to compete across 22 classes for the five different championships.

Due to the large number of entries, the judging was again divided among two judges, one for female and one for male. Tasked with judging the males was Peter Donger of the Seawell herd, based in Northamptonshire, England, while Iain Millar of the Lochend herd in Stirling deliberated over the females.

While each of the six championships carry prestige, it’s the supreme national title which is most sought after. Last year, the title was secured by the Sligo-based Canning family with Sagesse Martha ET.

Charolais National champion 2018 Drumshane Mademoiselle from the Feeney brothers. \ Alfie Shaw

This year, the title returned to Sligo, this time to the Feeney brothers and their Bostonia herd. Their two-year-old heifer Drumshane Mademoiselle continued her run of form since the start of the summer, when she was awarded the overall Charolais champion at Balmoral Show.

Sired by Inverlochy Gurkha, she is out of Suzeringie-bred dam Drumshane Freesie and ticked all the boxes for both judges when she entered the ring for the overall championship, having earlier been awarded senior champion.

This was only the tip of the iceberg for the Bostonia outfit, who also claimed a further two top spots, namely reserve senior champion with Bessiebell Millie ET and reserve senior male calf champion with Bostonia Nonstopabull.

Securing the senior male calf championship and subsequently the reserve supreme championship was Brocca Napolean ET.

Senior bull calf and reserve supreme champion Brocca Napoleon ET with breeder John Barry Moran and sponsor Shane Murphy (Irish Farmers Journal). \ Alfie Shaw

Bred and exhibited by John Barry Moran, Athlone, this bull has had a successful summer to date, collecting a number of red rosettes and interbreed championships.

Sired by Texan Gie, Napoleon is out of Celtic Indie, a cow that has produced 14 calves in the last three years thanks to embyro transfer.

Supreme national champion

Drumshane Mademoiselle, Brendan and Greg Feeney, Scurmore, Co Sligo.

Reserve supreme national champion

Brocca Napoleon ET, John Barry Moran, Athlone, Co Westmeath.

Senior championship

Champion: Drumshane Mademoiselle. Sire: Inverlochy Gurkha. Brendan and Greg Feeney, Scurmore, Co Sligo.

Reserve: Bessiebell Millie ET. Sire: Newhouse Bigal. Brendan and Greg Feeney, Scurmore, Co Sligo.

Senior male calf championship

Champion: Brocca Napoleon ET. Sire: Texan-Gie. John Barry Moran, Athlone, Co Westmeath.

Reserve: Bostonia Nonstopabull. Sire: Davally Illusion ET. Brendan and Greg Feeney, Scurmore, Co Sligo.

Junior male calf championship

Champion: Bonnavella Owen. Sire: Fiston. Martin Killeen, Mullagh, Co Clare.

Reserve: Limkiln Oscar 2 ET. Sire: Panama. Richard Hackett, Clonlara, Co Clare.

Senior female calf championship

Champion: Ballylast Nula ET. Sire: Thrunton Voldemort. John McElchar, Lifford, Co Donegal.

Reserve: Garracloon Nessa. Sire: Whitecliffe James. Aidan MacHale, Ballina, Co Mayo.

Junior female calf championship

Champion: Corney Orlando ET. Sire: Major. David Magee, Ballyconnell, Co Cavan.

Reserve: Williamstown Oprah. Sire: Major. Aiden Farrell, Moate, Co Westmeath.