It proved to be a successful day for western Angus breeders at this year’s Tullamore Show, which attracted over 70 entries across the classes. The event once more played host to the Angus beef Ireland championships, which carried a prize fund of €6,000.

Returning for the third year was the three-judge system, which this year had Brian Clark of Duncanziemere Aberdeen-Angus, Scotland; Bob Switzer of Sandy Bar Aberdeen-Angus, Canada; and Sam Coleman of Glarryford, Ballymena, Co Antrim, taking centre stage.

While the system may not be ideal in everyone’s eyes, credit must be given to the exhibitors who claimed top placings with their cattle.

The day kicked off with the senior section, which saw Mayo Karin from Gerard Kilgallon, Knockadorraghy, Mayo Abbey, Claremorris, Co Mayo, emerge victorious.

This cow, shown alongside her smart bull calf, took pole position in the cow class before collecting the senior female championship and eventually the overall senior championship.

Sired by Westellen Deekay Grandslam, this Angus was also overall Irish Angus all-Ireland champion at last year’s Strokestown Show.

Following Karin to take the reserve senior female and reserve overall senior championship was the junior cow Liss Kim S641 from John McEnroe, Oldcastle, Co Meath.

This first-calved cow, which doesn’t turn three years old until September, was shown alongside her end-of-October-2018-born heifer calf.

Sired by Te Mania Berkley, Kim is also no stranger to success, having claimed the junior championship at Tullamore last year as an in-calf heifer.

On to the male senior championship and the honours headed to Pat and Finbar Cahill, Co Cavan, for their stock bull Drumhill Lord Harry R635.

This four-year-old Nightingale Proud Jake son has enjoyed much success at Tullamore, having previously taken the overall senior title at the show in 2018.

Albert and Jennifer De Cogan, Castlemartyr, Co Cork, were next in line, taking the reserve senior male championship with Cheeklaw Jake Eric. This bull has been at numerous shows over the last three years and also placed reserve senior male at last year’s show.

Senior Angus champion Mayo Karin. \ MacGregor Photography

Juniors

Top plaudits in the junior section went to the Mulligan family from Currycamp, Dromod, Co Leitrim.

Their rising two-year-old in-calf heifer Clooncarne Princess ticked all the boxes for the three judges who picked her from the largest class of the day. Sired by the homebred Clooncarne Kyle, this heifer has attended a number of shows during the summer, placing first at them all.

It was back down to Cork for the junior male and reserve overall junior champion. Taking the titles was Westellen Rocky U838 from John and Kate Tait, Westwood, Midleton, Co Cork. This September 2018-born bull is a result of an imported embryo crossing TC Freedom 104 with Prairielane 5057 Rosebud 8109.

The reserve junior female championship went to John Mullooly, Strokestown, Co Roscommon, with Lavally Lady Jacqui T363. This one was born in September 2017 and is a daughter of Dillon Knight Eagle Challenger.

The McEnroes were back in the championship circle with Liss Mandrin V849, who took the reserve junior male championship. This January 2019-born bull calf is a son of the herd’s stock bull Mogeely Lord Harrow M191.