Months of hard work and preparation by young members of the Irish Holstein Friesian Association (IHFA) culminated at the FBD national YMA finals on 22 and 23 July in Cillin Mart, Co Kilkenny.
Every year, the event brings together 10 regional young members association (YMA) clubs, featuring handlers and calves that qualified through regional competitions held in June and July.
For the second year, Northern Ireland Holstein Young Breeders was invited to participate in the showmanship competitions. In addition to a calf and handling competition, the event included a clipping competition and an ag Analysis competition.
Judges
The experienced Paul Murphy from Cork had the difficult task of judging both the individual and the team clipping competitions on Tuesday morning, while, in the afternoon, Anna Stable took to the ring to Judge Showmanship.
Another expert in her field, Anna represented Holstein UK at SIMA in Paris as part of the winning two-man clipping team and also at the first Open Junior Show in Cremona in 2012.
Then, on Wednesday morning, Torben Melbaum joined to Judge the calf classes. He is the CEO of STg Germany, which distributes the semen of Sexing Technologies USA, Cogent Genetics UK, AI-Total Netherlands and Bullseye Genetics Germany.
Competitions
The clipping competition kicked off events, with club members competing either as individuals or pairs.
Competitors had 90 minutes as an individual or 70 minutes as a pair to fully clip and prepare a calf for the show ring.
The team of Stephen Shannon and Georoid Long from Cork took the top spot in the team clipping, with Becky Hynes, also from Cork, taking the top honours in a tough individual clipping competition.
Coming out on top in the ag analysis competition for the third year in a row was the Kerry team of Jack Walsh, Muiris Harty and Christopher Heffernan.
Manus Murphy from the Carlow/Kilkenny club was judged best in his field in the showmanship competition, after securing first place handler in the senior class.
Becky Hynes represented the Cork club with pride, winning reserve champion handler, while Kevin Smith, also from Cork, completed the final line-up with an honourable mention.
Laurence Feeney, IHFA CEO; James Taylor AgriNet, sponsor; Simon Doocey FBD, sponsor; Sharon O’Donoghue Volac, sponsor; Kevin Smith honourable mention handler; Becky Hynes reserve champion handler; Manus Murphy champion handler; with judge Anna Stable; Mary Rafferty IHFA president; Brendan Greenan BG Hoofcare, sponsor; and Denis Barrett. \ Maria Kelly
The Cork club had the best team of handlers overall and took home the Kildare Friesian Breeders Club Perpetual Trophy for handling.
Coloured classes
On Wednesday, the show commenced with the coloured breed calf classes and it was an all-Jersey show, as Jones Victorious Cola from the Jones family claimed top spot.
In reserve was Rathard Choco Kalani for the Hynes Family from Co Cork, who also picked up the honourable mention with Rathard Choco Khalessi.
Sarah Daly AgriNet, sponsor; Sharon O’Donoghue Volac, sponsor; coloured breed honourable mention calf Rathard Choco Khalessi shown by Becky Hynes; coloured breed reserve champion calf Rathard Choco Kalani shown by Georgina Hynes; coloured breed champion calf Jones Victorious Cola shown by Kate Jones with Ted Jones; judge Torben Melbaum, Garry Hogan FBD, sponsor; and Mary Rafferty IHFA President. \ Maria Kelly
No less than seven Holstein classes followed, with large classes throughout.
Following a first-place ticket in the summer yearling calf class, Sizzler Rompen Rouge Red took a clean sweep, getting tapped out as champion red and white and champion Holstein. Owned by the Hynes family, Rouge’s two championship titles rounded up a memorable weekend for the Cork-based family.
Meanwhile, the Breffni Oriel Club went home with the Breffni Oriel Friesian Breeders Club YMA Perpetual Trophy for the best team of calves.
Pick up this week's Irish Farmers Journal to read all about it.
Months of hard work and preparation by young members of the Irish Holstein Friesian Association (IHFA) culminated at the FBD national YMA finals on 22 and 23 July in Cillin Mart, Co Kilkenny.
Every year, the event brings together 10 regional young members association (YMA) clubs, featuring handlers and calves that qualified through regional competitions held in June and July.
For the second year, Northern Ireland Holstein Young Breeders was invited to participate in the showmanship competitions. In addition to a calf and handling competition, the event included a clipping competition and an ag Analysis competition.
Judges
The experienced Paul Murphy from Cork had the difficult task of judging both the individual and the team clipping competitions on Tuesday morning, while, in the afternoon, Anna Stable took to the ring to Judge Showmanship.
Another expert in her field, Anna represented Holstein UK at SIMA in Paris as part of the winning two-man clipping team and also at the first Open Junior Show in Cremona in 2012.
Then, on Wednesday morning, Torben Melbaum joined to Judge the calf classes. He is the CEO of STg Germany, which distributes the semen of Sexing Technologies USA, Cogent Genetics UK, AI-Total Netherlands and Bullseye Genetics Germany.
Competitions
The clipping competition kicked off events, with club members competing either as individuals or pairs.
Competitors had 90 minutes as an individual or 70 minutes as a pair to fully clip and prepare a calf for the show ring.
The team of Stephen Shannon and Georoid Long from Cork took the top spot in the team clipping, with Becky Hynes, also from Cork, taking the top honours in a tough individual clipping competition.
Coming out on top in the ag analysis competition for the third year in a row was the Kerry team of Jack Walsh, Muiris Harty and Christopher Heffernan.
Manus Murphy from the Carlow/Kilkenny club was judged best in his field in the showmanship competition, after securing first place handler in the senior class.
Becky Hynes represented the Cork club with pride, winning reserve champion handler, while Kevin Smith, also from Cork, completed the final line-up with an honourable mention.
Laurence Feeney, IHFA CEO; James Taylor AgriNet, sponsor; Simon Doocey FBD, sponsor; Sharon O’Donoghue Volac, sponsor; Kevin Smith honourable mention handler; Becky Hynes reserve champion handler; Manus Murphy champion handler; with judge Anna Stable; Mary Rafferty IHFA president; Brendan Greenan BG Hoofcare, sponsor; and Denis Barrett. \ Maria Kelly
The Cork club had the best team of handlers overall and took home the Kildare Friesian Breeders Club Perpetual Trophy for handling.
Coloured classes
On Wednesday, the show commenced with the coloured breed calf classes and it was an all-Jersey show, as Jones Victorious Cola from the Jones family claimed top spot.
In reserve was Rathard Choco Kalani for the Hynes Family from Co Cork, who also picked up the honourable mention with Rathard Choco Khalessi.
Sarah Daly AgriNet, sponsor; Sharon O’Donoghue Volac, sponsor; coloured breed honourable mention calf Rathard Choco Khalessi shown by Becky Hynes; coloured breed reserve champion calf Rathard Choco Kalani shown by Georgina Hynes; coloured breed champion calf Jones Victorious Cola shown by Kate Jones with Ted Jones; judge Torben Melbaum, Garry Hogan FBD, sponsor; and Mary Rafferty IHFA President. \ Maria Kelly
No less than seven Holstein classes followed, with large classes throughout.
Following a first-place ticket in the summer yearling calf class, Sizzler Rompen Rouge Red took a clean sweep, getting tapped out as champion red and white and champion Holstein. Owned by the Hynes family, Rouge’s two championship titles rounded up a memorable weekend for the Cork-based family.
Meanwhile, the Breffni Oriel Club went home with the Breffni Oriel Friesian Breeders Club YMA Perpetual Trophy for the best team of calves.
Pick up this week's Irish Farmers Journal to read all about it.
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