It was another triumphant day for Garrett and Lyndsey Behan of the Clonagh herd in Co Laois at the 29th National Simmental Show held at the FBD National Livestock Show in Tullamore on Sunday.
The pair took home both the male and female championships, before going on to claim the supreme champion with Clonagh Sammy Fabulous.
Born in May 2024, Sammy Fabulous is a son of Coltfield Murry 21, while his mother Clonagh Nelly Fabby is a daughter of Birdville Freddy. "An excellent young bull with a big future" is how judge Hazel McNee described her male and overall champion.
Promising young bull
The Scottish judge found her reserve overall champion in another young bull, Seaview Simba P, who she earlier awarded the junior male and reserve overall male champion. Exhibited by Cork breeder Tony O'Leary, this October 2024 born bull calf is a son of Auroch Deuter PP and the Delfur Decider 12 daughter, Seaview Gabriella. Commenting on her selection, McNee said, "my reserve overall champion is another promising young bull with lots of style and potential".
The December 2023-born Clonagh Rosie Glam Posh was McNee's choice for overall female champion, completing the double for Laois breeders, Garrett and Lyndsey Behan. Sired by the herd's impressive stock bull, Coltfield Murry 21, her dam is the prolific Kilbride Farm Dragoon daughter, Clonagh Glamorous Posh.
Sanding reserve to her in the female championship was Ardunsaghan Sarah Beth, a daughter of Curaheen Wakeman. Her mother, Ardunsaghan Mary Beth ET, is also a daughter of Kilbride Farm Dragoon out of the iconic Clonagh Diamond Eyes ET. Exhibited by the Connolly family from Co Leitrim, she picked up the junior female championship on her way.
Raceview
Established Cork breeders Peter and Marion O'Connell wrapped up the reserve senior female championship with Raceview Rosie V Kim, a daughter of Raceview Mattie J Beauty, as the Coltfield Murry 21 son Clonagh Sammy Boy followed his stablemate Clonagh Sammy Fabulous through to clinch the reserve senior male championship for the Behan family.
While in the junior's, Sligo breeders Kieran and Paul Mullarkey got the nod for reserve junior male champion with Lissadell Sergeant ET, a son of Curaheen Drifter. Before Acushla Scarlett Bee was crowned reserve junior female champion for Eoin Coogan. This September 2024-born heifer is sired by Clonagh Neveda Trudy and out of the homebred cow, Acushla Princess Bee. Speaking after the show, judge Hazel McNee heaped praise on the quality of cattle, "it's been an absolute pleasure to judge the National Simmental Show here in Tullamore. The standard in each class was excellent, with some real stand out cattle at the top".
Pick up this week's Irish Farmers Journal to read the full story.
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