Home to the Irish Shorthorn Cattle Society's All-Ireland calf finals in the heart of Shorthorn country, every Shorthorn class at Strokestown show on Saturday 13 September was fiercely contested.
Judge for this year's finals was beef programme manager with Dovea Genetics, John Lynch.
For his overall champion he went for the senior heifer Ardnaskea Sophie, brought out by the McDermott family from Co Roscommon. Having come through the breeding heifer class, this January 2024-born heifer withstood the challenge of all the calf champions to claim the overall title.
A daughter of Craigfaddock Parnassus, Sophie goes back to a daughter of Sprys Patents Ace.
Super Mario daughter
In reserve was the intermediate female calf champion, Glann Kayla, brought out by Adrian Flatley from Co Mayo. Born in January 2025, Kayla is a daughter of DRS Super Mario 42E.
Glann Kayla, reserve overall champion shown by Adrian Flatley. \ Swarber Photography
Lisa Dowd of the renowned Creaga herd in Co Galway scooped the overall senior female championship with the 11-month-old Creaga Wonder Woman ROP. This stylish young roan heifer is sired by Chapelton Pioneer.
Local breeder Anthony Dockery claimed top spot in the junior female calf championship with Rockville Katie 583. The baby of the bunch, Katie is a five-month-old daughter of Rockville Oakley out of Rathgowney Katie.
Bull calf champions
Dockery also lifted the senior bull calf award with the November 2024-born Rockville Ramsey 567. A son of Glann Jenson, his mother Knockgraffon Big Roan descends from the Knockgraffon Mousey line.
The overall intermediate bull calf championship went north with Co Monaghan breeder, Alan Hill.
Doing the business for the Farney man was Farahill Romeo, a February 2025-born son of Farahill Ardal.
Appropriately named, Ballinlig Trump surpassed the opposition in the junior male calf championship to the delight of Westmeath breeder Amelda Middleton Leonard. A son of Ballyline Whitepark Bertie, this five-month-old calf goes back to a Brickens Smasher bred cow.
Amelda, who is the current president of the society, expressed her gratitude to everyone who helped in any way with Saturday's finals. "On behalf of the society, I wish to extend our sincere thanks to Dovea Genetics for their generous sponsorship of the calf finals, as well as Tom Cox who sponsored the breeding heifer class. I also want to acknowledge the exhibitors, staff and all the volunteers who made today a tremendous success."
Read all about Saturday's calf finals in this week's Irish Farmers Journal.
Home to the Irish Shorthorn Cattle Society's All-Ireland calf finals in the heart of Shorthorn country, every Shorthorn class at Strokestown show on Saturday 13 September was fiercely contested.
Judge for this year's finals was beef programme manager with Dovea Genetics, John Lynch.
For his overall champion he went for the senior heifer Ardnaskea Sophie, brought out by the McDermott family from Co Roscommon. Having come through the breeding heifer class, this January 2024-born heifer withstood the challenge of all the calf champions to claim the overall title.
A daughter of Craigfaddock Parnassus, Sophie goes back to a daughter of Sprys Patents Ace.
Super Mario daughter
In reserve was the intermediate female calf champion, Glann Kayla, brought out by Adrian Flatley from Co Mayo. Born in January 2025, Kayla is a daughter of DRS Super Mario 42E.
Glann Kayla, reserve overall champion shown by Adrian Flatley. \ Swarber Photography
Lisa Dowd of the renowned Creaga herd in Co Galway scooped the overall senior female championship with the 11-month-old Creaga Wonder Woman ROP. This stylish young roan heifer is sired by Chapelton Pioneer.
Local breeder Anthony Dockery claimed top spot in the junior female calf championship with Rockville Katie 583. The baby of the bunch, Katie is a five-month-old daughter of Rockville Oakley out of Rathgowney Katie.
Bull calf champions
Dockery also lifted the senior bull calf award with the November 2024-born Rockville Ramsey 567. A son of Glann Jenson, his mother Knockgraffon Big Roan descends from the Knockgraffon Mousey line.
The overall intermediate bull calf championship went north with Co Monaghan breeder, Alan Hill.
Doing the business for the Farney man was Farahill Romeo, a February 2025-born son of Farahill Ardal.
Appropriately named, Ballinlig Trump surpassed the opposition in the junior male calf championship to the delight of Westmeath breeder Amelda Middleton Leonard. A son of Ballyline Whitepark Bertie, this five-month-old calf goes back to a Brickens Smasher bred cow.
Amelda, who is the current president of the society, expressed her gratitude to everyone who helped in any way with Saturday's finals. "On behalf of the society, I wish to extend our sincere thanks to Dovea Genetics for their generous sponsorship of the calf finals, as well as Tom Cox who sponsored the breeding heifer class. I also want to acknowledge the exhibitors, staff and all the volunteers who made today a tremendous success."
Read all about Saturday's calf finals in this week's Irish Farmers Journal.
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