Many can only dream of the year the Jones family from Gorey in Co Wexford have had in 2025. On Saturday, the family claimed the supreme champion at the AXA National Dairy Show in Millstreet, Co Cork, with their phenomenal cow, Hallow Octain Twizzle ET EX93.
A daughter of Stantons High Octane EX93 and Hallow Advent Twizzle 3 ET EX96, this five-year-old cow also won the best udder and exhibitor-bred awards on the day. She was following on from her success at the Diageo Baileys cow competition at Virginia in August, where she stood reserve overall champion to her stable mate, Annaghmore Fitz Atlee EX96, who is jointly owned by the Jones family and the Richardson family from Co Armagh.
In reserve on Saturday was the four-year-old cow Tubbertoby Barolo Joy VG 87, brought out by the Flanagan family from Co Louth. She is a daughter of Progressive Genetics' sire, Claynooo Barolo SG.
For the honorable mention, German judge Cord Hormann tapped forward the three-year-old cow in-milk Cradenhill Okaliber Shakira ET EX90 from Cork breeder Richard Kingston.
Paul, Marguerite, Matthew, Thea and Ella Flanagan from Termonfeckin, Co Louth with the reserve overall champion Tubbertoby Barolo Joy, with Richard Jones, handler; Cord Hormann, judge; John Kirby, Cork Club president and Tom McCarthy, AXA Insurance. \ Maria Kelly.
Holstein intermediate championship
Overall champion in the intermediate Holstein section went the way of Evergreen Chief Lustre, a daughter of Stantons Chief ET, exhibited by Steve McLoughlin and Liam and Sandra Murphy.
In reserve was the Bacon-Hill Hurricane ET daughter Cedarmore Tory, brought out by Paul Murphy, with the honorable mention being attained by Robinview Parfect Pledge 363 VG 85, the property of Michael McGrath.
Holstein junior championship
Lifting the junior Holstein championship was Cornboro Goldchip Carl,a exhibited by Brian Corley and shown by his daughter Rachel Corley. A daughter of Cornboro Lambda Carla, she is sired by Mr Chassity Gold Chip ET EX94.
Enda Doran attained the reserve and honorable mention honors in this section, with Dalevalley Lambda Parfect Aiko and Dalevalley Lambda Aiko.
Honorable mention Cradenhill Okaliber Shakira shown by Richard Kingston, with John Kirby, Cork Club president; Mary Rafferty, IHFA president; Denis Kiely, National Dairy Show director and Tom McCarthy, AXA Insurance. \ Maria Kelly.
Jersey champion
The Hynes family in Co Cork secured the Jersey championship with their acclaimed show heifer Rathard Kasey, sired by FDL Barcelona. In an impressive display on Friday, her daughter, Rathard Choco Kalani, won the junior Jersey championship for the Cork-based herd.
The Logan Chrome Caribbean ET daughter Jones Ferdinand Cupid exhibited by Jones Cattle Ltd stood reserve in the Jersey category, with Moorshill Buttercup TT exhibited by Pat Ahern getting the honorable mention.
Junior Jersey championship
Standing next to Rathard Choco Kalani was Ballyealan Victor Daisy 4361 exhibited by Tom Lynch to claim the reserve junior Jersey championship, as Landeboye Evita Roulette exhibited by Edwin Gaynor took home the honorable mention.
Confined championships
Scooping the confined award was Ballytigue Rager Penny exhibited by Aidan Frawley, with Mohoncross Meg 22 EX 90 exhibited by the O’Sullivan family in reserve and Knockbrown Davinci Ivory also exhibited by the O’Sullivan family clinching the honorable mention.
On Friday afternoon, the IHFA young members association held its showmanship finals, judged by Andrea Rafferty. She found her overall champion in Gearoid Long, with Eva Hickey in reserve and Ava Montgomery picking up the honorable mention.
According to the Irish Holstein Friesian Association, there was a record turnout for the event: "The 2025 AXA National Dairy Show saw a record turnout, reaffirming its place as one of the premier dairy events in Ireland. The event showcases the highest standards of breeding, management and exhibition in dairy farming and continues to serve as a pivotal platform for breeders and enthusiasts alike. Congratulations to all involved."
Read all about it in this week's Irish Farmers Journal.
Many can only dream of the year the Jones family from Gorey in Co Wexford have had in 2025. On Saturday, the family claimed the supreme champion at the AXA National Dairy Show in Millstreet, Co Cork, with their phenomenal cow, Hallow Octain Twizzle ET EX93.
A daughter of Stantons High Octane EX93 and Hallow Advent Twizzle 3 ET EX96, this five-year-old cow also won the best udder and exhibitor-bred awards on the day. She was following on from her success at the Diageo Baileys cow competition at Virginia in August, where she stood reserve overall champion to her stable mate, Annaghmore Fitz Atlee EX96, who is jointly owned by the Jones family and the Richardson family from Co Armagh.
In reserve on Saturday was the four-year-old cow Tubbertoby Barolo Joy VG 87, brought out by the Flanagan family from Co Louth. She is a daughter of Progressive Genetics' sire, Claynooo Barolo SG.
For the honorable mention, German judge Cord Hormann tapped forward the three-year-old cow in-milk Cradenhill Okaliber Shakira ET EX90 from Cork breeder Richard Kingston.
Paul, Marguerite, Matthew, Thea and Ella Flanagan from Termonfeckin, Co Louth with the reserve overall champion Tubbertoby Barolo Joy, with Richard Jones, handler; Cord Hormann, judge; John Kirby, Cork Club president and Tom McCarthy, AXA Insurance. \ Maria Kelly.
Holstein intermediate championship
Overall champion in the intermediate Holstein section went the way of Evergreen Chief Lustre, a daughter of Stantons Chief ET, exhibited by Steve McLoughlin and Liam and Sandra Murphy.
In reserve was the Bacon-Hill Hurricane ET daughter Cedarmore Tory, brought out by Paul Murphy, with the honorable mention being attained by Robinview Parfect Pledge 363 VG 85, the property of Michael McGrath.
Holstein junior championship
Lifting the junior Holstein championship was Cornboro Goldchip Carl,a exhibited by Brian Corley and shown by his daughter Rachel Corley. A daughter of Cornboro Lambda Carla, she is sired by Mr Chassity Gold Chip ET EX94.
Enda Doran attained the reserve and honorable mention honors in this section, with Dalevalley Lambda Parfect Aiko and Dalevalley Lambda Aiko.
Honorable mention Cradenhill Okaliber Shakira shown by Richard Kingston, with John Kirby, Cork Club president; Mary Rafferty, IHFA president; Denis Kiely, National Dairy Show director and Tom McCarthy, AXA Insurance. \ Maria Kelly.
Jersey champion
The Hynes family in Co Cork secured the Jersey championship with their acclaimed show heifer Rathard Kasey, sired by FDL Barcelona. In an impressive display on Friday, her daughter, Rathard Choco Kalani, won the junior Jersey championship for the Cork-based herd.
The Logan Chrome Caribbean ET daughter Jones Ferdinand Cupid exhibited by Jones Cattle Ltd stood reserve in the Jersey category, with Moorshill Buttercup TT exhibited by Pat Ahern getting the honorable mention.
Junior Jersey championship
Standing next to Rathard Choco Kalani was Ballyealan Victor Daisy 4361 exhibited by Tom Lynch to claim the reserve junior Jersey championship, as Landeboye Evita Roulette exhibited by Edwin Gaynor took home the honorable mention.
Confined championships
Scooping the confined award was Ballytigue Rager Penny exhibited by Aidan Frawley, with Mohoncross Meg 22 EX 90 exhibited by the O’Sullivan family in reserve and Knockbrown Davinci Ivory also exhibited by the O’Sullivan family clinching the honorable mention.
On Friday afternoon, the IHFA young members association held its showmanship finals, judged by Andrea Rafferty. She found her overall champion in Gearoid Long, with Eva Hickey in reserve and Ava Montgomery picking up the honorable mention.
According to the Irish Holstein Friesian Association, there was a record turnout for the event: "The 2025 AXA National Dairy Show saw a record turnout, reaffirming its place as one of the premier dairy events in Ireland. The event showcases the highest standards of breeding, management and exhibition in dairy farming and continues to serve as a pivotal platform for breeders and enthusiasts alike. Congratulations to all involved."
Read all about it in this week's Irish Farmers Journal.
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