Event organisers never anticipated the huge interest the event would generate, with over 300 entries received across 10 beef breeds, from Aberdeen Angus to British Blonde to Irish Moiled.

Showing kicked off just after 10am, with the breeds divided between two show rings, taking alternate turns, giving spectators a unique opportunity of easily view judging of a few breeds.

Simmental

Judging the Simmental section was Scottish breeder Hector Macaskill of the famed Woodhall herd. From the 50 calves catalogued, Leslie and Christopher Weatherup’s September 2014-born bull Lisglass Fortune was Hector’s senior calf champion, sired by Dermotstown Dell Boy. Dell Boy was purchased by the Weatherup family after being crowned reserve overall Simmental champion at Tullamore Show in 2013. Reserve senior champion went to Kenny Veitch’s Drumlone Fabulous 14, a Carnkern Titan son out of Corbally A1 Katie. Junior champion went to Paul and Shane McDonald with Coolcran Gladiator, a stylish January 2015 son of Kilbride Farm Ahoghill. Reserve junior went to Cleenagh Good Girl for Adrian Richardson, an Ashland Brandy daughter out of the homebred Cleenagh Vikki.

Angus

Judging honours in the Aberdeen Angus section went to English breeder John Coultrip, again with a strong entry just shy of 50 calves. The Angus breed put forward one of the biggest classes of the day, with no less than 17 heifers competing in the January to March 2015 age group. The winner here was Crew Lady Jazz for J & S Allen. Sired by Bunlaghy John, Crew Lady Jazz went one further in claiming junior breed champion. Reserve to her was Sam and Sarah Matchett’s Birches Pride N Joy R656, a February 2015 Aynho Rossiter Eric son. Senior Angus champion went to Alan and Naomi Morrison’s yearling bull Drummeer Popper P584, a Blelack Evermore J231 son.

Irish Moiled

Irish Moiled numbers were small, but quality was high. Senior champion went to Michelle McCauley’s October 2014 heifer Curraghnakeely Pandora 7th. Junior champion was Cultra Lorraine for Robert Berry, a February 2015 heifer by Glassdrummond Karl 3. Reserve junior champion went to Robert Boyle and Beechmount Barney, a March 2015 son of Springfield Maestro.

Beef Shorthorns

Beef Shorthorns were judged by Carey Coombs, who chose Hurrican of Ballyvaddy for Kate and Tom Madden for the senior championship. This rising 15-month-old bull was sired by Chapelton Typoon. The well-grown Burnside Jewel was tapped forward as junior champion for W & J McAllister – this one sired by Chapleton Yardley out of the homebred Burnside Francessca. Taking reserve to her was Croobview Jellytot for H D Baillie, an April 2015 daughter sired by Chapelton Typoon.

Hereford

Cork man Albert de Cogan presided over the Hereford breed. The senior championship went to the December 2014-born bull Lisrace Lumberjack 15th for David Wilson. Junior champion went to John Graham’s Richmount 1 Mac, a May 2015 son of Richmount 1 Kaiser. Reserve junior Hereford was Stephen Baxter’s Umgola 1 Lady 3rd. This March 2015 heifer is a daughter of Lisola 1 Eddie.

Saler

George McCall’s Carrick View herd did the double in the Saler ring, with Carrickview Kenny Rodgers, sired by Trafalgar, taking junior champion and Carrick View Judy, again by Trafalgar, taking the senior championship under judge Jock Wilson.

Charolais

Of the 60 Charolais entered, judge Archie McGregor tapped forward Coolnaslee Jillie for the senior championship, an October 2014 daughter of Barnsford Ferny out of the homebred Coolnaslee Danielle for Gilbert Crawford. Reserve to her was Sean McGovern’s Ratoary Justrite ET, a October 2014 Lochend Apache son. In the junior championship, Brigadoon Lolly took top spot for WA & JA Connolly, a Brigdoon Himself daughter. Finally, in the Charolais judging, reserve junior was Pat Hackett’s Fury Leader, a Crossmolina Euro-sired bull out of Fury Cara.

Limousin

Limousins were under the command of James Hazzard. Brian & Cahir McAuley took the senior championship with Larkhill Julius, a September 2014 son of Hightown Dalglish out of Larkhill Grace. From the same class, Carrickaldreen Jervis was reserve senior Limousin, sired by Nenuphar and out of Frewstown Frantastic and born November 2014. Junior championship was dominated by the females, with Wilodge Vantastic daughter Claragh lily for J & P Rainey taking champion and Culnagechan Lethal as reserve junior Limousin.

British Blonde

In a small British Blonde section, it went the way of the Ivaniskey Herd for I & R McElroy & son, with Ivaniskey Justabull taking overall breed champion and Ivaniskey Limited Edition in reserve. Limited Edition is a son of the prolific show cow Ivaniskey Denise, herself no stranger to winning, having claimed the overall breed championship at this year’s Balmoral and Royal Highland shows. Judge here was Desmond Greene.

British Blue

Finally we come to the British Blues, with well-known southern Irish breeder Jarlath Duggan judging. Jalex Jina, an Empire D’Ochain heifer for James Alexander, was senior champion, followed by Dumboy Jessie, a Ballygrange Alex heifer for Oliver McCann. Springhill Kosher for the Martin family was junior blue champion. Speaking of his champion, Jarlath descried her as “a classy heifer”. Reserve junior blue was Chatham Kara for JM Morrison & son, a January 2015 daughter of Langoureux De Foot.

No doubt this event was a success, with many exhibitors already looking forward to competing again in 2016.