The fifth annual Hereford national calf show attracted a massive 120 entries. The annual event which takes place in GVM’s Tullamore Mart attracts the best of young Hereford stock from around the country. This year was no different, with strong classes throughout the day for judge William Smith of Oldcastle, Co Meath.
Although he now breeds pedigree Limousin cattle under the renowned Millbrook prefix, growing up it was a different story for William, with his late father John synonymous with the Hereford breed in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
William’s outsider eye and short briefing following each class was a breath of fresh air and stands as an easy change for other breed societies to adapt for future events.
Senior and overall male champion Gurteragh Aristocrat for Michael O’Keeffe, with judge William Smith. \ Tricia Kennedy
Male champion
After much deliberation over his senior and junior male classes, William eventually found his male champion in the form of Gurteragh Aristocrat.
Bred and exhibited by Cork native Michael O’Keeffe, this November 2017-born bull is a son of Balleen Bonus and was described by the judge as showing “great masculinity”.
Having placed top of the November- and December-born bull class, Aristocrat claimed the senior male and supreme male titles.
Junior and overall reserve male champion Moyclare Royal for Michael Molloy, with judge William Smith. \ Tricia Kennedy
Reserve male
Reserve supreme male honours went the way of Michael Molloy and Moyclare Royal. This March 2018-born bull is sired by Free Town Nadel, while the dam is homebred Moyclare Rose.
This young bull came out on top of a strong class before being awarded the junior male championship and reserve supreme championship.
Senior and reserve overall female champion Corlismorepoll 1 Sydney for the McKiernan family, with judge William Smith. \ Tricia Kennedy
Female champion
In the female championship, all top honours went the way of Kye Holly 818. This stylish January 2018 heifer, bred by Padraig and Catherine McGrath, caught more than the judge’s eye, being secured by spectator Tommy Staunton before entering for the female championship.
Tommy is a well-known breeder in Shorthorn circles, holding some of the best sales the breed has seen over the past few years. Holly will now join his Caramba herd as a foundation female.
Even more to Staunton’s delight was when Holly entered the ring and left with the junior and supreme female titles. Sired by Free Town Hotspur, judge William described the champion as “special” and said she would be “a good heifer in any breed”.
The McKiernan family were again out in force, securing the reserve supreme female title with Corlismorepoll 1 Sydney 941.
Reserve senior female champion Ardmulchan Clover 776 for Phil and Catherine Smyth. \ Tricia Kennedy
The senior female champion is a daughter of Cill Cormaic Leo and has achieved much success throughout the summer show season.
The reserve senior female title was awarded to Philip Smyth for his November-born Ardmulchan Clover 776. This deep-bodied heifer is a daughter of Church Preen Galileo.
Closing off the female championships by claiming the reserve junior title was Glosterbeg Dave from Davina Lewis. The judge described this May-born heifer calf as having a big future and said it was only age against her on the day.
The reserve senior male championship and people’s choice award went the way of Tom and Anselm Fitzgerald.
Their September 2017-born bull Grianan Showman was homebred on both sides and stood behind the eventual overall male champion.
Taking the reserve junior title was Glaslough Transformer from Nigel and Theola Heatrick. This April-born bull calf is sired by Ballyaville Ger and was second-prizewinner in class 12 in what was described by the judge as one of the toughest classes of the day.
Reserve junior male champion Glaslough Transformer for the Heatrick family. \ Tricia Kennedy
Class 1: young handler – junior
1 Paula McNamara; 2 Elisa Drumm; 3 John Angland.
Class 2: young handler – senior
1 David Kenny; 2 Lesley Lewis; 3 Sinead Conry.
Class 3: heifer calf born in September or October 2017
1 Sean Mc Kiernan – Corlismorepoll 1 Sydney 941, sired by Cill Cormaic Leo.
Class 4: heifer calf born in November or December 2017
1 Philip Smyth – Ardmulchan Clover 776, sired by Church Preen Galileo.
Class 5: heifer calf born in January or February 2018
1 Padraig Mc Grath – Kye Holly 818, sired by Free Town Hotspur, Kye Sorcha 3rd.
Class 6: heifer calf born in March or April 2018
1 Christine Drumm – Crowenstown Auriella Ivy, sired by Cave Hill Storm.
Class 7: heifer calf of the future – born from 1 May onwards
1 Davina Lewis – Glosterbeg Erica, sired by Glosterbeg Dave.
Class 8: commercial Hereford-sired calf male or female not weighing over 450kg
1 Hynes Family – PJ, sired by Gageboro Morgan.
Class 9: bull calf born in September or October 2017
1 T&A Fitzgerald – Grianan Showman, sired by Grianan Parker.
Class 10: bull calf born in
November or December 2017
1 Michael O’Keeffe – Gurteragh Aristocrat 758, sired by Balleen Bonus.
Class 11: bull calf born in January or February 2018
1 Christine Drumm – Crowenstown MacArthur, sired by Allowdale Ribstone 436 ET.
Class 12: bull calf born in March or April 2018
1 Michael Molloy – Moyclare Royal, sired by Free Town Nadel.
Class 13: bull calf of the future – born from 1 May onwards
1 John Neenan and Tommy Creegan – Tullaha Carter, sired by Clondrina 1069th.
The fifth annual Hereford national calf show attracted a massive 120 entries. The annual event which takes place in GVM’s Tullamore Mart attracts the best of young Hereford stock from around the country. This year was no different, with strong classes throughout the day for judge William Smith of Oldcastle, Co Meath.
Although he now breeds pedigree Limousin cattle under the renowned Millbrook prefix, growing up it was a different story for William, with his late father John synonymous with the Hereford breed in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
William’s outsider eye and short briefing following each class was a breath of fresh air and stands as an easy change for other breed societies to adapt for future events.
Senior and overall male champion Gurteragh Aristocrat for Michael O’Keeffe, with judge William Smith. \ Tricia Kennedy
Male champion
After much deliberation over his senior and junior male classes, William eventually found his male champion in the form of Gurteragh Aristocrat.
Bred and exhibited by Cork native Michael O’Keeffe, this November 2017-born bull is a son of Balleen Bonus and was described by the judge as showing “great masculinity”.
Having placed top of the November- and December-born bull class, Aristocrat claimed the senior male and supreme male titles.
Junior and overall reserve male champion Moyclare Royal for Michael Molloy, with judge William Smith. \ Tricia Kennedy
Reserve male
Reserve supreme male honours went the way of Michael Molloy and Moyclare Royal. This March 2018-born bull is sired by Free Town Nadel, while the dam is homebred Moyclare Rose.
This young bull came out on top of a strong class before being awarded the junior male championship and reserve supreme championship.
Senior and reserve overall female champion Corlismorepoll 1 Sydney for the McKiernan family, with judge William Smith. \ Tricia Kennedy
Female champion
In the female championship, all top honours went the way of Kye Holly 818. This stylish January 2018 heifer, bred by Padraig and Catherine McGrath, caught more than the judge’s eye, being secured by spectator Tommy Staunton before entering for the female championship.
Tommy is a well-known breeder in Shorthorn circles, holding some of the best sales the breed has seen over the past few years. Holly will now join his Caramba herd as a foundation female.
Even more to Staunton’s delight was when Holly entered the ring and left with the junior and supreme female titles. Sired by Free Town Hotspur, judge William described the champion as “special” and said she would be “a good heifer in any breed”.
The McKiernan family were again out in force, securing the reserve supreme female title with Corlismorepoll 1 Sydney 941.
Reserve senior female champion Ardmulchan Clover 776 for Phil and Catherine Smyth. \ Tricia Kennedy
The senior female champion is a daughter of Cill Cormaic Leo and has achieved much success throughout the summer show season.
The reserve senior female title was awarded to Philip Smyth for his November-born Ardmulchan Clover 776. This deep-bodied heifer is a daughter of Church Preen Galileo.
Closing off the female championships by claiming the reserve junior title was Glosterbeg Dave from Davina Lewis. The judge described this May-born heifer calf as having a big future and said it was only age against her on the day.
The reserve senior male championship and people’s choice award went the way of Tom and Anselm Fitzgerald.
Their September 2017-born bull Grianan Showman was homebred on both sides and stood behind the eventual overall male champion.
Taking the reserve junior title was Glaslough Transformer from Nigel and Theola Heatrick. This April-born bull calf is sired by Ballyaville Ger and was second-prizewinner in class 12 in what was described by the judge as one of the toughest classes of the day.
Reserve junior male champion Glaslough Transformer for the Heatrick family. \ Tricia Kennedy
Class 1: young handler – junior
1 Paula McNamara; 2 Elisa Drumm; 3 John Angland.
Class 2: young handler – senior
1 David Kenny; 2 Lesley Lewis; 3 Sinead Conry.
Class 3: heifer calf born in September or October 2017
1 Sean Mc Kiernan – Corlismorepoll 1 Sydney 941, sired by Cill Cormaic Leo.
Class 4: heifer calf born in November or December 2017
1 Philip Smyth – Ardmulchan Clover 776, sired by Church Preen Galileo.
Class 5: heifer calf born in January or February 2018
1 Padraig Mc Grath – Kye Holly 818, sired by Free Town Hotspur, Kye Sorcha 3rd.
Class 6: heifer calf born in March or April 2018
1 Christine Drumm – Crowenstown Auriella Ivy, sired by Cave Hill Storm.
Class 7: heifer calf of the future – born from 1 May onwards
1 Davina Lewis – Glosterbeg Erica, sired by Glosterbeg Dave.
Class 8: commercial Hereford-sired calf male or female not weighing over 450kg
1 Hynes Family – PJ, sired by Gageboro Morgan.
Class 9: bull calf born in September or October 2017
1 T&A Fitzgerald – Grianan Showman, sired by Grianan Parker.
Class 10: bull calf born in
November or December 2017
1 Michael O’Keeffe – Gurteragh Aristocrat 758, sired by Balleen Bonus.
Class 11: bull calf born in January or February 2018
1 Christine Drumm – Crowenstown MacArthur, sired by Allowdale Ribstone 436 ET.
Class 12: bull calf born in March or April 2018
1 Michael Molloy – Moyclare Royal, sired by Free Town Nadel.
Class 13: bull calf of the future – born from 1 May onwards
1 John Neenan and Tommy Creegan – Tullaha Carter, sired by Clondrina 1069th.
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