This year, the Irish Simmental Cattle Society added an extra sale to its calendar, which took place earlier this month on the evening of Friday 8 December.

With large numbers of both bulls and heifers through the ring at the premier sale just last month, it was always going to be hard to replicate the trade.

However, the sale went reasonably well, despite poor weather conditions, attracting 16 bulls and 15 heifers and seeing a top of €4,100.

Securing this top price was the Murray family’s Shiloh-Farm Humdinger. This 13-month-old son of Kilbride Farm Delboy was tapped forward earlier in the day as reserve male champion under judge David Larkin.

David runs the Hermitage herd in Kilcormac, Co Offaly.

Securing the reserve championship for the day’s top price was suckler farmer Eamon Delaney, Kilmanagh, Co Kilkenny. This topped a particularly good day for the Moate-based Shiloh-Farm herd, which also secured the female championship with Shiloh Happy Royal.

Securing the overall male championship was Bearna-Dhearg Hercules. Bred by William O’Halloran, Cahir, Co Tipperary, this bull was sired by homebred bull Bearna-Dhearg Frontier and out of Ballyduff Chanell. Having failed to meet his reserve, he left the ring unsold.

Champion bull Bearna-Dhearg Hercules. \ Alfie Shaw

The €3,000 mark was hit twice. First up was Sean Brady, Castleblaney, Co Monaghan, with Kilkitt Highstar. This Hillcrest Champion son found a new home in Tuam, Co Galway, with John Lardner.

Also at that money was Bearna-Dhearg Homer, another from Willie O’Halloran’s pen. This Kilbride Farm Delboy son made his way back down to Tipperary with Liam Martin, Templederry.

Omorga Volvo was the sire behind Corkman Noel Jagoe’s bull Dermody Hugo. This October 2016-born bull secured a bid of €2,800 from Joseph Ruttledge, Ballina, Co Mayo.

First-prizewinner of class one Lisarden Hero secured a bid of €2,400 for breeder Ciaran Clarke, Strokestown, Co Roscommon.

This Clonagh Direct Debit-sired bull was purchased by Michael Kiernan, Rathconrath, Co Westmeath.

Females

As previously mentioned, the Murray family were again out in front in the female section, securing the overall championship with Shiloh Happy Royal.

This one again featured Kilbride Farm breeding, this time Kilbride Farm Bantry. Securing her for a price of €3,000 was Jack Maher, Roscrea.

Reserve championship honours were awarded to the Clare outfit of Joe and James Kelly with Mount Hilary. This yearling heifer by Kilbride Farm Escalop was purchased for €2,500 by William Champ, Portarlington.

The same buyer also paid the joint-top female price of €3,000 for the May 2016-born Clonagh Hillary Eyes. Bred and exhibited by Garrett Behan, this heifer is by stock bull Kilbride Farm Dragoon.