This year, the Irish Shorthorn Cattle Society, supported by Pedigree Sales online sale platform, launched the show team challenge championships, with a prize fund of €1,000 and a brand new champions team trophy.

The event is designed to encourage beef Shorthorn breeders nationwide to attend local agricultural shows to help promote the breed.

A points system was put in place, with points gained for animals which placed first to third at a total of eight shows in each region; Leinster, Munster, Connaught and Ulster (combined).

Further points were then added if animals received an overall or reserve overall placing. Points could only be collected from the shows in the breeders’ region, with the exception of all-Ireland classes, which carried double points.

All-Ireland beef Shorthorn intermediate heifer calf champion Gortnadrass Polly from Peter Gormley. \ Tara Williamson

Success

The competition proved an astounding success, with more breeders out than ever before.

Taking the title of first show team of the year was the Creaga herd of Noel and Lisa Dowd, Creggs, Co Galway.

In second place in the lead-up to the society all-Ireland calf finals in Strokestown last weekend, the herd completed a spectacular day by taking two of the five overall titles and two reserve overall titles.

All-Ireland beef Shorthorn junior heifer calf champion Creaga Ruby from Noel and Lisa Dowd. \ Tara Williamson

Taking the junior female calf championship and going on to be overall Shorthorn champion was Creaga Ruby.

This stylish young heifer is sired by the homebred Creaga Nord and is out of Rockville Kate 357.

This championship success was matched when the Dowds took the junior male calf championship with Creaga Rio.

This May-born calf is again sired by Creaga Nord, but is this time out of the dam Creaga Fern.

Standing reserve in the junior male championship was Tom Fox with Bethlehem Roan Wolf. This four-month-old bull calf is out of the homebred Bethlehem Wolf.

In the senior female calf championship, Alan Gibbons secured the red sash with Slievebawn Daisy. This November 2018-born heifer is sired by Sprys Patents Ace and is out of Ballyshannon Tulip.

Taking the last of the female championships was Peter Gormley, Ballymote, Co Sligo. His heifer Gortnadrass Polly took the intermediate female calf championship under judge Stephen Williamson.

Sired by HW Hazard, the January 2019-born heifer is out of the homebred Gortnadrass Crystal. This heifer later went on to take the reserve overall sash also.

It was also in this class in which the Dowds secured the first of their reserve all-Ireland championships. Taking second place was Creaga Razzle, an eight-month-old heifer out of the aforementioned Creaga Nord.

All-Ireland beef Shorthorn intermediate bull calf champion Bethlehem Malton from Tom Fox. \ Tara Williamson

The last of the all-Ireland classes was the intermediate male calf class, which went the way of Bethlehem Malton from Tom Fox, Athlone, Co Westmeath.

This January 2019-born bull is sired by Malthon Zenith and is out of the homebred cow Bethlehem May 2nd.

The Dowd family had to settle for bridesmaid in this class, with Creaga Rolex taking the reserve championship. Rolex is again sired by Creaga Nord, with the dam Creaga Lacy.