Tullamore Show: parade of champions

The Gaynor family from Virginia, Co Cavan, continued their successful stint in the Jersey ring, claiming the overall championship with Suir Valley Ot Starlight (pictured above). This EX90-classified cow is no stranger to winning, having claimed the interbreed championship at Castleblaney Show recently. John, Marian and Noreen Collins took the reserve championship with Turlough Turtle. This June 2016-born cow is out of All Lynns Louie Valentino.

In the seniors, Seamus and Aidan Foody, in partnership with Rory Timlin, were out in front with Dez Grand Trix Harmonica. This six-year-old cow is a daughter of Mars Yorick. The Jones family were also successful in the senior championship, taking the reserve position with Hallow Atwood Grace. This EX91-classified cow was last year’s junior Bailey’s cow champion. Taking the honourable mention was the junior cow champion Bowberhill Mogus Melody from Bryan O’Connor, Bawnmore, Co Cork.

Well-known breeders Philip and Linda Jones were out in front for the junior Holstein championship with Hallow Solomon Twizzle. This September 2018-born calf was also this year’s reserve national calf show champion in Kilkenny. Reserve junior champion went to John Moore with Lemrac Atwood Mae. This August 2018-born heifer is out of the famous sire Atwood.

James Lambe went one better than last year with his cow Ballytrain Marina 5. This stylish cow was reserve overall champion at the 2018 show, along with being breed champion at the 2018 Balmoral Winter Fair. Reserve honours in the Dairy Shorthorn championship went to Ransboro Blossom 41st from the Carter family. This first heifer in milk calved in January and is currently giving 27kg/day.

Taking the overall title in the Limousin ring was Dan Tynan with Whitehall Noelle. This heifer has been unbeaten in the show ring in 2019 and is a September-born daughter of the famous Wilodge Vantastic. Wilodge Vantastic was also the sire behind the reserve overall champion Millburn Must Have. This November 2017-born heifer is out of the homebred Millburn Bobby Dazzler, herself a full sister to a Roscrea champion and high seller for breeder and exhibitor Richard O’Beirne, Tuam, Co Galway.

Taking the supreme Charolais national championship was the McGovern family with Crossane 4 Niamh. This powerful Goldstar Echo daughter has just turned two years old and has claimed a number of breed and interbreed championships. In reserve spot was the junior bull class and male championship winner Sagesse Pierre from Niall Canning, Rosses Point, Sligo. This January 2019-born bull is a son of Maerdy Sinndar and is out of a French imported cow.

In the junior section, well-known commercial calf breeder Pearse McNamee was again out in front. His smart Charolais-cross-Belgian Blue heifer has also been a prominent feature on this year’s show scene. Standing reserve to McNamee was Shay McKinney with a stylish young Charolais-cross heifer calf.

It was a double championship in the Shorthorn ring for the Kelly family of Ricketstown, Carlow. Their junior heifer Ricketstown Heathermaid Marlee took the overall championship, with her dam Balgay Heathermaid taking the reserve spot. The January 2018 winning heifer is no stranger to the show ring, having taken the championship at Clonmel Show as a calf in 2018.

Taking the all-Ireland Salers calf championship in Tullamore was well-known breeder Niall Hunt with Templeboy Talia. This stylish November-born heifer is no stranger to winning ways, having won at numerous summer shows already this year. Packed with breeding, Talia’s mother is out of last year’s Salers senior champion and by the sire Beguin.

Taking the overall national Hereford title was young heifer Grianan Prim T. This 12-month-old heifer was bred by the Fitzgerald family, but purchased six weeks ago by Sarah Murray and she brought it to championship success. Sired by Grianan Parker, Prim was brought to four shows this summer, claiming either champion or reserve at each. Taking the national male title and reserve overall Hereford title was Gerry and Ciara McNamara with Churchcross 1 Hurler. This Panmure Henry son was also champion at Charleville, Longford, Ennis, Bridgetown and Newcastlewest.

In the overall junior championship of the Angus section, the Mulligan family made their first appearance in the parade of champions with Clooncarne Princess. This rising two-year-old heifer has been unbeaten this year and is a daughter of the homebred Clooncarne Kyle. Taking reserve junior champion was Cork breeder John and Kate Tait with Westellen Rocky U838. This September-born bull is an embryo son of TC Freedom and Prairielane Rosebud.

The O’Donovan family from Dunmanway in Co Cork continued their success from Tinahely Show by taking the overall Blue championship with Don Moriah. Sired by imperial and out of an Empire-bred dam, this heifer has collected a number of breed championships already this summer. Standing reserve to Moriah was the 20-month-old Brownview Lady Di. Bred and exhibited by the Bandon-based Stanley family, this all-white heifer is a daughter of Tintin and Brownview Iona.

The young bull Goldriver Nevin secured the overall championship in the Parthenaise ring. Bred by Mark Winterbotham, this March 2018-born bull is out of French bull Coquinn. Well-known Parthenaise breeder Patrick Doyle settled for reserve with his September 2018-born heifer Kyle Herd Nabraska. This stylish young heifer is sired by Funable and is out of last year’s champion heifer Kyle Herd Kate.

Continuing on from her run at Balmoral Show, the commercial Limousin heifer Peppa was back on form to take the senior commercial championship. This young heifer, originally bred by the Tynan family in Mountrath, has won at numerous shows for the Maxwell brothers since coming down south after Balmoral. Taking the reserve senior championship was the Connell brothers from Oldcastle, Co Meath. Their January 2018-born Limousin-sired heifer came with a strong record having claimed the all-Ireland at Corrundulla and the interbreed championship at Mullingar.

Cork-based Michael Creed emerged victorious in the competitive Blonde classes with Newdown Lenka. Sired by Druk Lance, she is out of the homebred Newdown Gwen and has collected a number of red rosettes already this year. Standing reserve Blonde champion was Ollie Naughton, Athlone, with Stonlea Mandy. This 18-month-old heifer is a son of the homebred Stonelea Inzagi and Hillhead Lady.

Seamus Holmes claimed the overall championship in the Irish Moiled ring with Dungallia Val an Tí. This young heifer is an embryo calf from the 2017 Tullamore champion Dungallia Bean an Tí. Standing reserve overall was last year’s champion Woodbine Bridie. Bred and exhibited by Ciara White, this first-calved cow is out of Tully Jack.

It was another day of dreams for the Behan family from Ballyfin, Co Laois, as they secured the overall and reserve overall championships in the Simmental ring. Taking the overall this year was Clonagh Jubilant Fabulous, with the 2017 and 2018 champion Clonagh Darling Eyes taking reserve.

Last year’s Strokestown Irish Angus champion Mayo Karia was back on form. Bred and exhibited by Gerry Kilgallon, this six-year-old cow is out of Westellen Dekay and was shown alongside her bull calf. In reserve senior position was last year’s junior champion Liss Kim S641. Bred and exhibited by John McEnroe, Oldcastle, Co Meath, the three-year-old junior cow is a daughter of Te Mania Berkley and Halbeath Kim.

In the senior Salers championship, it was a double win for Alfred Melvin, with Ashbury Lynx emerging victorious. This eight-year-old cow was shown alongside her bull calf, which also claimed the male championship on the day. Taking the reserve was Ashbury Smooch, a two-year-old heifer by successful AI bull Rio.

In the Aubrac ring, Francis and Jennifer Donohoe won with Alexis (not pictured). This first-calver was purchased in France as a heifer and was shown alongside her heifer calf Johnstown Olympia. No stranger to the show ring, Alexis was reserve champion at the show last year as an in-calf heifer. Taking the reserve spot was Francis Butler with De Buitlier Noah. This October 2018-born bull is a son of Johnstown Keith 1358 and the homebred De Buitlier Linda.