This year’s national Charolais show at Tullamore will go down as a memorable one, as the event was also one of the last destinations of the World Charolais Congress.

The congress, which attracted 70 delegates from over 10 different countries across the world, visited a wide array of Ireland’s best-known attractions and herds.

The national show brought nearly 150 of the country’s best Charolais cattle all to the one location to fight it out for the title of supreme national champion.

The hundreds of spectators around the two rings weren’t left disappointed, as the two judges tapped forward their respective class winners in what can only be described as an outstanding show of stock.

Emerging as the senior and overall Charolais national champion for 2019 was Crossane4 Niamh from the McGovern family, Fivemilebourne, Co Sligo.

This July 2017-born heifer is a daughter of the in-demand Goldstar Echo, with the dam being Portnason Hermione. This heifer has been to numerous summer shows, going unbeaten and, in many cases, collecting interbreed championships also.

Junior male calf and reserve overall champion Sagesse Pierre. \ Alfie Shaw

Fellow Sligo breeder Niall Canning was also on form following Niamh all the way to the end with his young bull calf Sagesse Pierre.

This January 2019-born bull collected the junior male championship before being tapped out as reserve overall champion.

Sired by Maerdy Sinndar, Pierre is out of the French imported cow Kilcumeragh Dorothee. Canning is no stranger to the champion’s arena having claimed the overall title in 2017.

Well-known Tipperary breeder Martin Ryan and family also put down a day to remember collecting seven first-prize rosettes throughout the day.

Senior female calf champion Goldstar Ossana. \ Alfie Shaw

Claiming the senior female calf championship was the September 2018-born Goldstar Ossana. This heifer has been a prominent feature on this year’s show circuit, taking junior interbreed champion at both Cork and Clonmel shows. Sired by the homebred Goldstar Hugo 2, she is an embryo calf out of Goldstar Jamaique.

The family also claimed the junior female calf championship with Goldstar Poppy. This January 2019-born heifer is sired by the same sire as the overall champion Goldstar Echo, while the dam is the homebred Goldstar Fifi.

Not stopping there, the Ryans also claimed the reserve senior male calf championship with Goldstar Orwell. The September 2018-born bull is an embryo full brother to the senior female calf champion Ossana.

The Goldstar herd also won the pairs category for both under and over 12 months.

Senior bull calf champion Cloonglasna11 Oscar. \ Alfie Shaw

Taking the senior male calf championship ahead of Orwell was Cloonglasna11 Oscar from Seamus Egan, Ballina, Co Mayo.

This October 2018-born bull is out of 16,000gns Balmyle Vagabond and Cloonglasna11 Jenny.

Back to the senior female calf championship and reserve honours went the way of Bernadette Dunne for her stylish young calf Crockaun Opal. This November 2018-born calf is a son of former AI bull Dromiskin Viceroy with the dam Lastra Jade.

Paul Sheridan from Kilcogy, Cavan, was second best in the junior heifer calf championship with Farmer Polly taking the reserve overall spot. This classy February 2019-born heifer is out of Amiable and is an embryo daughter of Tobar Lila.

Standing reserve senior champion to the overall champion was John Ward with his 15-month-old heifer Colomane Olivia. This well-grown heifer is a daughter of the famous Doonally New and Cottage Gemma.

In the junior section, it was Jon Regan from Castlegal, Co Leitrim, who claimed the reserve junior bull calf championship behind the day’s male champion. His February-born Liscally Pied Piper is a son of the successful Domino and is out of the Welsh-bred cow Maerdy Entry.