A sizable Hereford championship was held last Sunday, July 2, at the County Longford Show and Country Fair – with around 60 cattle registered on the show catalogue.
Local breeder and former IHBS (Irish Hereford Breed Society) Chairman, JJ Farrell, organised the competition, obtaining sponsorship for the event from Paul & Vincent Ltd animal feeds, and enlisting the two judges for the event, Andrew Whitlow and Ben Lewis from the UK.
He was also awarded the Eddie Duffy Cup for winning the class 53 category. Castledaly Rio is a descendant of Steil Gerard, a remarkable bull bred by JJ Farrell.
Michael Molloy also had great success with his class winner, Moyclare Ursula, which was crowned champion heifer on the day. Molloy grew his trophy haul with the award for the first bull class of the day for his 15-month-old bull, Moyclare Phoenix, which then claimed the overall ‘reserve champion’ of the competition.
Winning the ‘Class 46 Hereford Cow or Heifer in-calf or in milk’ category was Baltymore Orange, a heifer owned by Coote Geelan, from Co. Leitrim.
Coote Geelan, with Baltymore Orange, winner of class 46
‘Class 47 Hereford Heifer born between 01/07/15 & 30/06/16’ was won by Roscommon breeder Padraig McGrath’s Kye Ger.
Padraig McGrath takes first in class 47 with his home-bred heifer Kye Ger
Padraig McGrath takes second in class 47 with his newly-acquired heifer from the UK – Dendori 1 Honeysuckle
Meanwhile, in ‘Class 48 Hereford Heifer born between 01/07/16 & 30/09/16’, the winner was the aforementioned Moyclare Ursula, which also took the overall ‘Class 51 Paul & Vincent All Ireland Hereford Heifer Calf Champion’.
Moyclare Ursula claimed first place in class 48, and went on to win Heifer Calf Champion at the event. Also pictured were Michael Molloy (owner) and John Cahill (CEO, Paul & Vincents)
‘Class 49 Hereford Heifer born between 01/10/16 & 31/12/16’ was won by JJ Farrell’s heifer, Trillick Graceful.
‘Class 50 Hereford Heifer Calf born on or after 01/01/17’ was also won by JJ Farrell; this time for his animal Trillick Duchess.
Moving onto the bull categories, ‘Class 52 Hereford Bull born between 01/01/15 & 30/06/16’ was won by Moyclare Phoenix, owned by Michael Molloy from Co. Offaly.
Moyclare Phoenix, winner of class 52 and Reserve Bull Calf Champion at the event, pictured with judges Ben Lewis and Andrew Whitlow and owner Michael Molloy (right)
Runner-up in class 52 was Aughavoneen 1 Timmy, bred by Padraig Farrell and shown by Patrick Farrell
For the ‘Class 53 Bull born between 01/07/16 & 30/09/16’ competition, Michael Farrell’s Castledaly Rio came out on top, before winning both the ‘Class 56 Paul & Vincent All Ireland Hereford Bull Calf Champion’ and ‘Hereford Supreme Champion’ ribbons.
Castledaly Rio. Also pictured were John Cahill (CEO, Paul & Vincents); judges Ben Lewis and Andrew Whitlow; Sean McGarry (Paul & Vincents); and Michael Farrell (owner)
Padraig McGrath took the ‘Class 54 Hereford Bull born between 01/10/16 & 31/12/16’ ribbon with his bull, Kye King, while in the ‘Class 55 Hereford Bull calf born on or after the 01/01/17’ category, JJ Farrell’s calf, Trillick Improver, came out on top.
JJ Farrell makes a presentation to the two judges of the competition, Andrew Whitlow and Ben Lewis