The 2019 Univet-sponsored all-Ireland Aberdeen Angus championships took place at Dualla Show over the weekend. This was the first major all-Ireland finals the relatively newly-formed show has hosted, with exhibitors not disappointed.
What initially started out as a truck-only show soon broke into cattle a few years back. Now the show attracts a number of breeds, with record entries in 2019.
While many breeds were present, the highlight was of course the Aberdeen Angus section. Over 70 entries fought it out across 19 individual classes, all in search of the prestigious title of supreme all-Ireland Aberdeen Angus champion for 2019.
Reserve senior champion Goulding R Missie 963 from Matthew Goulding.
Tasked with judging the event was German Angus breeder Bernhard Delle. Bernhard runs 150 pedigree Angus cows, which he produces for breeding and to kill for his award-winning butchery and restaurant Landgasthof Sonne in Mahlberg.
Traits which were important to this trade were evident in his selection throughout the day, with Bernhard looking for a more moderate-sized easy-fleshed, functional animal.
These were exactly the traits exhibited by his overall champion Mogeely Dreamer T534. Exhibited by John McEnroe, Dreamer is the stock bull for his well-known Liss herd in Oldcastle, Co Meath.
This marks the fourth time the herd has collected the overall championship at the all-Ireland finals, with the last being some 21 years ago.
This bull is sired by Wedderlie Blackbox, a bull who also won the overall title three years ago in Trim. Dreamer, originally bred by Albert and Jennifer DeCogan, was purchased by McEnroe at the Irish Aberdeen Angus Association premier sale in Carrick-on-Shannon last November.
Taking the junior and reserve overall titles was the September 2018-born heifer Westellen Dana U840.
Junior and reserve overall champion Westellen Dana U840 from John Tait.
Bred and exhibited by Kate and John Tait, Midleton, Co Cork, the duo have won the junior championship on a number occasions, but the reserve overall accolade marks their highest achievement to date.
Sired by Shadwell Jaffer Eric, Dana is out of a homebred Bohey Jasper-bred cow.
Standing reserve senior champion to the overall champion was Goulding R Missie 963.
This stylish August 2018-born heifer was bred and exhibited by well-known breeders Matthew and Rita Goulding, Ballyduff, Co Kerry.
Sired by Netherallan Peter Pershore, this stylish heifer is a daughter of Corridan Miss Essence. Coincidently, the last time the Gouldings won the reserve senior championship was in 2012, with R Missie 963’s maternal sister.
The Goulding family also picked up a further two red rosettes, through Goulding V William 993 and Goulding V Patriot 988. Both these January-born calves were sired by former herd sire Glenade Prince Callan.
Reserve junior champion Laheens Rock and Roll from Cormaic Duignan.
The last of the championships awarded was the reserve junior championship, which headed to Co Leitrim. Cathal and Cormaic Duignan from Carrick-on-Shannon exhibited the autumn bull calf champion Laheens Rock and Roll, which in turn claimed the reserve junior championship.
This September 2018-born bull is a son of the old reliable Bohey Jasper, which goes back on a Luddenmore Fionn-bred cow.
Successful
The Duignans were also successful in the pairs competition when Rock and Roll teamed up with the second-prize-winner in the same class Laheens Rebel. This bull is a September 2018-born animal sired by HF Rebel 53Y.
Taking the red rosette in the senior male class was Albert and Jennifer DeCogan, Castlemartyr, Co Cork, with their stock bull Cheeklaw Jake Eric.
The showing duo also placed first in the senior cow and calf class with Knockadrinan Blackbird, a Nightingale Dunbar daughter.
John McEnroe was also on form in the junior cow with calf at foot class, with Liss Biluire. This two-year-old cow is sired by senior herd sire Mogeely Lord Harrow.
Barry Smith also claimed a first prize placing with Lawsonsford Lady Helly, a February 2018-born heifer sired by former stock bull Friarstown Evolver.
Last of the classes was for calves born after 1 April 2019. Securing first place here were Eoin and Cian Reilly with Bridgehouse Doll. This April heifer is sired by Caurly Nationwide.
In the stockperson classes, senior champion went the way of Marie McFadden with the junior champion Colin Bourke.
The 2019 Univet-sponsored all-Ireland Aberdeen Angus championships took place at Dualla Show over the weekend. This was the first major all-Ireland finals the relatively newly-formed show has hosted, with exhibitors not disappointed.
What initially started out as a truck-only show soon broke into cattle a few years back. Now the show attracts a number of breeds, with record entries in 2019.
While many breeds were present, the highlight was of course the Aberdeen Angus section. Over 70 entries fought it out across 19 individual classes, all in search of the prestigious title of supreme all-Ireland Aberdeen Angus champion for 2019.
Reserve senior champion Goulding R Missie 963 from Matthew Goulding.
Tasked with judging the event was German Angus breeder Bernhard Delle. Bernhard runs 150 pedigree Angus cows, which he produces for breeding and to kill for his award-winning butchery and restaurant Landgasthof Sonne in Mahlberg.
Traits which were important to this trade were evident in his selection throughout the day, with Bernhard looking for a more moderate-sized easy-fleshed, functional animal.
These were exactly the traits exhibited by his overall champion Mogeely Dreamer T534. Exhibited by John McEnroe, Dreamer is the stock bull for his well-known Liss herd in Oldcastle, Co Meath.
This marks the fourth time the herd has collected the overall championship at the all-Ireland finals, with the last being some 21 years ago.
This bull is sired by Wedderlie Blackbox, a bull who also won the overall title three years ago in Trim. Dreamer, originally bred by Albert and Jennifer DeCogan, was purchased by McEnroe at the Irish Aberdeen Angus Association premier sale in Carrick-on-Shannon last November.
Taking the junior and reserve overall titles was the September 2018-born heifer Westellen Dana U840.
Junior and reserve overall champion Westellen Dana U840 from John Tait.
Bred and exhibited by Kate and John Tait, Midleton, Co Cork, the duo have won the junior championship on a number occasions, but the reserve overall accolade marks their highest achievement to date.
Sired by Shadwell Jaffer Eric, Dana is out of a homebred Bohey Jasper-bred cow.
Standing reserve senior champion to the overall champion was Goulding R Missie 963.
This stylish August 2018-born heifer was bred and exhibited by well-known breeders Matthew and Rita Goulding, Ballyduff, Co Kerry.
Sired by Netherallan Peter Pershore, this stylish heifer is a daughter of Corridan Miss Essence. Coincidently, the last time the Gouldings won the reserve senior championship was in 2012, with R Missie 963’s maternal sister.
The Goulding family also picked up a further two red rosettes, through Goulding V William 993 and Goulding V Patriot 988. Both these January-born calves were sired by former herd sire Glenade Prince Callan.
Reserve junior champion Laheens Rock and Roll from Cormaic Duignan.
The last of the championships awarded was the reserve junior championship, which headed to Co Leitrim. Cathal and Cormaic Duignan from Carrick-on-Shannon exhibited the autumn bull calf champion Laheens Rock and Roll, which in turn claimed the reserve junior championship.
This September 2018-born bull is a son of the old reliable Bohey Jasper, which goes back on a Luddenmore Fionn-bred cow.
Successful
The Duignans were also successful in the pairs competition when Rock and Roll teamed up with the second-prize-winner in the same class Laheens Rebel. This bull is a September 2018-born animal sired by HF Rebel 53Y.
Taking the red rosette in the senior male class was Albert and Jennifer DeCogan, Castlemartyr, Co Cork, with their stock bull Cheeklaw Jake Eric.
The showing duo also placed first in the senior cow and calf class with Knockadrinan Blackbird, a Nightingale Dunbar daughter.
John McEnroe was also on form in the junior cow with calf at foot class, with Liss Biluire. This two-year-old cow is sired by senior herd sire Mogeely Lord Harrow.
Barry Smith also claimed a first prize placing with Lawsonsford Lady Helly, a February 2018-born heifer sired by former stock bull Friarstown Evolver.
Last of the classes was for calves born after 1 April 2019. Securing first place here were Eoin and Cian Reilly with Bridgehouse Doll. This April heifer is sired by Caurly Nationwide.
In the stockperson classes, senior champion went the way of Marie McFadden with the junior champion Colin Bourke.
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