The Irish Limousin Cattle Society held the national finals of its young members association (YMA) stockmanship competition at Cappamore last weekend.

Five clubs held regional finals, selecting teams of youngsters to compete across a number of stockmanship tasks, including stock judging, presentation and showing.

Along with competing in their respective teams, the finalists were also judged individually, with placings in both senior and junior sections.

The Irish Anglo YMA team of Michelle Tarpey, Aidan Kinahan, Maeve Curtin and Eleanor Reilly. \ Shannon Kinahan

Participants were asked to judge four animals and then went before a panel of three to explain their reasons – this panel was made up of master judge Richard O’Beirne, Gerry Doody and Paul Sykes.After the scores were tallied, the northwest club of Michelle Tarpery, Jack Cronin, Brian Phillips and Linda O’Hara were announced as winners.

Taking second position was the southwest club of Aidan Kinahan, Maeve Curtin, Oisin McNamara and Conor McNamara, while the Cork club of Jeff Wycherley, Michael Wycherley, Tara Buckley and Evan Buckley took third.

In the individual section, top honours in the senior category went to Michelle Tarpey, with Eleanor Reilly taking second and Jack Cronin placing third.

In the junior section, coming out in front was Aidan Kinahan, with Maeve Curtin taking second and Sarah Murray in third.

These finals are also the place where the national team is picked to compete at the Anglo Irish YMA finals.

These finals bring together teams from right across the UK and Ireland to compete for an overall title, which last year went the way of the Irish team.

This year’s final returns to Irish soil, taking place at Elphin Show, with the team picked as Aidan Kinahan, Michelle Tarpey, Maeve Curtin and Eleanor Reilly.