The Irish Limousin Cattle Society celebrated its 30th national show at this year’s Tullamore Show, which attracted nearly 150 entries. The overall standard of cattle at the show was second to none, with a few difficult decisions to be made by judge Jonathan Watson of the Tweeddale herd based in Northumberland.

A steady five hours of judging saw him eventually tap out Whitehall Noelle ET as his overall champion. This stylish September 2018-born heifer is out of the renowned sire Wilodge Vantastic and the cow Ardea Grisilda.

Although originally bred by Noel Brennan, Paulstown, Co Kilkenny, Noelle was shown by new owner Dan Tynan, breeder of her dam. Whitehall Noelle now has the distinction of being the youngest ever winner of the supreme champion at the national show. On her way to collecting the supreme championship the powerful calf also collected the junior female and overall female championships.

The Tynan team also took the reserve junior male championship with Ardlea Napoleon. This September 2018 embryo-bred calf is a son of Bavardage, while the dam is the homebred Elite Kimberly.

Senior male and reserve overall male Milbrook Nobel ET. \ Alfie Shaw

It was a day for the aforementioned sire Wilodge Vantastic, as along with siring the supreme champion, he also sired the reserve supreme champion in the form of Millburn Must Have ET. Bred and exhibited by Richard O’Beirne, Tuam, Co Galway, this November 2017-born heifer is out of the homebred cow Millburn Bobby Dazzler, a daughter of Mas Du Clo.

Along with breeding the reserve overall champion, the prolific cow was also the mother of three other prizewinners.

This win topped an exceptional day for the well-known breeder, who also took home the junior and overall male championships with Cornamona Nobel ET. This September 2018-born bull is the result of the mating between Ampertaine Gigolo and Thichburn Grace.

Junior male and overall male champion Cornamona Nobel ET. \ Alfie Shaw

Also having a good day was successful breeder William Smith from Oldcastle, Co Meath. His 20-month-old bull Milbrook Nobel ET was awarded the senior male and reserve overall male titles.

Sired by the old French bull Rossingal, he is out of three-time interbreed champion at Balmoral Milbrook Ginger Spice. Along with breeding Nobel, the remarkable cow has had progeny which have sold for up to 25,000gns in Carlisle.

Senior female and reserve sumpreme champion Millburn Must Have ET. \ Alfie Shaw

This wasn’t the end for Smith, who also collected the reserve junior female title with Milbrook Nenya. This January 2018-born heifer needs no introduction, having claimed the Limousin title at this year’s Balmoral Show.

Junior female, overall female and supreme champion Whitehall Noelle ETt. \ Alfie Shaw

Sired once again by Wilodge Vantatsic, she goes back on the Neuf cow Milbrook Enya.

Taking the reserve senior male championship behind Smith was Mark Hagan with Rhyne Noah. This 16-month-old bull is out of Dovea AI bull Wilodge Joskins and Clonadrum Urselle ET.

The last of the championships was the reserve senior female, which went down to Clare with John McInerney. His rising three-year-old UK-bred heifer Foxhillfarm Naughtybutnice is a daughter of Neuf and goes back to the well-known cow Bankdale Alice. No stranger to Tullamore, Naughtybutnice was the reserve supreme champion at last year’s show.