This year’s final for the Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society’s Youth Development Programme (YDP) saw some amazing talent shine through from young cattle enthusiasts from all over Ireland, England and Scotland.

The event, which moves around the UK and Ireland each year, was held last weekend at Lough Allen Hotel and Spa, Moorlands Equestrian Centre, Drumshambo, Co Leitrim.

Bryan O'Halloran, overall senior champion. \ Alfie Shaw

The final featured participants who have been scored highly by their trainers at workshops throughout the summer. They had competed in stock judging, cattle dressing and ring craft competitions where points were awarded throughout each section of the competition.

This is the first year for the new team of coordinators, who have taken on the management of the Youth Development Programme. These are Tina Russell (national coordinator), Niall Lynch (Ireland coordinator), Stephanie Dick (Scotland), Jess Musk (North of England) and Ruth Perry (South of England).

Each year, 13 workshops are held around the UK and Ireland and the young people compete for their place in the final. These workshops offer a chance to learn core skills from some of the top stockmen and women in the business. Not only is it educational, but the workshops also provide a great opportunity to mix with like-minded people.

Workshops are run by experienced stockmen who assess the attendees and those who show the most skill and enthusiasm get selected to attend the final where they have the chance to win cash prizes and senior finalists competing for the chance to win a world Angus study trip of their choosing.

A total of 37 young people aged between eight and 24 years competed over the weekend. Finalists were split into three age categories, with the senior finalists also having to undertake a panel interview while intermediates had to do a presentation. This year there were also workshops on artificial insemination and halter making. Patricia and Felicity McGrath were on hand going through the different parts of the reproductive system, offering attendees the chance to artificially inseminate the reproductive tract of a cow. Marie Louise Ryan took charge of the halter-making section.

A number of experienced judges assessed each of the sections individually. Tasked with assessing the competitors’ stock-judging skills and reasoning was Albert De Cogan of the Mogeely herd. Albert, a former president of the Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society, is a regular exhibitor at shows, claiming numerous championships each summer.

James Morrison, junior section overall winner. \ Alfie Shaw

Clipping and grooming

Well-known breeders Matthew and Rita Goulding were on hand to judge the clipping and grooming sections. Owners of the Goulding Angus and Hereford herd based outside Ballyduff in Co Kerry, the duo mastered the art of bringing cattle to the show ring, evident by their stellar show record.

Centre of the ring for the ring craft section was Cornwall breeder Lisa Davey. Lisa is well known by the programme having being at the majority of the finals to date as both a competitor and a spectator.

Sitting in front of the senior competitors for the panel interview were judges Will Crystal, Keith Jempson and David Hammill. Will is the current YDP chair, Keith is a freelance stockman with a wealth of experience in the breed, while David is a well-known Limousin breeder in Northern Ireland.

It was the interview undertaken in front of these three judges which secured the overall senior win for Munster club representative Bryan O’Halloran. Bryan is a young Angus enthusiast who farms the Briarhill herd alongside his uncle in Co Cork.

The second placing in the senior section also stayed in Ireland, with Sean McEnroe the Connaught Leinster workshop qualifier. Sean, from the Liss herd in Oldcastle, is no stranger to the programme, having won the junior and intermediate sections in previous years. Scottish breeder Seonaid McLaren of the noted Netherton herd secured the third placing.

Irish youths were also prominent in the intermediate and junior sections. The only Irish entry in the intermediate section, John Smyth, took overall champion. John topped both the clipping and dressing sections of the competition which contributed to his overall success. Taking the reserve in the intermediates was Ellie Westaway from England, while Lottie Hill, also from England, took the third position.

Patricia McGrath explaining the reproductive tract and showing finalists how to AI. \ Alfie Shaw

Junior winners

All top three placings in the junior section went to Northern Ireland and Ireland competitors. Taking the top position was James Morrison from Northern Ireland. James helps run the Drummeer herd with his father Alan. Zara Sheehan of Ireland commanded the second place, while fellow Irish competitor Megan Reynolds took third.

Niall lynch, Irish YDP coordinator, said: “This year’s event has been a phenomenal success. It must be noted that this event wouldn’t have been able to take place without the great work of the YDP coordinators, breeders who supplied the cattle, our judges and all the helpers who made the weekend a success. Also Niall McManus and his family who run the Lough Allen Hotel could not do enough for us all weekend. Special thanks must go to all who made it possible.”

The Aberdeen-Angus Youth Development Programme has now become renowned industry-wide, providing youngsters with the platform required to not only enhance their own career prospects, but safeguard the future of the industry by producing young people with the skills, knowledge and experience required to build upon in years to come. With that said, due to the programme growing to such an extent and the calibre of competitors improving year on year, all those who qualified for the finals should be incredibly proud of themselves.

Winner profile: Bryan O’Halloran

Taking the senior section this year was Bryan O’Halloran. Bryan, 24, farms alongside his uncle Tim, under the Briarhill prefix. The Irish farmers Journal spoke with Brian following his win.

How did you get into breeding cattle? I started showing back in 2006 at Bandon show. My father knew Eustace Burke senior and I showed a Clontead baby calf for them that day. The Burke family starting bringing me to all the shows after that. Then in 2008 I bought my first pedigree animal and now we have 25 cows.

Had you competed before? This was my fourth time competing at the finals but it was my first time in the senior category.

The senior winner gets a world Angus study trip. Do you know where you’re going? I haven’t really thought about it too much yet, but hopefully I’ll go to America or Canada to one of the bigger Angus farms.

Tell us about the YDP programme. The programme is something that can broaden the skill set of all young cattle enthusiasts. From halter making to AI workshops, there’s something new every year. The interview section as well helps you prepare for later in life, being very beneficial for when you start going for jobs. Overall, the programme helps in providing a skill set which otherwise I wouldn’t have. Since the programme is open to all young people and not just Angus breeders, I couldn’t recommend it highly enough.