The Irish Aberdeen-Angus Association National Calf Show took place on Saturday 13th October at Tullamore with Iain McGillivray herd manager for the Eastfield herd, Lempitlaw, Kelso, taking centre stage for the judging. Turnout of calves was strong across the board with 68 of the 71 catalogued present.
Commenting on his judging experience Mr McGillivray said: “It was an honour to be invited to judge these classes and more so when the quality was so strong. My championship line up was incredibly strong indeed and the cattle were a credit to their breeders.”
Taking the male championship and continuing a fantastic run of form from the summer show season was Co Cork-based Albert De Cogan with his September 2011-born Mogeely Lord Hines L142. This one is a Mogeely Joe H979 son out of the Iona Bounder D048 daughter Mogeely Lady Hines J018. After judging this bull was sold in a private deal for an undisclosed fee to Wayne Burrell’s Brooklawn herd, Rathangan, Co Kildare.
Male champion
Jerry Henchy took the reserve male spot with his January 2012-born calf Friarstown Lord Big M224. This one is an ET-bred son of the high performance sire Rawburn Rommel E423 and is out of the Vermilion Dateline daughter Friarstown Lotus Blossom H096. This was another young bull who caught the eye of a fellow breeder and was also sold privately at the show for an undisclosed fee to Michael O’Leary for his Gigginstown herd, Co Westmeath.
In the female section, both the champion and reserve spot went to Matthew and Rita Goulding. Their champion, Goulding Ester was an ET-bred daughter of Coneyisland Legend E112 and out of Darima Ester. She has already has a pretty good summer on the circuit culminating in the junior championship at this year’s All Ireland Championships at Virginia Show.
Female champion
And continuing the All Ireland theme, their reserve champion heifer, Goulding Missie M353, a March 2012 Nightingale Proud Jake G405 daughter is out of Goulding Missie K415 who took the female and reserve overall championship in Virginia.
The family had further success in the young handler’s class as son David Goulding won the senior class, while Sarah Matchett took top spot in the junior class.
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