The Connaught/Leinster Aberdeen-Angus Club held its third annual herds competition over the weekend. Under the chairpersonship of Mr. Gerard Lynch, the competition has grown steadily over its last three outings and offered additional prizes this time round as well as attracting a larger pool of entrants than in previous years. The competition has benefited hugely from the continued and loyal sponsorship from Angus Beef Ireland and Mr. Gerry Smyth, Managing Director of Angus Beef Ireland was on hand for the presentation of prizes at the picturesque surroundings of the Lakeside Manor Hotel in Virgina, Co. Cavan. Judge for this year’s event was Mr. Robin Lamb of the Richhill Aberdeen-Angus Herd from Co. Armagh in Northern Ireland. Robin paid homage to the entrants across all sections and remarked upon the high calibre and standard of cattle that he had the priviledge of inspecting and judging over his few days in the region.
Barry Smith, Market Street, Cootehill, Co. Cavan won the small herds section with his Lawsons Ford Herd. One of the younger faces in the Aberdeen-Angus fraternity, Barry was runner-up in this section last year and also scooped the Best Cow Family award for his Lady Haddow family on the night. A member of this prize-winning cow line is the current show calf, Lawsons Ford Lady Helly U411 who won 1st prize at the National Livestock Show in Tullamore during the summer.
Barry Smith, winner of the small herd section and best cow family with Gerry Smyth (Angus Beef Ireland) and Robin Lamb (judge).
Dermot Lynch & Josephine Byrne, Tomriland, Roundwood, Co. Wicklow took the runner-up spot in the small herd section with their Tomriland Herd. Former winners of this section, the Tomriland Herd also won the Best Junior Heifer Calf prize for their February 2018 born calf, Tomriland Esmerica U348. This one is sired by HF Rebel 53Y and is a herd favourite of the couple’s young daughter, Kirsten who has been busy grooming this young calf in anticipation of the National Aberdeen-Angus Calf Show in a fortnights time.
Dermot Lynch, winner of the best junior heifer calf award with Gerry Smyth (Angus Beef Ireland) and Robin Lamb (judge)
John Brady, Lisnafanna, Virginia, Co. Cavan won third prize in the small herds category with his Lisnafanna Herd. John also won the Best Senior Bull Calf prize with Lisnafanna Dustin T037. This Autumn born bull calf was shown extensively during the summer show season and was a prize-winner at the All-Ireland Aberdeen-Angus Championships in Mohill last August and is sired by the AI bull Te Mania Berkley B1.
John Brady, winner of the best senior bull calf award with Gerry Smyth (Angus Beef Ireland) and Robin Lamb (judge).
The Smith Family continued their winning ways in the medium herds category with Michael Smith, Market Street, Cootehill, Co. Cavan taking pole position with his Lawsons Ford Herd. Michael also won this section last year and in addition to defending his club title, the Lawsons Ford Herd also secured the award for the Best Junior Bull Calf with Lawsons Ford Evaluator U410. This one was born in February 2018 and is sired by Friarstown Evolver N274 who has bred very well at Lawsons Ford. This calf was also shown at several shows during the summer and was a prize-winner at the recent All-Ireland Aberdeen-Angus Championships in Mohill.
Michael Smith, winner of the best medium herd and best junior bull award with Gerry Smyth (Angus Beef Ireland) and Robin Lamb (judge).
Former President of the Irish Aberdeen-Angus Association, Louis Byrne, Tomriland, Annamoe, Bray, Co. Wicklow took second place in the medium herd with his Tomriland Herd with Sean Smith, Cabragh, Cootehill, Co. Cavan (another member of the illustrious Smith family) placing in third position in the same category with the Aitabhaile Herd.
Louis Bryne, runner-up in the medium herd category with Gerry Smyth (Angus Beef Ireland) and Robin Lamb (judge).
Sean Smith, third place in the medium herd section with Gerry Smyth (Angus Beef Ireland) and Robin Lamb (judge).
John McEnroe, Liss, Oldcastle, Co. Meath continued his unbeaten winning streak in the large herd section, winning 1st prize for the third consecutive year. The Liss Aberdeen-Angus Herd is synonymous with pedigree breeding excellence and are regular winners on the show and sale circuit, with their 2018 summer campaign highlighted by wins at the National Livestock Show, Tullamore and the All-Ireland Aberdeen-Angus Championships, Mohill with Liss Kim S641 and Liss Myrlo S608 respectively. The Liss Herd also secured the award for the Best Senior Heifer Calf with Liss Miylo T733. This one is an embryo daughter of the famed former show cow, Liss Miylo B434 and is sired by Carrington Park Time On B7.
John McEnroe, winner of the large herd section and best senior heifer calf with Gerry Smyth (Angus Beef Ireland) and Robin Lamb (judge).
New entrant, Malachy Tighe, Piper Hill, Batterstown, Dunboyne, Co. Meath won second prize in the large herds section with his Tara Herd. Malachy also won the Best Stock Bull prize, which was one of the most keenly sought after prizes of this year’s competition. The winning stock bull, Luddenmore Kalossal L149 is still going strong at seven years of age and has just shy of 100 pedigree progeny registered in the Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society herdbook. This one is sired by Rawburn Rommel E423 and is out of Halbeath Kirsty E140.
Malachy Tighe, winner of the best stock bull prize with Gerry Smyth (Angus Beef Ireland) and Robin Lamb (judge).
Former secretary of the Irish Aberdeen-Angus Association, Mrs. J.M. Bird, Dunlever House, Dunlever, Trim, Co. Meath rounded out proceedings in the large herd section, taking the third placing with the Dunlever Herd.
Finally, the Connaught/Leinster Aberdeen-Angus Club would like to thank Robin Lamb for his time and efforts in judging this year’s competition, Gerry Smyth of Angus Beef Ireland for his kind and generous sponsorship and wishes to extend its warmest congratulations to everyone who took part and participated in this year’s contest.
FULL RESULTS
Small Herd:
1, Barry Smith’s Lawsons Ford Herd
2, Dermot Lynch & Josephine Byrne’s Tomriland Herd
3, John Brady’s Lisnafanna Herd
Medium Herd:
1, Michael Smith’s Lawsons Ford Herd
2, Louis Byrne’s Tomriland Herd
3, Sean Smith’s Aitabhaile Herd
Large Herd:
1, John McEnroe’s Liss Herd
2, Malachy Tighe’s Tara Herd
3, Mrs J.M. Bird’s Dunlever Herd
Mrs Julie Bird, third place in the large herds section with Gerry Smyth (Angus Beef Ireland) and Robin Lamb (judge).
Best Senior Bull Calf: John Brady’s Lisnafanna Dustin T037
Best Junior Bull Calf: Michael Smith’s Lawsons Ford Evaluator U410
Best Senior Heifer Calf: John McEnroe’s Liss Miylo T733
Best Junior Heifer Calf: Dermot Lynch & Josephine Byrne’s Tomriland Esmerica U348
Best Cow Family: Barry Smith’s Lady Haddow family
Best Stock Bull: Malachy Tighe’s Luddenmore Kalossal L149
Gerard Lynch (chairperson, Connaught/Leinster Aberdeen-Angus Club) making a presentation to major sponsor, Gerry Smyth of Angus Beef Ireland.