The Munster Branch of the Irish Hereford Breed Society held the finals of their hotly contested bull and female of the year competitions at last weekend’s Cappamore Show. One of the best-known and most prestigious regional finals in the country, this year’s competition proved to be just as fiercely supported as ever with huge numbers forward at each of the qualifying shows. Points were accumulated at Charleville, Clonmel, Bridgetown, Nenagh and Cappamore shows with animals who accrued the most points, across each section, being awarded prizes at the finals.

SENIOR FEMALE OF THE YEAR2017 Munster Senior Female of the Year, Kilsunny Lass Matilda with Susan Dudley (exhibitor), Martin Murphy (Vice-President, IHBS) and Pat McCarthy (President, IHBS).

The 2017 Munster Senior Female of the Year was awarded to the senior heifer, Kilsunny Lass Matilda, owned by Trevor Dudley and family, Kilsunny Hse, Dovea, Thurles, Co. Tipperary. This one is no stranger to the winners enclosure having won six 1^st prizes to date this summer. In addition to claiming the biggest title in Munster, this heifer also won the overall supreme breed championship at the Slaney Foods International Finals in Gorey back in June.

The Dudley family also collected the Reserve Munster Senior Female of the Year with young breeder Glenn Dudley taking the blue ribbon with his senior cow, Lakelodge Kathy 5. This one is a former 1^st prize winner at the National Hereford Show, Tullamore and was shown with a Spring born heifer calf at foot.

New exhibitors to the Munster scene, William & Kevin Ryan, Woodpark, Carney, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary took the third prize position in the senior female section with their recently acquired senior heifer, Gouldingpoll 1 Duchess 742. This maiden heifer is a daughter of the 2016 National Hereford Champion, Gouldingpoll 1 Duchess 591.

JUNIOR BULL OF THE YEAR2017 Munster Junior Bull of the Year, Gurteragh Rambo 700 with Michael O’ Keeffe (exhibitor) and Pat McCarthy, (President, IHBS).

Michael O’ Keeffe, Gurteragh, Newmarket, Co. Cork emerged victorious in the bull category, taking the 2017 Munster Junior Bull of the Year title with the July 2016 born bull, Gurteragh Rambo 700. This bull is sired by Trillick Best and was a regular prize-winner at many local and national shows this summer, highlighted by taking 2^nd prize at the 2017 National Hereford Show in Tullamore.

Adrian Cronin, Rathcomane, Ballyhar, Killarney, Co. Kerry took the reserve title in the junior bull section with Rathcomane Caesar. This bull calf has compiled an impressive record of wins this summer, clinching the calf championship at Charleville, the reserve calf championship at Clonmel and the reserve All-Ireland bull of the Year at the National Herford Show, Tullamore.

Reserve Munster Junior Bull of the Year, Rathcomane Ceasar, with Adrian Cronin (exhibitor) and Pat McCarthy, (President, IHBS).

Michael O’ Keeffe also claimed the third prize spot with another Trillick Best son, Gurteragh Rossa 699, who had previously taken the Premier Bull Calf Championship title at Nenagh Show a few weeks ago.

JUNIOR FEMALE OF THE YEAR

2017 Munster Junior Female of the Year, Kilsunny Lass Nectar with Susan Dudley (exhibitor), Patrick McCarthy (President, IHBS) & Declan Donnelly.

Trevor Dudley, Kilsunny Hse, Dovea, Thurles, Co. Tipperary added another title to his ever-growing collection in the junior heifer section, taking the top spot with the heifer calf, Kilsunny Lass Nectar. The latest addition to the hugely successful Lass cow family at Kilsunny, Nectar was also the Reserve Premier Heifer Calf Champion at Nenagh, the Supreme Calf Champion at Clonmel and 3^rd Heifer Calf Champion at the Slaney Foods International Finals in Gorey.

John Neenan, Tullaha, Broadford, Charleville, Co. Limerick took the reserve female of the year prize with his heifer, Tullaha Audrey. This one is sired by Kilsunny Goliath and was a 1^st prize winner at the first of the qualifying heats for the Munster finals at Charleville Show last June.

Veronica Brennan & Ray Hunt, Ballyherberry, Dualla, Cashel, Co. Tipperary took home the third prize in the junior heifer calf category, with their heifer calf, Herberry 1 Lucy Lou. The youngest heifer in the final line-up, this one is part of the first ever crop of calves born at the newly established Herberry polled Herford herd.

Report & Photos by Edward Dudley