The 2019 Munster Bull & Female of the Year contest came to a conclusion at Cappamore Show last weekend with an increased entry present at the finals from last year. The summer-long competition was run on a points basis with the final placings determined on the back of the results obtained at Tralee, Charleville, Bridgetown, Newcastlewest, Nenagh and Cappamore shows. The contest is designed to reward consistency over the summer show season and also to encourage Munster Branch members to exhibit at local shows in the province. There was substantial prize money on offer to the winners across all sections and the competition was particularly fierce during the early qualifying stages with over 60 Hereford entries present at several of the qualifying shows.

The 2019 Munster Junior Bull of the Year title went to Gerry McNamara & Family from Labasheeda, Ennis, Co Clare with their bull calf, Churchcross Hurler. This bull was a dominant force for the entire summer and won his class at all but one of the qualifying shows to realise a near-perfect final tally for the year-ending Munster provincial championship. This superb young bull also took the National All-Ireland bull championship at the National Hereford Show, Tullamore, the Slaney Foods International junior male championship at Gorey and the overall supreme breed championship & junior bull championship at the Longford Show & County Fair to name just a few of his remarkable show achievements to date.

The 2019 Munster Junior Female of the Year was awarded to Trevor Dudley & Family, Kilsunny House, Dovea, Thurles, Co Tipperary with their heifer calf, Kilsunny Lass Prim. Another familiar face in the winner’s enclosure, this 12 month old heifer has secured seven 1^st prizes over the summer so far, most notably taking the overall junior female championship at the Slaney Foods International Finals in Gorey in addition to her Munster crown. This one is a full sister to Kilsunny Lass Nectar & Kilsunny Lass Orchid who took champion and reserve at the Munster Finals in the calf section for 2017 & 2018 respectively.

The 2019 Munster Senior Female of the Year was won by Kilsunny Lass Orchid from Trevor Dudley & Family, Kilsunny House, Dovea, Thurles, Co Tipperary. The Kilsunny prefix is synonymous with success at Munster level with the last three winners at both junior and senior female level coming from the Kilsunny Hereford herd. This year’s recipient of the senior title came in the form of the in-calf heifer, Kilsunny Lass Orchid who took top points at every single qualifying show that she competed at and also won 1^st prize and the reserve supreme Hereford breed championship at the Slaney Foods International Finals in Gorey as well as a total of seven 1^st prizes, three breed championships and two reserve championships too.

Well done to Colin Bourke, Tipperary, on winning the All breeds – under 17 years of age Young Handlers competition.

Well done to all the exhibitors who exhibited cattle at the qualifying shows throughout the summer and the finals at Cappamore and sincere congratulations to each of the winners.