On October 15th, The Irish Hereford Autumn premier show and sale took place at GVM Tullamore. Phillip and Laura Vincent, owners of the well renowned Pulham Hereford herd in South Norfolk, were tasked with the tough job of presiding over the judging at the Premier Hereford show.
A fantastic atmosphere resulted from the commendably high quality of stock turned out on the day, which made the judging very challenging for the English pair, securing the male and female championships even more prized for the breeders.

The Irish Hereford Breed Society would like to say a huge thank you to Irish Hereford Prime for continuing to support the sale by providing €250 to the purchasers of each bull that sold for €3,000 or more.

The first class of the day was for bulls born between the 29th of October 2020 and the 28th of February 2021. The top spot in this class went to Coralstown Hurricane, who later went on to be crowned Male Champion. Coralstown Hurricane, bred by Enda and Colin Burke of Coralstown Herefords, Co. Westmeath also topped the trade selling to Country Crest Farms for €5,500. It was a day to remember for the father and son duo as it was their first time exhibiting at a premier sale. This bull was sired by Trillick George & was bred from a Trillick Snazzy dam.

Second prize in this class went to Michael and Sinead Conry of Rathnollag Herefords, Co. Roscommon, the father and daughter duo kicked off the sale in good fashion with their January 2021 born bull Rathnollag Buster. Buster being one of the first bulls into the ring started the sale with a bang. Sired by Trillick Hotspur & bred from a Castleroberts Stephanie dam, the hammer fell for Buster at €3,400.

The second class of the day went to Griananpoll 1 Vegas for T&A Fitzgerald of Grianan Herefords in Co.Westmeath. They had a very successful day, taking home a total of €7,000 for their two bulls. Born in March 2021, Griananpoll 1 Vegas was the first bull to reach €4,000 after winning his class earlier that morning. Vegas is 5-star replacement and 4-star for carcase weight. He is sired by Gouldingpoll 1 Moonshine ET and is going back to a Dendor 1 Greta 31st dam. Vegas was purchased by a pedigree breeder in Northern Ireland. The Fitzgeralds other bull at the sale, Grianan Wildfire sold for €3,000. Wildfire is sired by Pute Nascar N13 and is going back to a Grianan Cooperobin 712 dam.

Alan Gibbons of Strokestown, Co. Roscommon with Mullaghey 1 Tom 4 secured second place in Class 2. Mullaghey 1 Tom 4 is sired by Knockglass Donald and was bred from a Grousehallpoll 1 Premier ET dam. Tom 4 went on to sell for €3,000 in the ring. Third in the class went to Ardstewart Gunner owned by Nelson and Wade McCrabbe from Co. Donegal and later sold for €3,000.

The third class of the day was for bulls born between the 26th of June and the 30th of September 2021. Taking top spot in this class was Eamon and John Mc Kiernan with their bull Knockmanta 1 Major 2. Major 2 went one step further and was also tapped out as reserve male champion. This July born 2021 bull was sired by Fabb 1 Northern Star and is out of a Knockmanta 1 Jessica 3 dam. The hammer fell at €3,000 for Major 2 who boasted a 5- star replacement and 4- star terminal index.

Hitting €4,000 was the youngest bull in the sale Mountwilliams Pogba for Aidan Farrell of Mountwilliams Herefords in Co. Westmeath. Pogba is a September 2021 born bull, sired by Butlerstown Duke and going back to a Mountwilliams Iris ET dam. Pogba boasts 5-stars for replacement and has a calving ease figure that is lower than the breed average.

Females

Class one in the female section went to Loughglas 1 Wanda for Nigel Heatrick Co. Monaghan. This November 2020 born heifer was sired by Clooncullane Major 343 and went on to sell for €2,800. Second in the class went to Kye Rosie 933, a Pullham Ranger daughter for Padraig McGrath, and later went on to sell for €2,650. Third in the class went to Nigel Heatrick with Glasslough Wendy, Wendy was a July 2020 heifer and sold for €2,400.

The second heifer class of the day saw Lios Breacpoll 1 Patricia placed first in her class and was also tapped out as female champion on the day. This stylish heifer was bred by John and Enda Flynn from Newtownforbes, Co. Longford. Patricia is a July 2021 born heifer, sired by Fabb 1 Northern star going back to a Grianan Orange T868 cow. Patricia went on to make the highest female price of the day at €4,900.
Second place and reserve champion went to Kye Ger 965 from Padraig Mc Grath, Elphin Co Roscommon. The September 2021 heifer is sired by Pulham Ranger and out of a Kye Ger 749 dam. The hammer fell at €2,700 for Ger 965.Third in the class went to Aughakil 1 Pumpkin from Kenton Crowe Co. Leitrim who later went on to sell for €2,450

Crowenstown Prettymaid 3 was also a top attraction as she sold for the second highest price of the day at €3,300 to a Cork herd. Bred by the Drumm family of Delvin Co. Westmeath, the February 2021 heifer was sired by Mawarra Sentimental ET1 HYF and bred from an Allowdale Prettymaid 557 daughter. Prettymaid 3 has a 5-star rating for replacement, carcass weight, carcass confirmation, daughter milk and daughter calving interval.
Congratulations to all buyers and sellers on a remarkably successful sale. Many thanks to the stewards on the day, the judges Philip and Laura Vincent, the auctioneer Mr. Eamonn Gaffney, the photographer Ms. Shannon Kinahan, the staff of GVM Tullamore and Irish Hereford Prime.