The breeders of the record-breaking €13,200 Mercury Red Unbeatable Kim ET, John, and Shane Murphy, have continued on their winning streak, this time, claiming the prestigious Growvite All-Ireland Aberdeen Angus championship.
Angus Stovold – who runs the Rosemead herd in England – tapped out the herd’s Mercury Special Tinge as his overall champion at Oldcastle Show over the weekend.
The Irish Aberdeen Angus Association hosted their first All-Ireland finals since 2019.
This major summer event in the Angus calendar attracted 80 entries and made what has been described as “tough” work for this year’s judge.
Aberdeen Angus championship
His overall champion, a “super”, young cow, was bred by the Murphys and had, earlier in the day, also secured the senior champion silverware.
Special Tinge is a two-year-old first calver by the herd’s former stock bull, Luddenmore Just The Business and out of the home-bred Mercury Lovely Tinge, making her a full sister to Dovea AI bull, Mercury Royal Tinge.
She was exhibited alongside her January heifer calf, Mercury Evening Tinge Y882, a Mercury Sexy Eric daughter.
This marks the first overall championship win for the Cork pair, who were presented the prestigious All-Ireland championship trophy by Mark O’Rourke and Stephen Lyons of Univet, title sponsors of the event for the last 33 years.
Reserve overall champion
It was a double for the county as the standing reserve overall champion was Mogeely Dram X783 from Albert and Jennifer DeCogan.
The DeCogan pair have claimed the supreme championship on no less than seven occasions at this annual event.
Dram X783 emerged victorious from the biggest class of the day before taking the junior and reserve overall championship.
Sired by a former stock bull, Wedderlie Blackbox J935, this September-2021-born bull is a full brother to Mogeely Dreamer, who secured the overall championship at the 2019 event.
This topped a highly successful day for the Mogeely duo, who also took home a host of other prizes on the day.
The next highest of these was the reserve senior championship with their senior cow Mogeely Diana T540.
This 2017-born cow is by Wedderlie Oscalade R250 and was shown alongside her December heifer calf by the aforementioned, Wedderlie Blackbox J935.
The last championship on the day available was the reserve junior which Carrowboy Victory ET secured.
Strokestown native, Alan Gibbons, bred the January heifer, which is by Lawsons Ford Bagatelle Z094 with Rawburn Lord Rocket F609 on the dam’s side.
Bulls
Another of Gibbon’s entries, Carrowboy VIB took first place in the baby class of the day for calves born after April 1st, 2022.
This young bull is by Maine Dragon and is a full brother to Dovea AI bull Kilteevan Nicky.
Collecting the red rosette in the first class of the day, senior bull, was previously mentioned Albert and Jennifer DeCogan with their stock bull, Laheens Reputation.
This 2018-born bull is a son of Weeton Diamond Mine P444 and out of a Mogeely Joe H979 bred dam.
Standing first in the intermediate bull class was Lisduff Lando X901 from Leo McEnroe, Virgina, Co Cavan. This bull is by the herd’s stock bull Liss Minter S590.
First in the January bull calf class was Eoin O’Reilly with Bridgehouse Vinnie. This bull is a son of Duibhgiolla Luigi and out of Caurly Nationwide-bred dam, Bridgehouse Doll V112.
Heifer and pair classes
In the two-year-old non-calved heifer class, top of the line was Millbawn Twinkle from Tj Duffy, Co Mayo. This heifer is by Rawburn Jagger Eric R094 and out of Millbawn Nancy.
For heifers born from January 2021 to August 2021, the top pick was Kerins Ulrikemi from Sligo-based Bernard Kerins.
This January-2021-born heifer is by Lavally Prince with Luddenmore Fionn on the dam’s side.
Lawsonsford Eunice X488 rose to the top of the autumn 2021 heifer class.
Bred and exhibited by Michael and Barry Smith, she is by the herd’s stock bull, Gortnalon Nidge.
Finally, taking the pairs was John and Kate Tait of the Westellen herd, who also made the long journey up from Cork.
In the young handler’s section emerging victorious was Sally Towey, Creggs, Co. Galway.
Note: Photos: Credit: Alfie Shaw via Irish Aberdeen Angus Association.
