A combined prize fund of €31,500 is up for grabs in the ALDI Bull Calf Championships 2023, which was recently launched by the retailer, ABP and the Irish Angus Cattle Society.
Since the launch of the single bull calf championship in 2013, the classes have gone “from strength to strength”.
There are now three qualifiers held at 14 locations throughout the summer to potentially select 84 bulls across three age-determined categories to contest the three championship finals.
The prize money is available to registered members of the Irish Angus Cattle Society and is “by far the most rewarding prize money” on offer to Angus breeders throughout the showing season.
This year’s finals will be held at the Iverk Show in Piltown Co Kilkenny on Saturday, August 26th where they have been running a successful agricultural show since 1826.
Lucrative classes
The three Angus bull calf championships are supported by seven lucrative classes on the day.
There are four female classes with a combined value of €4,000, and this year, the winner of each class advances to contest the newly introduced class, An Banríonn Dubh, which boasts an additional prize fund of €1,000 in a winner-takes-all female championship.
Following on from the success of Tread Na hÉireann in 2022, there is a “very strong” interest in the 2023 renewal.
Junior Stockperson of the Year Competition
The ALDI-sponsored Junior Stockperson of the Year and the Young Handler Competition boast an eye-catching first prize of €1,000.
The ALDI YDP Junior Stockperson of the Year is now firmly established on the Irish Angus calendar.
Following on from the three regional qualifiers to be held in Charleville, Longford and Bonniconlon, nine boys and girls aged between 13 and 17 will congregate at the Iverk show to fight it out for the lucrative first prize.
The finalists are judged on five disciplines, including sustainability, knowledge of the breed, stock judging, animal preparation for showing and ring showmanship.
The competition’s aim is to improve the participant’s personal development and knowledge of all that preparing and presenting stock in a show ring entails, to ensure that “there is succession in place so that the future for the showing of Irish Angus cattle is in safe hands”.
