Blelack Elijah Wins 2010 All-Ireland Angus Championship
2010-08-17

Aberdeen Angus breeders travelled the length and breadth of the country to compete at the Growvite All-Ireland Championships, held this year at Mohill Show, County Leitrim.

Owen and Angela Armstrong McFadden, Navan, receive the All-Ireland Perpetual Championship Trophy at from Joe Keville, president, Irish Aberdeen Angus Association; and Brendan Crowe, Univet/Tulivin.

Scottish judge, Neil Massie OBE, from Dinnet, Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, described the event ‘as a first-class show’. The weather has been fantastic and I have thoroughly enjoyed my day.

There were some very strong classes, and with almost 90 entries catalogued, I had some difficult decisions to make. The female classes were stronger than the bull classes, but the quality was exceptional with the winners in each class standing out.”
Scooping the prestigious All-Ireland Perpetual Championship Trophy, and the 250 Euro cash prize was the senior Aberdeen Angus bull, Blelack Elijah, shown by Owen and Angela Armstrong McFadden, who run the 50-cow Crerogue herd based at Navan, County Meath.

Mrs Armstrong McFadden was delighted to win the prestigious All-Ireland Trophy, which was won by her father, Ralph Armstrong, in 1969.

Blelack Elijah was bred by Neil Massie, which meant that the Irish Aberdeen Angus Association had to appoint a substitute judge to place the bull in the championship line-up. Mr Massie stood aside while Alwyn Armour, who had judged the young stockperson classes earlier in the day, selected Blelack Elijah as the senior and overall champion.

Mr Armour, who runs the noted Woodvale herd at Dromara, County Down, said:”This bull is very complete. He displays great breed character and has a wonderful head, good legs and feet, and great fleshing ability.” These words were echoed by Mr Massie who added:”He is an outstanding bull, and has developed well since we sold him.”

This tremendous April 2007 born bull was purchased by the McFadden duo for 7,000gns at Perth in February 2009 – the last sale at Perth Agricultural Centre. He travelled north in May to scoop the overall breed championship at Balmoral; and won the interbreed honours at Mullingar Show, the reserve interbreed award at Virginia Show, and was crowed Aberdeen Angus champion at the National Show held at Tullamore.

Standing in reserve supreme position was Liss Miglo B434, a seven-year-old cow from John McEnroe’s herd at Oldscastle, County Meath. Sired by Gigginstown Rolls Royce, she was accompanied by her October 2009 born Mosston Muir Lord Ringo heifer calf.

Mr Massie added:”The runner-up certainly isn’t the biggest, or the greatest show cow I have ever seen, but she is breeding tremendously well and has an exceptional heifer calf at foot. She is very stylish, sweet and feminine. “

John McEnroe was delighted to win the reserve All-Ireland Championship Award which included a 130 Euro cash prize and veterinary products sponsored by Univet/Tulivin. Mr McEnroe’s Liss herd comprises of 90 pedigree cows. His winning entry has been flushed extensively, and is a daughter of the herd’s former stock bull, Gigginstown Rolls Royce – now working in a herd in Germany.

The junior championship was snapped up by Bunlahy Beatrice K246, a seven-month-old heifer calf bred by Messrs G A and D Reynolds, Ballinalee, County Longford. Sired by Young Dale Superior 14S, she is out of the home-bred Bunlahy Beatrice Y073.

Standing in reserve junior position was the second prize winning heifer calf, Shankill Lady Heather, shown by Pat and Finbarr Cahill, Cavan. Born in January 2010, she is by the herd’s stock bull, Cashelane Bart – which stood second in his class to the champion at the All-Ireland final.

Sponsors, Brendan Crowe and Mark O’Rourke of Univet/Tulivin were on hand to congratulate the winners and present them with their prizes. Irish Aberdeen Angus Association secretary, Mrs Kathryn Bradshaw, thanked Univet/Tulivin for its continued sponsorship of the Growvite All-Ireland Aberdeen Angus Championship which boasts a prize fund in excess of 3,000 Euro. “Univet/Tulivin have been sole sponsor of the All-Ireland final since 1987.”

Alwyn Armour praised the winners in the junior and senior stockperson classes for their showmanship skills and knowledge of the breed. “The winners in each class were exceptional, and all competitors were well turned out.”

Results from the 2010 All-Ireland Aberdeen Angus Championships include:

Senior stockperson, aged between 17 and 25-years-old - 1, Niamh McEnroe, Oldcastle, County Meath; 2, Adrian Parke, Strabane, County Tyrone; 3, Nicola Martin, Saintfield, County Down; 4, Patrick Beirne, Gorvagh, County Leitrim.

Junior stockperson, under 17-years-old – 1, David Goulding, Ballyduff, County Kerry; 2, Jack Smyth, Strabane, County Tyrone; 3, Marie McFadden, Navan, County Meath; 4, Sam Matchett, Portadown, County Armagh.

Bull, born before 1/09/08 – 1, Owen and Angela Armstrong McFadden, Navan, County Meath, Blelack Elijah by Nightingale Ernie; 2, Patrick Cahill, Cavan, Cashelane Bart D572 by Coldstream Genetic Trend; 3, Albert de Cogan, Castlemartyr, County Cork, Deveron Jasper Eric F170 by Deveron Limited Edition; 4, Gigginstown House Aberdeen Angus, Mullingar, County Westmeath, Cashelane Marty F666 by DMM Commander.

Bull, born between 1/09/08 and 31/08/09 – 1, Shane McKiernan, Ballinagh, County Cavan, Drumcarbin Lord Inver by Bohey Leo; 2, Frank McKiernan, Ballinagh, County Cavan, Drumcrow Firepower by Coldstream Genetic Trend; 3, Frank McKiernan, Drumcrow Fantastic by Coldstream Genetic Trend; 4, Messrs E, D and E Burke, Carrigaline, County Cork, Clontead Ferari by Goulding Dynamic Patriot.

Bull, born between 1/09/09 and 31/12/09 – 1, Dr Michael Sheahan, Grange, Kilmallock, Luddenmore Mr Edition JOH1 by Hoff Limited Edition; 2, Jerry Henchy, Grange, Kilmallock, Friarstown Empire J160 by Aynho Rossiter Eric; 3, Matthew Goulding, Ballyduff, County Kerry, Goulding Tobby F203 by Netherton Eastern Cruz; 4, Dessie Martin, Saintfield, County Down, Lister Eisen J652 by Fordel Eisenhouwer 742B.

Bull, born on or after 1/01/10 – 1, Thomas Reynolds, Bornacoola, Knockadrinan Bellman J495 by Knockadrinan Precise G398; 2, Matthew Goulding, Goulding Jumbo King K436 by Aynho Rossiter Eric; 3, Faughnan Family, Mohill, County Leitrim, Molloy Lord Hubbub K120 by Knockadrinan Precise; 4, Owen and Angela Armstrong McFadden, Crerogue Eisenhower by Blelack Elijah.

Cow, born before 1/01/07 – 1, John McEnroe, Oldcastle, County Meath, Liss Miglo B434 by Gigginstown Rolls Royce; 2, Kate and John Tait, Midleton, County Cork, Westellen Black Buddy by Tonroe Udi; 3, Albert de Cogan, Liss Bett by Gigginstown Rolls Royce; 4, Thomas Beirne, Mohill, County Leitrim, Cloghogue Carol by Nakkeg Nord.

Cow, born on or after 1/01/07 – 1, Jerry Henchy, Friarstown Francis G053 by Ranui W Impact 762; 2, Fintan Keown, Belleek, County Fermanagh, Homefarm Ebony Swinger by Nakkeg Nord; 3, Owen McFadden and Angela Armstrong McFadden, Grerogue Emilia by Tonagh Aston; 4, John McEnroe, Liss Blarney Maid 886 by Bunlahy Bandit 185.

Heifer, born between 1/09/07 and 31/08/08 – 1, Patrick Cahill, Cavan, Shankill Mara H042 by Cashelane Bart; 2, Joe Keville, Aughamore, County Leitrim, Alwood Poppy H213 by Fordel Eisenhower; 3, Fintan Keown, Homefarm Elisa by Fordel Eisenhower; 4, Sean Kilrane, Mohill, Drumboy Elsie by Tegnose Karmen.

Heifer, born between 1/09/08 and 31/08/09 – 1, Messrs E, D and E Burke, Carrigaline, County Cork, Shankill Lady Heldon by Cashelane Bart; 2, Faughnan Family, Molloy Lady Hazel by Belvin Patriot; 3, John Brady, Virginia, County Cavan, Lisnafarna Deirdre H005 by Bunlahy Bandit E185; 4, John McEnroe, Liss Bett 943 by Summitcrest Prince.

Heifer, born between 1/09/09 and 31/12/09 – 1, Thomas Reynolds, Bonacoola, Knockadrinan Bell J467 by Gigginstown House Drew E300; 2, Matthew Goulding, Goulding Ester F202 by Aynho Rossiter Eric; 3, Pat Meehan, Limerick, Dalriada Parker J695 by Curragh Malcolm; 4, John McEnroe, Oldcastle, County Meath, Liss Miylo 1037 by Mosston Muir Lord Ringo.

Heifer calf, born on or after 1/01/10 - 1, Messrs G A and D Reynolds, Ballinalee, County Longford, Bunlahy Beatrice K246 by Young Dale Superior 14S; 2, Patrick Cahill, Shankill Lady Heather by Cashelane Bart; ,3 Jerry Henchy, Friarstown Ella H172 by Rawburn Rommel; 4, Thomas Reynolds, Knockadrinan Barmaid K493 by Knockadrinan Precise G398.

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