Breeder’s ambition realised at Mogeely

A LIFELONG ambition to win the Limousin Championship at the National Ploughing Championships Show was achieved by Jim and Ann O’ Neill, Ballynerrin, Wicklow, when their November 2000 cow, Ravissante, shown with her April born heifer calf at foot, was adjudged best senior cow, senior female, overall female, and overall champion.

Show judge Stephen Illingworth said she had only one fault; that she was not in his own herd.

Imported as a heifer from France, she had won many summer shows and was the best senior cow at the National Livestock Show.

The reserve overall champion, and best junior female champion and reserve female champion was ‘Sliabh Felim Ursula’, shown by Sean Ryan, Cappamore, Co Limerick. She was the All-Ireland calf champion of 2004 and a first prize winning member of the Irish team in the European Limousin show in Paris, early in 2005.

The male champion at Mogeely, ‘Pacha’, a November 1999 born bull, was shown by the Jim O’Neill and Donal Moloney partnership. Bought in France in 2003 for €66,000, it was his first appearance in an Irish show, having been a Paris champion in 2004.

The reserve male champion and best junior male was Bremore Viper, shown by Bobby Jones, Skerries, Co Dublin.

Local exhibitor John O’Grady, Midleton, showed the reserve male champion, Greenhill Trojan.

Brendan Clancy, Co Clare showed the best exhibitor’s pair; Dan Tynan, Mountrath showed the best trio.