Joint owner spotted future cow champ as six-month-old calf

Joint owner Tadhg Bourke knew Baldonnel Goldie Larissa was a future champ when he saw her as a six-month-old calf.

And breeder Cyril Dowling knew her cow family was a winner when he spotted them in Canada.

The five-year-old is now the Irish show ring star, having combined a recent national calf champion win for her first daughter with her own Irish Examiner National Dairy Show 2015 Supreme Championship last Saturday at Millstreet. Her owners will make the most of her success by selling embryos. She was described as a tremendous animal by Harold Sweetnam, who returned to his native county from his farm in Canada to be the show judge last Saturday.

The Bourkes of Adare, Co Limerick, previously had reserve overall and junior champs at Millstreet — so the win was a major breakthrough for Tadgh, aged 31, who combines farming and dairy breeding and showing the animals with his work as a veterinary surgeon.

The Bourkes milk 120 cows averaging 9,000 litres at 3.4% protein. For 10 years, Tadgh has helped the Dowlings of Baldonnel, Co Dublin, prepare and show their prize animals.

The Dowlings had the champion at Millstreet in 1998, and their consistent success has continued with wins such as the Baileys champion title in 2005 and 2008

With an eye to the show ring, John Dowling says they breed for type only among their 80 cows on their 120 acres situated within two minutes of Newlands Cross and Citywest on the edge of Dublin. Another brother, Colin, farms 300 acres of tillage near Naas.

Another Co Dublin dairy farmer was a winner on Saturday, with Mervyn Eager, Lucan, accepting the National Dairy Show’s annual lifetime achievement award.

He served as Irish Holstein Friesian Breeders Association President in 2008, when IHFA successfully hosted the World Holstein Friesian Conference at Killarney and Millstreet.

SHOW RESULTS

Irish Examiner National Dairy Show 2015 Supreme Champion:

Baldonnel Goldie Larissa, exhibited by Cyril Dowling, Baldonnel, Co Dublin, and Tadhg Bourke, Adare, Co Limerick. Reserve: Kingsleigh S901 Karry 604, Shay & Margaret Nyhan, Clonakilty, Co Cork. Honourable Mention: Laurelelm Ruben Sassy, Ricky & John Barrett, Ballinhassig, Co Cork.

Exhibitor bred champion, sponsored by Colin Johnson:

Baldonnel Goldie Larissa. Reserve: Kingsleigh S901 Karry.

YMA Showmanship Junior League Final, sponsored by ESB Networks:

: JJ O’Connor, Cork Club.

YMA Showmanship Intermediate League Final, sponsored by ESB Networks:

Rachel Corley, Breffni Oriel Club.

YMA Showmanship Senior League Final, sponsored by ESB Networks:

Andrea Rafferty, Breffni Oriel Club.

Handler aged 12-18 exhibiting a calf born after July 1 in 2014, sponsored by Boveq Scanning:

1st. Katie Gahan. 2nd Megan Boal. 3rd Doireann Mulhall. 4th Rachel McNamara.

Novice Handler under 12 exhibiting calf born in 2015, sponsored byKeenan Systems:

1st Manus Murphy. 2nd Clara Roche. 3rd Conor McNamara. 4th Claire Smith. 5th Clodagh O’Sullivan.

Champion handler sponsored by Munster Cattle Breeding Group:

Katie Gahan of the Slaney Club. Reserve: Megan Boal of the Galway Club.

Jersey heifer born 2015 sponsored by Dairygold Post Calver Gold:

1st. Moorshill Redpath Nikk, Pat Ahern, Rylane. 2nd Ribblesdale Vanahlem Ermintrude, Eamon McLoughney, Co. Tipperary. 3rd Moorshill Senior S, Pat Ahern. 4th Massrock S1542 Daisy, Ger Lehane, Timoleague, Co. Cork.

Heifer born 2015 sponsored by Osmonds:

1st Dellview Snow Angel, Gordon Kingston, Co. Cork. 2nd Ballyelan Uno Embrace, Tom Lynch, Co. Limerick. 3rd Portvale Atwood Vicky, Clayton Coulter, Co. Monaghan. 4th Ballyboy Armani Carmen 995, Jim & Una Sinnott, Co. Wexford. Best Exhibitor Bred: Dellview Snow Angel. Highest EBI: Greenlea Mg Rhapsody.

Heifer born after July 1 in 2014, sponsored by Carbery Group:

1st. Hallow Lavanguard Chrisi, Philip & Linda Jones, Co. Wexford. 2nd: Coolnamara Fever Z, Liam & Sandra Murphy, Co. Carlow. 3rd.: Clonpaddin Lavanguard Flavour, Garry & John Hurley, Co. Wicklow. 4th: Sprucegrove Heztry Peggy, Keypoint Holsteins, Co. Galway/Aidan Foody.

Heifer born before June 30 in 2014 sponsored by Barretts Agi & Southern Farm Fuels:

1st: Bunacloy V-B Doorman Alioli ET, Mike Magan. 2nd: Greenlea Shottle Pledge, Padraic Greenan, Co. Monaghan. 3rd: Coolrue Damion Joni, Sean Kelly, Co. Tipperary. 4th: Mounteen Stonewall Nula, John G. Kirby, Clonakilty, Co. Cork.

Heifer born after July 1 in 2013 not in milk sponsored by Dovea Genetics:

1st: Evergreen Seven Lauren, Liam & Sandra Murphy. 2nd: Denmire Doorman Marie Anne 8, Hugh Dwyer, Killorglin, Co. Kerry. Best Exhibitor Bred: Evergreen Seven Lauren. Highest EBI: Denmire Doorman Marie Anne 8.

Junior Holstein Champion sponsored by Munster A.I:

Evergreen Seven Lauren, Liam & Sandra Murphy. Reserve Champion: Dellview Snow Angel, Gordon Kingston. Honourable Mention: Hallow Lavanguard Chrisi, Philip & Linda Jones, Gorey, Co. Wexford.

Jersey heifer born before 2015, not in milk, sponsored by DeLaval/Tom Harte Agri Services:

1st: Sprucegrove Redpath Sangria, Aidan Foody, Crossmolina, Co. Mayo. 2nd: Ribbledale Kyros Roxy 2, Shanawayhill Farms, Ballineen, Co. Cork. 3rd: Bluestone Ex Bailey’s Louise, Tom Lynch, Ballingarry, Co. Limerick.

Confined Heifer in milk sponsored by Kerry Agribusiness:

1st Mirah Laven Maggie, Michael Freeney, Co. Galway. 2nd Evergrange Jill ET, Eamon McLoughney. 3rd: Aughrim Missy ET, David Noonan, Blarney, Co. Cork.

2-year-old heifer in milk born on or after March 1, 2013, sponsored by Eurogene AI Services:

1st Kilwarden Windbrook J Vixan, B. & J. Cocoman, , Kilwarden, Kill, Co. Kildare. 2nd: Crossnacole Seaver Janik, Victor Jackson, Kiltegan, Co. Wicklow. 3rd: Skeafbridge Shottle Myfairlady, D. & J. O’Driscoll, Timoleague, Co. Cork. 4th: Laurelmore Deg Meg, John & Ricky Barrett, Togher, Cork. 5th: Sprucegrove Lavanguard Peggy, A. & S. Foody.

Junior 3-year-old heifer/cow in milk born Sept 2, 2012 to February 28, 2013, sponsored by Bank of Ireland:

1st: Clonpaddin RCU Jill 2, Gary and John Hurley, Arklow, Co. Wicklow. 2nd: Ardnasalem Fever Sarah, Patrick Colton, Emyvale, Co. Monaghan. 3rd: Baldonnel Flashmatic Renita, Cyril & John Dowling, Co. Dublin. 4th: Ballyboy Windbrook Carmen, Jim & Una Sinnott, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. . Exhibitor bred: Clonpaddin RCU Jill 2. Highest EBI: Skeafbridge Aftshoc Myfairlady. Best Udder: Clonpaddin RCU Jill 2.

Intermediate Holstein Champion, sponsored by Ornua:

Kilwarden Windbrook J. Vixan, B. & J. Cocoman. Reserve Champion: Clonpaddin RCU Jill 2, Gary & John Hurley. Honourable Champion: Ardnasalem Fever Sarah, Patrick Colton, Emyvale, Co Monaghan.

Jersey heifer in milk, sponsored by FBD:

1st: Suirvalley OT Starlight, Patrick Gaynor, Mullagh, Co. Cavan. 2nd: Kilgarriffe Monica, Eamon McLoughney, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary. 3rd: Slevoy Biscuit, Denis Roche, Co. Wexford. 4th: Bluestone Daisy, Tom Lynch, Ball Co. Limerick. 5th: Massrock PWI Bessie, Ger Lehane, Timoleague, Co. Cork

Confined cow in milk, sponsored by Farm Store, Bandon:

1st: Hallow Attwood Twizzle ET, D. & T. Neville, Croagh, Co. Limerick. 2nd: Shanakiel WSO Ridical, Alan Kelleher, Macroom, Co. Cork. 3rd: Foherish Shottle Rhonda, Jerome O’Leary, Clondrohid, Co. Cork. 4th: Swiftsheath Windbrook Twizzle ET, Patrick Gaynor, Mullagh, Co. Cavan. 5th: Coolroehouse Damion Cristina, P. Whitley & G. Beechinor, Co. Cork. 6th: Knockbrown Windbrook Mia ET, Patrick Gaynor, Mullagh, Co. Cavan.

Confined Championship, sponsored by MSD Animal Health:

Clonpaddin RCU Jill 2, D. & T. Neville. Reserve Confined Champion: Mirah Laven Maggie, Michael Freeney.

Jersey cow in milk, sponsored by Irish Farmers Association:

1st Laurelelm Comereica Glamour, Ricky & John Barrett. 2nd: Bluestone JJ Louise, Eamon McLoughney. 3rd: Laurelelm Vindication Poppy, Ricky & John Barrett. 4th: Moorshill On Time Eve, Patrick Ahern, Rylane, Co. Cork.

Overall Jersey Champion & Reserve, sponsored by Viking Genetics:

Laurelelm Comereica Glamour, Rickey & John Barrett. Reserve: Suirvalley OT Starlight, Patrick Gaynor. Hon. Mention: Kilgarriffe Monica, Eamon McLoughney.

Senior 3-year-old cow in milk born between 2012 before Aug 31, sponsored by Southern Milling:

1st Kingsleigh S901 Karry 604, Shay & Margaret Nyhan, Clonakilty, Co. Cork. 2nd: Tubbertoby Atwood Fran, P. & M. Flanaghan, Termonfeckin, Co. Louth. 3rd: Ardnasalem Jenny ET, Patrick Colton. 4th: Evergrange Jill ET, Eamon McLoughney. 5th: Firmount Tulip 7, M. McCarthy, Shanawayhill, Co. Cork.

4-year-old cow born 2011, sponsored by AIB Bank:

1st: Lisnacunna Dee Beauty Red, Patrick Coffey, Clonakilty, Co. Cork. 2nd: Kilwarden Evolve Barbie ET, Brian & S. Hayes, Kinsale, Co. Cork. 3rd: Kilwarden Sid G. Vixan, B. & J. Cocoman. 4th: Baldonnel Gold Floss ET, Cyril & John Dowling, Co. Dublin. 5th: Laurelelm Fever Perfection, Rickey & John Barrett. 6th: Delasheen Aftershock Chrisi, P. & M. Flanagan.

5-year-old cow in milk born 2010, sponsored by McDonnell Bros:

1st: Baldonnel Goldie Larissa, Cyril Dowling and Tadhg Bourke. 2nd Kilwarden Shottle L. Carmen, Brochan Cocoman. 3rd: Glaslough Baxter Elly, Patrick Colton. 4th: Barna Ross Linda, M. & E. McNamara, Newtownshandrum, Co. Limerick. 5th: Coolroehouse Damion Cristina, P. Whitley and G. Beechinor, Co. Cork.

Mature cow in milk born before Dec. 31, 2010, sponsored by IHFA:

1st: Laurelelm Ruben Sassy, Rickey & John Barrett. 2nd: Laurelmore Duplex Impala, John & Rickey Barrett. 3rd: Evergreen Duplex Ebony, Liam & Sandra Murphy, Bagenalstown, Co. Carolow. 4th: Hallow Advent Twizzle 3 ET, Philip & Linda Jones, Gorey, Co. Wexford. 5th: Elitestreet Stormatic Tory ET, Hugh Dwyer, Killorglin, Co. Kerry. 6th: Glaslough Goldwyn Bret, David & Kenneth Boyd.

Production class judged on conformation. for cows producing over 3,000kgs lifetime combined fat and protein, sponsored by Zoetis:

1st: Laurelelm Ruben Sassy, Rickey & John Barrett. 2nd: Hallow Advent Twizzle 3 ET, Philip & Linda Jones. 3rd: Glaslough Goldwyn Bret, David & Kenneth Boyd, Glaslough, Co. Monaghan.

Group of three females owned by exhibitor, sponsored by Dairygold Post Calver Gold:

1. Rickey & John Barrett. 2. Brochan & Joseph Cocoman. 3. Patrick Colton. 4. Dermot & Jerry O’Driscoll.

Premier Exhibitor, sponsored by Norbrook:

Ricky & John Barrett..

Premier Breeder, sponsored by Kelleher Agri Services:

John & Ricky Barrett.

National Dairy Show 2015 Highest EBI (Holstein), sponsored by IHFA:

Ballyellan Centrurion Alice, Tom Lynch, Ballyellan, Ballingarry, Co. Limerick.