YMA National Calf Show Finals 2018 – Report

The 27th YMA National Calf Show took place on Tuesday 24th and Wednesday 25th of July. A packed programme of events comprising clipping classes, handling classes, ag-analysis competition and calf classes including other dairy breeds was on the schedule. Cillin Hill, Kilkenny Mart was again the venue as families from clubs across the country decamped to Kilkenny city. The YMA calf show is the ultimate annual focal point for all aspiring Young Members with school holiday time devoted to practicing walking their calves, hoping to firstly qualify at club level and then going on to perform to the best of their ability at national level. Quality and top showmanship were hallmarks of both the Handling and Calf classes such that onlookers were mesmerised with anticipation and expectation throughout both Championships. The ultimate honours were awarded as follows;

• Laois Offaly Bill Flynn Memorial YMA Perpetual Trophy for Best Stand: Galway Club.
• Cork Friesian Breeders Club YMA Perpetual Trophy for Team Clipping: Breffni Oriel Club.
• Carlow Kilkenny Friesian Breeders Club YMA Perpetual Trophy for Individual Clipping: Rachel Corely (Breffni Oriel).
• Breffni Oriel Friesian Breeders Club YMA Perpetual Trophy for Best Calves: Breffni Oriel Club.
• Kildare Friesian Breeders Club YMA Perpetual Trophy for Handling: Breffni Oriel Club.
• West Midlands Friesian Breeders Club YMA Perpetual Trophy for Ag-Analysis Competition: Cork Club.
• Barrett Family Perpetual Trophy for Handling: Claire Kirby
• Denis Barrett Auctions & Pedigree Sales Perpetual Trophy for Sportsmanship: Brendan Greenan

Joined sponsors of the Calf Show are FBD Insurance, Volac and Agrinet HerdApp, a new farm management app from Progressive Genetics. Agrinet HerdApp are new co-sponsor this year, thanks to Brendan Scanlon, C.E.; Tom Kelly, Chairman and Laurence Feeney, Marketing Manager for the Progressive Genetics committment. Thanks to all sponsors without their backing and support the Calf Show would not be the event that it is. In recognition of the new sponsorship a new branded backdrop was constructed. The feedback on this was very complimentary in providing a professional presentation. A family-friendly BBQ compliments of IHFA was provided for everyone in attendance at the conclusion of the Handling Championship on day one. Some friendly indoor games followed within the show ring where children of all ages got involved for some laid-back fun and laughter. It was great to see children mingling and making new friendships with children from different clubs.

National Officers Stacey O’Sullivan (Chairperson), Doireann Mulhall (Assistant Co-Ordinator) deserve tremendous praise for their work and organisation of the Calf Show. This was all the more impressive given the fact that both are new to the roles, having taken up the positions at a recent committee meeting. Both Stacey and Doireann were greatly assisted by fellow officers Emer Kelly (Assistant Co-Ordinator), Roisin Doran and Mary Conroy (Joined PRO’s).

117 Handlers were catalogued, a very healthy representation of future generations from all clubs. There were seven clipping teams and with the newly-introduced individual clipping competition this year the total number of young members participating in clipping stood at seventeen, which is very encouraging. 101 Holstein Friesian calves were catalogued. The Unclipped class had a strong entry of sixteen calves, all of whom passed the inspection for compliance with Unclipped criteria. This class is for handlers aged ten years or younger, widening out the scope of YMA participants. Since its introduction three years ago this class has gone from strength to strength.

The Galway Club won best club stand award for the very first time, a positive reflection on the team-work and dedication of the Tribesmen club. The Breffni Oriel club retained the club award for best team of calves (based on placings).

Sam Wake was judge of the Clipping and Handling classes. From the UK, Sam is a former HYB participant. Last year he judged Showmanship classes at the All Britain All Breeds calf show and later this year he will return as Associate judge of the calf classes. This was only his second visit to Ireland and he travelled over with his partner Tracey and their two sons Oliver & Edward.

Before judging the clipping classes Sam gave a demo on the aspects that he would be considering in his judging. The individual clippers were given 90 minutes to complete the task while the teams were given 70 minutes. The brother and sister combination of Hollie and Jamie Keenan were first in the team clipping. Rachel Corley was first in the inaugural individual clipping competition, thus the Breffni Oriel club had a clean sweep!

Sam also gave a brief demo on Handling before the start of Judging. Sam’s advice was “I wan to see handlers smiling when they enter the ring and to still be smiling when they are exiting the ring”. The young Novice class featured 28 young handlers, a tremendous entry. This class is open to anyone who has not qualified for the National in the previous two years. The older Novice classes also had a strong entry. There were 19 handlers in both the Junior and Intermediate classes, 18 in the Senior class and 15 Mature handlers. Summarising his Championship line-up Sam Wake said that he had been highly impressed by the quality and talents of young members all day long. He said that the standard was tremendously high and is a highly commendable reflection on the organisation. He thanked everyone involved and said that it had been a pleasure to have been invited to judge. He then tapped forward his Champion, Reserve and Honourable Mention respectively ; Claire Kirby who was 1st Senior Handler, Rachel Corley, 1st Intermediate Handler followed by Kevin Smith who stood 2nd in the same class.

The Ag-Analysis competition was judged by Pat Cahill, Volac Commercial Director. The aim of this competition is to help widen the scope of club involvement. It is classroom based, where clubs work in teams of three. A theoretical farm-management issue is outlined and teams have forty-five minutes to confer and come up with a strategy to tackle the issue. Laptops are provided to teams to help their research and to compile a power-point presentation of their findings. An outbreak of cryptosporidium among young Spring-born calves was the theoretical challenge assigned this year. The Cork club of Stephen Shannon, Conor Lehane and Padraig Hayes were winners with Kildare in second followed by the Galway team.

Sarah Liddle was judge of the calf classes which took place on the second day. From the UK Sarah grew up on the family’s Dalesend pedigree herd and her father Bernard was very involved in the Society. Sarah was very involved in HYB in the past, she remains very much involved, currently serving as Yorkshire club co-ordinator. She has established her own prefix – Salcrest and she shows at local UK shows. In recent years she has judged the Royal Norfolk, Northumberland County, Staffordshire County and the Scotland HYB Calf Show.

Three coloured breed classes beginning at 10.45am got proceedings underway on day two. The March class of sixteen calves was a strong indicator of quality to follow.

On behalf of all Young Members I would like to thank Stacey O’ Sullivan (Chair), Doireann Mulhall (Assistant Co-Ordinator), Emer Kelly (Assistant Co-Ordinator) and PRO’s Mary Conroy & Roisin Doran for their help and effort in the organisation and planning of the Calf Show. It is a significant undertaking, requiring teamwork and dedication, of which all gave their utmost. It is very encouraging to see such talented and dedicated young people involved in the organisation.

A number of people are to be thanked, without the help and support of the YMA and National Calf show this event could not take place. Sincere gratitude to title sponsors, AgriNet Herd App, FBD Insurance & Volac, to IHFA who sponsor the BBQ such that everyone can get a meal free-of-charge. Our gratitude to David Clarke Livestock who provides prizes towards the Clipping competitions. Thanks to ring stewards Avril Helen, Laura Sinnott, Maria Burke & Padraic Murphy and Clodagh Helen who stewarded the ag-analysis competition. Thanks to the Organising committee who play a very important role in the background. Thanks to all parents and family members who support the Young Members. This encouragement and support helps the Young Members to travel to the Nationals to compete. Our gratitude to The Hub and Kilkenny mart personnel, Paula, Mick and Michael. Finally thanks and recognition to Celine in the office who put in an inordinate amount of work and time with the catalogue in dealing with the entries from clubs.

In her concluding remarks Sarah Liddle said that “This has been one of the highlights of my judging career to date, I have been blown away by the quality exhibited today. It has been a privilege to judge phenomenal calves, truly there was no bottom-end to any class. I would like to thank IHFA for the invite and for the hospitality shown to me since my arrival. I am co-ordinator of my local club at home so I have empathy with you all in the organising of getting a team of calves turned out. In my Championship I have selected calves who epitomise dairy strength, can handle their feet very well and have tremendous rump structure”. Hallow High Octain Dawn handled by Louise Sinnott was tapped forward as Champion with Hallow CM Beemer Frost taking Reserve Champion, a 1-2 for Hallow and Honourable Mention going to Eedy Solomon Cinderella exhibited by Jason Helen. In her reasons Sarah stated “My Champion is a calf to be admired from every angle, she has silkiness, sharpness and has admirable cleanness through her neck area. Taking nothing away from my Reserve Champion, this calf displays great openness, scope and capacity. My Honourable Mention goes to my Junior Calf, a young calf I truly admire, she is one of the youngest calves here however I believe she has a big future ahead of her.

On behalf of all Young Members I would like to thank Stacey O’ Sullivan (Chair), Doireann Mulhall (Assistant Co-Ordinator), Emer Kelly (Assistant Co-Ordinator) and PRO’s Mary Conroy & Roisin Doran for their help and effort in the organisation and planning of the Calf Show. It is a significant undertaking, requiring teamwork and dedication, of which all gave their utmost. It is very encouraging to see such talented and dedicated young people involved in the organisation.

A number of people are to be thanked, without the help and support of the YMA and National Calf show this event could not take place. Sincere gratitude to title sponsors, AgriNet Herd App, FBD Insurance & Volac, to IHFA who sponsor the BBQ such that everyone can get a meal free-of-charge. Our gratitude to David Clarke Livestock who provides prizes towards the Clipping competitions. Thanks to ring stewards Avril Helen, Laura Sinnott, Maria Burke & Padraic Murphy and Clodagh Helen who stewarded the ag-analysis competition. Thanks to the Organising committee who play a very important role in the background. Thanks to all parents and family members who support the Young Members. This encouragement and support helps the Young Members to travel to the Nationals to compete. Our gratitude to The Hub and Kilkenny mart personnel, Paula, Mick and Michael. Finally thanks and recognition to Celine in the office who put in an inordinate amount of work and time with the catalogue in dealing with the entries from clubs.