Virginia Show hailed as the best ever
The 70th annual Virginia Agricultural Show was hailed as the best ever as over 13,000 people enjoyed Saturday's event. Organisers' fears that Cavan's match against Galway in the Minor Championship might reduce the crowd proved unfounded as an estimated 13,000 - similar to last year - turned out to enjoy the sunshine and the phenomenal standard of exhibits. "The standard of the exhibits were absolutely unbelievable - surpassed all other years," enthused a delighted Kathleen Duffy, show PRO. "The Bailey's Cow was the best ever in 28 years. There were 32 animals in the Bailey Cow competition. It took the judge almost two hours to come to a decision. He said he was enjoying himself too much - to be amongst such superb animals it was impossible for him to pick who won." Eventually Eugene and Sean Murphy from Cork were declared the winners of the blue ribbon prize. Of course with over 3000 exhibits in 450 classes, there's much more to the Virginia Show than just livestock. There were 170 trade stands for families to choose from and live entertainment galore. "The show was absolutely brilliant," Kathleen told The Anglo-Celt. "People enjoyed Neven Maguire cooking up steaks, while Sheridan's Cheesmongers gave workshops on raw milk, cheese and butter. "There was a gig rig with Charlie McGettigan and local bands and world champion dancers, which was thoroughly enjoyed by everybody." Sample award winners: Irish Draught Filly Foal, Terence Dunne; Brood Mare Champion, Niall Doyle; Foal Champion JJ Reilly; Light Horse, Martin Moore; Ridden Champion of the Show, Ann Regan; Heavy Horse, David Burton; Shorthorn Champion, N&P Brady; Pure Bred Hereford Heifer, Sean McKiernan; Champion Hereford Sean McKiernan; Senior Champion Aberdeen Angus, O Armstrong and A McFadden; Junior Champion Aberdeen Angus, Tom Reynolds; Charolais Male Champion, William Gubbins; Charolais Female Champion, Damien Kelly; Charolais Overall Champion, Damien Kelly; North East Charolais Club Pairs Championship Michael Kiernan; North East Charolais Calf Championship, Micheal Kiernan; Limousin Champion, William Smith; Saler Champion, Bernard Hunt; North Eastern Simmental Liffey Meats Female Champion, Noel Woods; North Eastern Simmental Lakeland Dairies Male Champion, Gearoid Mulligan; North Eastern Simmental Supreme Champion, David Caffrey; Belgian Blue Champion, Trevor Ashmore; Aubrac Champion, John Walsh; Virginia Show Commercial Champion, C & P Lynch; Virginia Show Interbreed Champion, O Armstrong & A McFadden; Gunne Carnaross Champion All Ireland Male Weanling, Sean O'Brien; Gunne Carnaross Champion All Ireland Female Weanling, Saoirse Carry-Lynch; Liffey Meats €2000 Champion Beef Bullock, C&P Lynch; Baileys Champion Cow, Eugene and Sean Murphy; Baileys Reserve Cow, M and P Jones; Baileys Honourable Mention Cow, John Hurley; Baileys Champion Heifer In Milk, Cyril Dowling & Mervyn Eagar; Baileys Reserve Heifer In Milk, John Hurley; Bailey Best Protien, Ivan & Louise Robinson; Baileys Best EBI, Ivan and Louise Robinson; Champion Pedigree Sheep, Andrew Gilmore; Suffolk Champion, Andrew Farrelly Jnr; Charolais Champion, Andrew and Bryan Gilmore; The All Ireland Female Bantam Chicken Championship Final, Patrick Loftus. See next week's Anglo-Celt for comprehensive results.