That winning feeling at Virginia Show. John McCormack from Bangor, County Down, raises his fist aloft as judge Davy Booth races to congratulate him after tapping this magnificent cow Hilltara Undenied Apple as the 2022 Bailey’s Champion.

Cream of the crop for Baileys Cow

BUILD-UP Breeders making last-minute preparations

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Breeders from all across Ireland are making the final preparations for their top cows to travel to the Virginia Show for the Diageo Baileys Champion Dairy Cow Competition next week. The competition is in its 40th year and is one of the longest sponsorship collaborations between Diageo, the owner of Baileys Irish Cream and Tirlán, who supply the cream from its site in Virginia. The Holstein Friesian breeding community is expected to come out in force to mark this milestone year for the competition and for the show’s 80th anniversary.

The event is a celebration of the quality and provenance of the brand’s ingredients and its links to the community. Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Martin Heydon, will present the top prize alongside the corporate relations director of Diageo Ireland, Shane Kelly and the chairman of Tirlán, John Murphy.

According to local competition co-ordinator, Patrick Gaynor, the prestige of the competition has attracted breeders the length and breadth of Ireland, with farmers expected from as far afield as counties Donegal to Wexford; and from Co Cork to Co Down.

Patrick has taken on the role of co-ordinating entries following the retirement of Brendan Smyth who has been a driver and passionate advocate of the competition since its inception. Patrick is no stranger to the event either with his whole family actively participating in the show committee and ‘the Baileys’ for many years. Patrick has served as show chairman and his wife is a former show secretary; while his son Edwin is a former entrant of ‘the Baileys’ alongside his younger son Setanta, while both daughters Nicola and Eimear volunteer annually at the show.

Mark Logan from Co Down will have the tough task of judging the 30 Holstein Friesians on show with Michael Taffe performing the role of MC for the crowds. Proceedings get underway at 3pm. Visitors will be able to watch the country’s finest examples of the Holstein Friesian breed receive their finishing touches in the cow centre before they parade in front of the judge in their county sashes.

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