Mellows Campus Athenry was a hive of activity for both exhibitors and spectators alike, as it
was there the Irish Charollais sheep society held there annual All Ireland championships under
the watchful eye of master Judge Ian Craig of the highly regarded Ballynoe House Charollais
Flock in Northern Ireland. There was an exceptionally strong show of charollais Sheep on the
day with entries up across the board in the designated charollais classes. With the numbers up
competition within the show ring was exceptionally tough and a ribbon of any color proved very
hard to come by showing the great genetic advancement of the charollais breed in recent times.
Showing got under way with the FBD lambplus terminal class, and it was the charollais sheep
who reigned supreme. Andrew Gilmore of the Redrock flock took the red rosette with his Turret
Coolmore son, this lamb boasted five stars on his terminal index and his physical features gave
the Judge no doubt. Charollais lambs dominated this Terminal class with three placed in the
first six places up against stiff opposition with over 30 lambs across 5 different breeds.
The Charollais classes started with the senior ram section, this class set the standard extremely
high to begin the day as the level of quality presented was nothing short of exceptional.
Catching the Judges eye was the imposing stature of ‘Carrowbaun Anchorman’ owned and
exhibited by the father and son duo of Liam and Shane Conway of their Galway based Caltra
Charollais Flock and ultimately taking the red rosette. Taking the blue and yellow ribbon and
coming from the same home was William Tait of the Calhame flock Co.Donegal with his two
stock rams ‘Artnaguillion Braveheart’ taking 2nd spot and ‘Rockdale Bravado’ settling for 3
rd
.
The second class of the day featured a healthy entry of hogget rams and as the sun came out
from behind the clouds the ring began to heat up and battles for positions in the top spots
intensified. Coming out on top for the hogget ram class after close inspections from the Judge
on the day Mr.Ian Craig was Co.Cork breeders Raymond and Eamon Shanahan of the Turret
Charollais flock with ‘Wexfo Camelot’, Sired by the highly influential Kellistown Washington he
was the pick of the judge and took ribbon. Not far behind was another Co.Cork breeder, this
time James Walsh of the Shanvagoon Flock with his Ballinaslee Wise Guy son settling for the
runner up position in a class filled with extreme quality.
Next up was the biggest class of the day and the one which proved to be one of the tightest, with
an entry of over 30 ram lambs the crowds flocked ringside to observe Mr.Ian Craig Whittle down
the numbers. After much deliberation it was again the Co.Cork Turret Flock of Raymond and
Eamon Shanahan who took the top honors. This time with ‘Turret Dream it up’ who certainly
lived up to his name, He is a flashy son of Ralahine Wodenzi and a Duiske bred ewe. Settling for
the Second position was Andrew Gilmore of the Redrock Flock with a son of ‘Turret Coolmore’
and a Knockcroghery bred ewe. This lambs length and power made him stand out from the
crowd as he also previously had won the FBD lambplus class earlier in the day. The third prize
went to a stretchy lamb ‘Milltown Farm Darwin’, owned and exhibited by Gillian Harte this
Aghavilly Belvedere son caught the judge’s eye and claimed the yellow ribbon in a very tough
class of quality sheep.
Next up it was time for the females! Beginning with what many who attended the event believed
was to be the toughest class of the day with an abundance of quality aged ewes on showcase.
This class proved to be head scratcher from start to finish for Judge Mr.Ian Craig as very little
split the top spots. The places had finally been set, and it went the way of Mark Miley of Milo
Charollais Co. Roscommon with his exceptional daughter of Kirkhouse William Wallace, this
aged ewe possessed everything you may look for in a charollais- Great depth, Femineity, and
Power. Coming in a close second was again Co. Cork breeder James Walsh with ‘Annamacneil
Beyonce’ who had previously been Overall Supreme Champion in 2024.
Quality sheep kept on coming as the classes rolled onto Class 5 which was the Hogget ewe
class, an exceptional line up once again gave our judge on the day a lot to think about! This time
it was the Shanvagoon flock of James Walsh who took top spot with his Northern Ireland bred
hogget ewe purchased from The Springhill flock of Graham Foster, This was a daughter of
£24,000 pound Boyo Bravemansgame as she managed to stand out from the crowd under stiff
competition from the previously mentioned Mark Miley of the Milo Charollais flock taking the
second spot with his impressive Logie Durno Westminster daughter.
Class 6 was the ewe lamb section and again the quality kept on coming, This time it was Andrew
Gilmore of the redrock flock who took the honours with his imprerssive daughter of Springhill
Aston martin with her mother also on show taking 3rd prize in the aged ewe section earlier in the
day. It was the local breeders Liam and Shane Conway who took 2nd with a flashy daughter of
the homebred sire ‘Caltra Wisabella’.
The Group of three was another highly competitive class with James walsh taking the top spot
and Adrew Gilmore pulled in for second with there impressive string of stock. The Young
Handlers went the way of five-year-old Eddie Williamson from Co.Cork with his hogget Ewe
‘Turret Cardi B’.
This brought an end to the charollais classes and we advancved to the commencement of the
overall Champions. It was first the males who were judged and taking Overall Male Champion
was the Senior ram ‘Carrowbaun Anchorman’ for Liam and Shane Conway and Reserve Overall
Male being awarded to ‘Turret Dream it up’ for the Shanahan’s in Co. Cork. Next it was the turn
of the Females Mark Mileys Aged ewe taking the top honors as Overall Female Champion, With
James Walsh’s hogget ewe taking Reserve Female on the day. The final showcase of charollais
sheep was the overall supreme champion on the day and this was taken back to Co.
Roscommon with Mark Miley as he snatched the top honors with his aged ewe, and Liam and
Shane Conway awarded Reserve Supreme champion with their stock ram ‘Carrowbaun
Anchorman’.
Overall, it was an enjoyable day for the irish charollais sheep society with the level of sheep
being shown nothing short of exceptional, big thanks to Natural Stockcare for sponsoring the
event and to Mullagh Photography and design for catching all the memories.
