Virginia Show must go on!

It may well have been bucketing it down most of the day yesterday but the 78th annual Virginia Show still went off, as planned, with prizes presented in over 470 classes yesterday with winners from every corner of the country.

Organisers, who are already making preparations for next year's show, concede that the weather did impact on numbers but never-the-less it was a successful show.

Farmers, above all, are well used to the Irish weather and, with the Virginia Show on the go since 1942, it would take more than a drop of rain to prevent the show going off without a hitch.

It has firmly established itself as one of the premiere agricultural shows in the country with major qualifiers in dairy, beef and sheep, not to mention food markets, children’s amusements, trade stands and demonstrations.

The Celt's Sean McMahon and Damien Donohoe braved the elements to catch up with some of the show's exhibitors and attendees yesterday.

This remarkable lady in her 104th year was among the competitors.

Minister Heather Humphreys was also among those in attendance.

 

Bailey's Cow

'Baldonnel Flashmatic Draw', was crowned the 2019 Diageo Baileys' 'Irish Dairy Champion Cow' at the Virginia Show yesterday.
Attracting elite pedigree Holstein Friesian cows from throughout the country, the 2019 title was contested by over 25 dairy breeders from all four provinces. The event is regarded as the most prestigious of its kind, and rewards strength and good body conformation as well as proven excellence in quality milk production.
Bred by Dublin farmers, Cyril and John Dowling, this amazingly was the family seventh Baileys Champion Cow win, and their 14th top three finish in the prestigious competition’s 36 years.
John was presented with his Virginia Milk Products Cup, and a cheque for €2,500 by the Minister for Business, Enterprise & Innovation, Heather Humphreys.
Commenting on this year’s winning cow, the judge, Peter Waring from Yorkshire said all of the top three were great cows and a credit to their breeders but only one could win.

The 2019 prize-winner is by the Dowling's home bull Baldonnel Flashmatic, one of the mainstays of the Clondalkin family's own pedigree breeding enterprise.
Baldonnel Flashmatic also sired the Dowling's then two-and-half-year-old heifer Baldonnel FM Sunshine, which won the Best Heifer in Milk at Virginia in 2017.
Other recent awards and recognitions received by the Dowlings include 'Baldonnel Goldwyn Sublime' being picked as 'Reserve Champion' in 2015, and before that an 'Honourable Mention' with 'Pavime Frisky' (2014), 'Reserve Heifer' with 'Baldonnel Spirite Sylvia' (2012), and 'Best Heifer-in-Milk' with 'Baldonnel Goldwyn Star' (2011).
'Ballytigue Goldchip Shower', owned by first-time entrant Aidan Frawley from Co Limerick, was meanwhile declared 'Reserve Champion' in Virginia last week.
An 'Honorable Mention' also went to 'Ballyboy Sid Carmen 1039', owned by Jim and Una Sinnott from Co Wexford, which also won the 'Best Junior Cow'.
Other prizes were awarded in specialist categories to breeders that travelled to Virginia from as far afield as Co Donegal and Co Cork to compete. These included 'Best Heifer in Milk' Winner to Hilltara McCutchen Reann, owned by Sam McCormick from Co. Down, and the 'Best EBI' and 'Best Protein' award, which went to Tom Kelly from Co Louth.
Last year, the overall title was won by Drumlina Atwood Megan, owned by a syndicate of breeders from Co Monaghan chaired by David Boyd.
Congratulating the 2019 winners, Robert Murphy, Head of Baileys Global Operations at Diageo Baileys Global Supply, said: “Baileys sales continues to go from strength to strength globally. I’m particularly proud to say that our home market, Ireland, is leading the way. The finest raw ingredients including the best dairy cream in the world underpins Baileys great taste and the Diageo Baileys Champion Cow helps shine a spotlight on the quality of our indigenous cream supply chain.”
Also speaking at the event Martin Keane, Glanbia Group Chairman said that breeding the champion dairy cow for the contest, with its prize fund of €10,000, is a dream for every top-class Holstein Friesian breeder. “Once again it was a tough task for the judge to select the worthy winner. It was evident that the exhibitors have all worked hard over many years, and sometimes generations, to breed the calibre of cows that were on display at Virginia Show.”

* For full results and photos from the show, see next week's print edition of the Celt!