2024 SIMMENTAL YOUNG MEMBERS STOCK JUDGING FINALS HAILED ‘A BIG SUCCESS’!

• Finals held within Simmental Young Members Weekend in Northern Ireland
• 48 competitors take part with teams from seven UK regions, plus RoI
• NI’s Martin Cunningham, and Erin Nelson win Senior, and Junior Individual titles.
• North East (England), and East Anglian Clubs win Senior, and Junior Team titles
• Master judge was Iain Green of the Corskie herd

The Northern Ireland Simmental Cattle Breeders Club hosted the British Simmental Cattle Society Young Members UK stock judging finals on Friday 26th July. The finals formed part of an extended British Simmental Young Members Weekend that comprised of the stock judging competition; further herd visits; and attendance at the NI Simmental National Show held within Antrim Show.

Some forty eight young members from seven regions across Scotland, England, and Wales, with visitors also from the Irish Simmental Cattle Breeders Club, travelled to Northern Ireland to compete in this fun and prestigious competition.

The stock judging finals were held at Kilbride Farm, Doagh, home of WH Robson and Family and the Kilbride Farm Simmental herd and with there being four classes to be assessed by the young judges, followed by giving reasons. The four classes were:
Class 1: Young Bulls
Class 2: Dry Cows
Class 3: In-calf Heifers
Class 4: Young Heifers

There were 48 competitors across three categories: Under 21 (Junior), 21-30 (Senior) and the same for international guests. All judges competed as individuals but were also paired with another judge within their age category and their scores were combined as an overall team result. There was an open competition for other competitors and family members which was also highly contested.

Master Judge for the event was Iain Green of Corskie Simmentals, Garmouth. His role involved adjudicating the reasoning element for all 48 young judges along with timekeeper, Shane McDonald.

In addition to the stock judging competition, judges and visitors enjoyed a farm tour around the Kilbride Farm Simmental Herd where there was an impressive show of young bulls, breeding females and young stock. The afternoon was followed by an evening of socialising and a hog roast before the announcement of results.

Senior Individual
1st Place – Martin Cunningham, Belfast

Overall and Senior winner Martin Cunningham with Iain Green

2^nd Place – Katie Boyes, Yorkshire
3^rd Place – Holly Lutkin, East Anglia

Junior Individual
1^st Place – Erin Nelson, Rosslea

Junior winner Erin Nelson with Judge Iain Green

2^nd Place – Chloe Cade, East Anglia
3^rd Place – Callum Leedham, North Yorkshire

Senior Team
1st Place – Katie Boyes and Alex Bulmer (North East Simmental Cattle Breeders Club)

Senior Team winners Katie Boyes and Alex Bulmer with Judge Iain Green

2^nd Place – Holly Lutkin and Daisy Jones (East Anglia Simmental Cattle Breeders Club)
3^rd Place – Martin Cunningham and Kyra Parke (NI Simmental Cattle Breeders Club)

Junior Team
1st Place – Isabelle Markham and Chloe Cade (East Anglia Simmental Cattle Breeders Club)

Junior Team winners Isabelle Markham and Chloe Cade with Judge Iain Green

2nd Place – Erin Nelson and Molly Bradley (NI Simmental Cattle Breeders Club)
3rd Place – Emma Stronach and Aimee Stronach (Scottish Simmental Cattle Breeders Club)

International Senior Individual
1st Place – Cian Connolly, Leitrim

International Senior winner Cian Connolly with Judge Iain Green

2nd Place – Eilish Gill, Mayo
3rd Place – Jamie Reape, Mayo

Individual Junior Individual
1st Place – Jimmy Neeham, Cork

International Junior winner Jimmy Needham with Judge Iain Green

2^nd Place – Bridin Needham, Cork

International Teams
1st Place – Cian Connolly and Jamie Reape (Western Simmental Club)
2nd Place – Conor Maher and Eilish Gill (Western Simmental Club)
3rd Place – Cian Martin and Eoghan Coogan (Southern Simmental Club)

Open Competition
1st Place – Timothy Hamilton
2nd Place – Fiona Sutherland
3^rd Place – Sarah Jane Young

The young members attended Antrim Show for the 2024 Simmental National Show on Saturday 27^th July where there was a superb lineup of Simmentals on the day. Several NI young members were involved in showing animals as well as participating in the Young Handlers competition. In the 8-12 years old category, Lewis Dodd was placed first, Timothy Rainey placed second and Danny Clarke placed third. In the 13-18 years old category, Jamie Dodd placed first and Rhys Rodgers was placed second.

Following this, the young members travelled to the Hiltonstown Herd of Richard and Rhys Rodgers, Portglenone. The visitors were taken on a farm tour, with viewing of excellent breeding stock before a barbeque and socialising in the evening.

On Sunday 28^th July, the young members travelled to Newry to visit the Ballinalare Farm herd of Joe and Alan Wilson. Visitors were also given a farm tour which includes several animals to be featured in their upcoming export sale on 7^th September. There are to be approximately 25 animals within in this catalogue including full embryo siblings to the unbeaten Ballinalare Farm Nikita and the 28,000 gns Banhill Farm Masterpiece.

The Northern Ireland Simmental Club extends it’s sincere thanks to all host farms for their organisation, hospitality and generosity to making the weekend a huge success. “All farms and Simmental herd visits were a credit to the families involved and testament to their dedication to the Simmental breed”, Irish Simmental Cattle Society.

Also, thanks to Master Judge, Iain Green, for sharing his expertise and adjudicating the event as well as to all young members, family members and visitors for attending all events and supporting the club.