It was the pre-sale junior and senior champions who set the bar at the sale in Elphin on Saturday, as they shared a price tag of €10,500.
In the pre-sale show, judge Andrew Hornall from the Falleninch herd in Scotland tapped forward Lisnagre Jessy as his senior champion. Exhibited by Jim Geoghean from Streamstown, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, Jessy is a son of the well-known AI bull, Lisnagre Elite. After a flurry of bids, the bull eventually found a new home at €10,500. Jim then capped off a great day when he sold his second bull, Lisnagre Jamson ET, by Major for €6,200. Taking the reserve senior champion was Michael Grant from Buncrana, Co Donegal, with his bull Maghermore Jumper. Another son of Lisnagre Elite, this bull went on to sell for €4,200.
In the junior section, Pat McClean from Newtowncunningham, Lifford, Co Donegal, was awarded the championship sash for his bull Roughan Jaden. Sired by the French-bred Roughan Enzo, Jaden attracted a lot of attention all day and went on to sell for €10,500. It was only the start of a great run for Pat McClean and his team of four bulls, who sold to an average of €7,425. First up was Roughan Jerimiah by Roughan Echo who sold for €5,200. Roughan Jackson by Roughan Galant was then knocked down at €8,000, and finally Roughan Jagger again by Galant found a new home at €6,000.Wrapping up the judging of the junior championship, Seamus Nolan from Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny, was awarded the reserve junior championship for his bull Firoda Jarrow. This classy young bull sired by Goldstar Echo later sold for €6,000.
Exhibited by Jim Geoghean from Streamstown, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, Lisnagre Jessy is a son of the well-known AI bull, Lisnagre Elite
Next best in the prices at €7,100 was Bostonia Jameson ET from Brendan Feeney in Enniscrone, Co Sligo. This son of the high-performance sire Blelack Digger came with a five-star terminal index of €150 and a five-star replacement index of €50. Trading at €6,500 was the Prime Roberto son Dalehill Jasper from Basil Kells, Klleshandra, Co Cavan. Then at €6,000 was Crossane Leonardo sired by the popular Pirate, exhibited by the young McGovern brothers from Fiivemilebourne, Co Leitrim. Next up at €5,200 was Noble Jace from Harry Noble, Edgeworthstown, Co Longford. This one was sired by the renowned Doonally New. Another son of Doonally New, Sunnaghmore Jaguar from Andy McGovern, Cloone, Co Leitrim, exchanged hands at €5,000.
Smaller female section
In the smaller female section, it was the pre-sale champion who stole the show. Rattigan Igola ET by Oldstone Egbert from David Rattigan Elphin, Co Roscommon, caught the eye of judge Andrew Hornall to secure the championship rosette, before selling for the top price of €4,500. Tom Farrell from Aughnacliffe, Co Longford, then realised €3,000 for his young heifer Cornadrung Jamelia by Pirate. The reserve female champion Rooskeynamona Julie from Gerard Mulligan Mohill, Co Leitrim, traded hands at €1,800. This one was sired by the English-bred Elgin Davinci.
