The highly anticipated FBD National Young Members Association (YMA) Finals returned to Cillin Hill Mart, Co. Kilkenny this year on July 22 and 23.

This event is the culmination of months of hard work for young dairy enthusiasts around the country, and it saw a superb display of calves and handlers.

The FBD National YMA Finals brought together 10 regional YMA clubs, featuring handlers and calves who qualified through regional competitions held in June and July.

Now for the second year, Northern Ireland Holstein Young Breeders were invited to participate in the showmanship competitions.

In addition to the calf and handling competition, the event includes a clipping competition and an Ag Analysis competition.

This year, FBD were the title sponsors for the FBD National YMA Finals alongside class sponsors AgriNet and Volac.

David Clarke Livestock sponsored the clipping competition and Eurogene AI Services sponsored the Ag Analysis competition, as well as BG Hoofcare coming on board this year as Showmanship Championship Sponsor.

New for 2025,the show welcomed three judges to the show.

Paul Murphy from Cork had the difficult task of judging both the individual and the team clipping competitions on Tuesday morning and, come the afternoon, Anna Stable took to the ring to judge the Showmanship.

The chief executive of STG Germany, Torben Melbaum joined the ring on Wednesday to judge the calf classes.

The Clipping Competition kicked off events, with club members competing either as individuals or pairs.

Competitors had 90 minutes as an individual or 70 minutes as a pair to fully clip and prepare a calf for the show ring.

The team of Stephen Shannon and Georoid Long from Co. Cork took the top spot in the team clipping, with Becky Hynes, also from Co. Cork taking the top honours in a tough individual clipping competition.  

The Ag Analysis competition was well under way as the clipping competition was being judged.

Teams were posed a scenario from judge Dr Debbie McConnell (group scientist at Eurogene AI Services), to which they were required to present solutions.

The brief involved an on-farm example looking to improve and change breeding strategy. The reigning Co. Kerry team of Jack Walsh, Muiris Harty and Christopher Heffernan took first place for the third year running.

Manus Murphy from the Carlow Kilkenny Club came out on top of the Showmanship competition after securing first place handler in the senior class.

Becky Hynes from the Cork club was tapped out as Reserve Champion Handler and Kevin Smith, also from Cork, completed the final line up as Honourable Mention.

The Cork Club had the best team of handlers overall and took home the Kildare Friesian Breeders Club Perpetual Trophy for Handling.

On Wednesday, the show kicked off with coloured breed calf classes. It was an all Jersey show this year, with Jones Victorious Cola from Jones Holsteins (Slaney) in top spot.

Reserve went to Rathard Choco Kalani for the Hynes Family (Cork) and Honourable Mention to Rathard Choco Khalessi,also for the Hynes Family.

No less than seven Holstein classes followed, with large entries throughout. Following a first placing in the Summer Yearling Calf Class Sizzler, Rompen Rouge Red took a clean sweep, tapping out as champion Red & White and champion Holstein.

Owned by the Hynes Family, Co. Cork, Rouge’s two championship titles ended a memorable weekend for the family.

The Breffni Oriel Club took home Breffni Oriel Friesian Breeders Club YMA perpetual trophy for the best team of calves.