THE RUN of success achieved by dairy cattle breeders from the south of Ireland at the Royal Ulster Winter Fair continued on December 10, when a Holstein cow from Mervyn, Phillip and Garry Jones beat all comers.

The Co Wexford based herd run by the Jones family was scoring its best rating at the Ulster show since breeders from the south were allowed to show there three years ago.

Their champion was Croagh Fran, 26, a freshly calved third calver by Comestar Stormatic, which had already taken the championship at the World Conference Show in Co Wexford in 2008. She cost the family just €2200 when they purchased her at a sale as a heifer calf.

Runner-up was another Holstein, Gregg Wallace’s Frocess Leader Agnes, an Ex92 fourth calver by Comestar Leader.

Third place in the final line-up went to the Jersey champion, Potterswalls Just Belle, from the Fleming family.

Top Ayrshire was John Hunter’s Scottish-bred Cuthill Towers Miranda, a third calver by Brieryside Centurion which was bought for 1800gns at the Ayrshire Conference Sale in 2005.