A cow of the decade at the National Dairy Show in Millstreet

Inspiration Fame’s reign lasted from 1995 until her final National Dairy Show victory in 1997 when she was exhibited by the Kingston family of Cradenhill Holsteins.

The double championship title this week was a special win for owner Jason Helen, who explained she was the daughter of the very first calf that he bought to celebrate a special birthday.

But it was a double celebration in more ways than one for the West Cork man, with the supreme champion’s sister, Eedy Kingdoc Fame, also clinching intermediate champion, having calved in December at just 23 months.

The resounding cheer of the crowd, as judge Niels Erik Haahr from Denmark tapped the rump of his champion, made it known that he had picked out the people’s favourite.

Mr Haahr said he was pleased to pick a “very special cow” as the supreme champion.

“These cows are special, but this, our grand champion, also has the best udder in the show,” he said.

“When you are judging cows, you are always dreaming about that special cow because then the pressure goes a little bit down. When this girl, who was slightly older, came into the ring, my heart started beating, and I knew this cow would be very, very hard to beat. 

"Whatever show she will go to in Europe, she will be right at the top end. She is a very special, outstanding cow.”

The last back-to-back win was in 2012 and 2013 when Ridgefield Dundee Portea clinched the title for Patrick and Derrick Frawley of the Croagh herd in Co Limerick.

It’s a feat which, prior to this week, had only been achieved five times in the show’s 40-year history.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Jason Helen explained the champion came from a herd of around 90 cows in winter milk, calving year-round.

The herd manages an impressive 700kg of milk solids and 9,500kg a year.

The supreme champion cow was sired by Val-Bisson Doorman and out of Clonpaddin Bk Fame ET, calved five weeks ago with a heifer calf sired by Stantons Chief.

Her last lactation totalled more than 9,000kg at 4.3% butterfat and 3.45% protein.

“I knew coming here that she was in great form, but after winning it last year, I didn’t care if she didn’t win,” he said.

“A lot of people can be scared about bringing them back after a big win, but I knew she was looking well and was in great form for it. The minute she got off the lorry, she was in top form. She has been in top form since she calved five weeks ago.

“In my head this morning, I had it made up that she wasn’t going to get it, but I’m delighted for her.

“We had a big team around us helping, and I really want to thank every one of them for all their help.” Looking forward, he said he is breeding towards a smaller cow with good legs, feet and udders.

Reserve champion went to Hallow Solomon Arengatang E exhibited by Philip Jones.

“She is a younger cow, but she has so much potential,” Judge Niels Erik Haahr said as he tapped her out, highlighting her “feminine and dairy characteristics”.

“She has a big future, and we will see her again,” he added.

The second-lactation three-year-old is by Walnutlawn Solomon and out of Kingsway Sanchez Arengatange E.

Chatting ringside, exhibitor 17-year-old Will Jones from Gorey, Wexford, explained she was fairly new to the show circuit.

“This is her first year out,” he said. “She’s been shown very little; just Pilltown Show a few weeks ago, where she was second.

“She filled up well today and I could see the judge was giving her some nice looks throughout the day, so I was hopeful for her. I could see he liked her. But she’s a good, productive cow too — the pretty girls have to work too. At her peak, she was managing around 50L a day.”

Will won the showmanship championship at Millstreet the day before and said he hopes to get into showing cattle as a career.

One day, he wants to follow his dad’s footsteps back on the farm, but first, his sights are set on a stint north to the agricultural college at Greenmount in Co Antrim.

“I’m interested in the genetics and breeding side of the herd,” he said. “We milk around 90 cows, and I’d like to stick around that, but I want to breed towards a smaller, well-balanced cow with good udders.”

Honourable mention went to Hallow Atwood Twizzle 1181, also owned by the Jones family, who pedigree enthusiasts will remember as the show’s 2022 Supreme Champion. The fifth-calver also notched up a championship title at Balmoral back in 2019.

Giving his reasons, judge Niels Erik Haahr described her as a “black, silky milk machine”.

Owner Philip Jones said: “It is always a privilege to get into a championship line-up, especially one like the one here today when so many people have brought out such excellent cows.

“This cow has won so many for us. She’s probably getting to the end of her showing career, but she has also been a very good brood cow for us too.

“Her daughters are doing well at shows, and we have sold several of them for very good money.”

The Premier Exhibitor award, which was sponsored by Dairygold, was awarded to joint winners Paul Hannan and Brian Corley.

Commending the standard of cows on show, Mr Haahr said: “It has been two really nice days.

“Of course, I am here to judge cows and heifers, but for me, when they come into the ring looking like this, I get excited; I feel it in my heart.

“The atmosphere has been great, and people have been very kind to me here.” As to whether Fame can match her great grand dam’s level of history, that’s something for showgoers to look forward to at next year’s event.