McNamara adds Stockmanship trophy to her

YMA Stockmanship League 2016

AN eighteen-year-old, farmer’s daughter from North Cork has added another senior accolade to her increasing basket of honours as a young stockperson after being judged National Champion Handler in the YMA Stockmanship League 2016.

Rachel McNamara, daughter of Michael and Liz Barna, who are well-known Pedigree Holstein breeders and exhibitors from Brana, Newtownshandrum, has won several awards for livestock handling in recent years.

The Reserve Championship award went to Megan Boal, Stoneacre, Togherbeg, Tuam, Co Galway and Amy Roche, Hacketstown, Co Carlow received Honourable Mention at the National Finals held in conjunction with the National Dairy Show at Green Glens Arena, Millstreet.

Fifty-seven contestants qualifed for the final in the Handlers Classes and Livestock Showmanship League, nearly all coming from families who are already well known as breeders and exhibitors of award-wining pedigree Holstein.

The contestants came from 13 counties with the dominance from Co Cork which was represented by twenty-one contestants.

In the YMA Showmanship League the Final Senior Title went to Claire Kirby, Mounteen, Ballinascarthy, Clonakilty, with Rachel Corley, Corhafaghey, Smithboro, Monaghan taking the honours in the Intermediate Section and the Junior title going to Hollie Keenan, Coretard, Threemilehouse, Monaghan, while Amy Roche, Hacketstown, Co Carlow was declared winner of the Novice Title.