The Irish and UK team of Aberdeen Angus breed enthusiasts competing in the youth competition of the World Angus Forum have been awarded third place in the prestigious global event.
Team captain, James Morrison from Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, was also awarded the ‘Spirit of Angus’ award as best overall competitor at the global youth competition for Aberdeen Angus cattle breed enthusiasts.
The Aberdeen Angus Youth Development Programme (YDP) sent a four-person Irish and UK team to compete, as well as a representative to compete on a ‘barbarians’ team that is made up of representatives from four other countries.
The competition, which took place at the World Angus Forum in both Sydney and Brisbane, Australia this week sawcompetitors take part in numerous competitions from ring-craft clipping and grooming to tractor skills and fencing.
Knowledge of meat production and identification of different beef cuts was also tested in the competition.
The Irish/UK team for the 2025 World Angus Forum is:
- James Morrison Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland (team captain);
- Ellie Westaway, southern England;
- Graeme Rhind, Aberdeenshire, Scotland;
- John Smyth, Co. Cavan, Ireland;
- Oisin Keogh, Co. Meath, Ireland.
Due to the world forum being cancelled in 2021 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, a number of YDP participants missed out and were over the age limit to take part in this year’s competition.
It was decided that three over-aged competitors would also be supported to attend the event to experience the world forum environment.
The three over-aged delegates selected to travel to the World Angus Forum are:
- Catherine Smyth, Co. Meath;
- Sean McEnroe, Co. Meath;
- Richie Lombard, Co. Kerry.
These participants were put through the same interview process as those taking part in the competition side of the forum.
World Angus Competition training
The selected team then had various training weekends over the past 12 months in three different countries.
Last October, the representatives spent an afternoon at The Liss Herd, owned by John McEnroe in Co. Meath, Ireland.
Here, the five representatives engaged in stock judging and presenting reasons. The next day, the group visited local butcher Declan Flood, who showed them how to cut up a beef carcass and outlined the various cuts that come off each carcass.
It was then back to the Liss Angus Herd farm where the team practiced tractor and fencing skills.
The next training weekend in February 2025 took place at both Perth and Stirling in Scotland.
Participants got a full tour of the ABP factory in Perth and then went to Pedigree House, where they were put through some team-building exercises.
The next morning, the team visited the Nethertin Herd where, after some more stock judging, they attended a lecture on estimated breeding values (EBVs) before a debate on the pros and cons of figures.
The third and final training weekend was held in Surrey, England at the herd of Rosemead Aberdeen Angus.
Here the team had to show their skill in team-clipping two heifers and also had to prepare and cook a three-course meal for their host as a team-building exercise.
The final day of training was debating and presenting a topic with only a limited amount of time to research.
The Irish Aberdeen Angus Association’s YDP coordinator Niall Lynch said: “We would like to thank all of our hosts and trainers for helping our team over the past 12 months.
“None of any of this could be possible without the hard work of the Aberdeen Angus cattle Society and the Irish Aberdeen Angus Association for setting up a great initiative such as the Aberdeen Angus Youth Development Programme.
“We would also like to thank our main sponsors ABP Food Group and Showtime UK who also helped with training over the past 12 months and also kitted out our team with branded clothing.”
