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www.beltex.co.uk
Beltex Sheep SocietyShepherds View,
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Irish Beltex Sheep Breeders Club / Irish Beltex Breeders Celebrate Successful YearIrish Beltex Breeders celebrated a most successful club year at their Annual Dinner and Presentation of Awards at Rosspark Hotel, Kells. Club vice-chairman, Eddie O’Neill, was Master of Ceremonies for the evening and welcomed special guests Kevin and Rachel Buckle from Barras, Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria, and Gavin Shanks and his partner Alice from Bowmanhurst Farm, by Carluke, Lanarkshire.
Kevin Buckle was judge for the 2007 Flock Competition, and he and his wife Rachel had spent the previous four days visiting flocks throughout the North and South of Ireland. Both were very impressed with the quality of the sheep they had seen during their trip and paid tribute to the Irish breeders on the high standards they are setting for the breed. Kevin and Rachel run their Buckles Beltex flock along with pedigree flocks of Swaledales, Texels and Blue-faced Leicesters, concentrating mainly on shearling production of each breed. Their 800 acre farm with a further 100 acres of grass keep runs from 1,000ft to 1,500ft above sea level. The farm also has grazing rights on East Stainmore Common. In December 2006, Rachel became the Secretary to the Beltex Sheep Society , providing the administrative side to the Society and attending major shows with the breed stand to promote the breed and it’s sales. Gavin Shanks returned to Ireland to present his Garrion Flock sponsored trophy for the Overall Reserve Champion Flock. He has been frequent visitor to Irish sales in 2007 and has invested heavily in sheep from these shores. Gavin purchased the 1200gn top priced shearling ram at the clubs Premier Sale in Dungannon in September. He then followed this with the purchase of 4 shearling ewes at the Artnagullion flock sale and the private purchase of the 2007 Balmoral Champion for an Irish breed record price of £10,000 – further evidence of the quality of Beltex sheep being offered for sale by Irish breeders. Kevin Buckle announced the winners of the Flock Competition and presented the awards as follows: Stock Rams - Small Flock Stock Rams – Large Flock Ewe Lambs – Small Flock Ewe Lambs – Large Flock Flock of Ewes – Small Flock Flock of Ewes – Large Flock Champion Small Flock – T & H Palmer; Reserve – M & P McNeill Champion Large Flock – W McCrabbe, Reserve – E McAllister Overall Champion Flock – W McCrabbe, Ardstewart Flock,
Donegal Eddie O’Neill then presented the clubs Show Flock Trophy to 2007 winner Elizabeth McAllister who has won the award for the fourth year in succession. He also thanked all concerned for their hard work in organising the smooth running of the flock competition. Those present for local and club show awards were as follows:
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