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Beltex Sheep SocietyShepherds View,
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Irish Beltex Sheep Breeders Club / Irish Beltex Breeders CelebrateAnother successful year was celebrated by the Irish Beltex Sheep Breeders at their Annual Dinner and Presentation of Awards at the Ross Park Hotel, Kells on Saturday 7th November 2009. Club Chairman, Kevin McCarthy welcomed everyone to the celebration, and congratulated the breeders who had been successful at the local shows, club show, carcase competition, Society Premier Show & Sale, and Club Shows & Sales during the year, paying tribute to everyone who had once again helped to raise the profile of the breed in 2009.
The Club’s Show Flock competition was extended this year to include new awards for the Reserve Champion and Novice Show Flocks. The Champion honours once again went to the Artnagullion flock of Elizabeth McAllister, Kells who attained a tremendous 784 points from 10 shows; Reserve Champion went to Colin Barnes, Rock, Dungannon with 425 points, and the Novice Show Flock title went to Martina & Patrick McNeill, Banbridge with 175 points. The highlight of the evening was the announcing of the results of the Club’s 4th Annual Flock Competition. The judge for 2009 was Mr John Howieson from Watchet, Somerset, Farm Manager for Marshall Farms who also runs his own Beltex flock. John, together with his wife Jill, spent 4 days at the beginning of the week visiting the increased number of flocks entered this year. Unfortunately due to a prior engagement, they were unable to attend the presentation on Saturday night but had instructed last year’s judge, Mr David Findlay, North Yorkshire who was attending the event, with the results and comments.
John found his Champion Beltex Flock for 2009 at Glenarm where the honours went once again to the small Burnside Flock of Thomas and Hester Palmer, Small Flock winners in the competition since 2006. As well as receiving 1st prize for their Flock of Ewes, the Palmers took the 1st prize for their Ewe Lambs, 2nd prize for their Stock Rams, and the Bonecastle Trophy for the overall Best Flock of Ewes in the competition.
Reserve Champion Beltex Flock 2009 went to the Bonecastle flock of Dermot Murray, Downpatrick, a first time entrant in the competition and winner of the Large Flock section. As well as taking 1st prize with his Ewe Lambs and his Stock Rams, Dermot also received the Inveresk Trophy for overall Best Ewe Lambs in the competition.
Runner up with Reserve Champion in the Large Flock section was another first time entrant, Colin Barnes, Rock, Dungannon, with his Beechtree Flock, whilst Reserve Champion in the Small Flock section went to Kevin and Anna McCarthy’s Ballycreelly Flock at Comber. The McCarthy’s also took 1st prize in the Stock Ram class, whilst 1st place in the Large Flock of Ewes went to the Ardstewart flock of Wade McCrabbe, Raphoe, Donegal.
John Howieson stated that he had been honoured to be invited by the Club to do the judging, and thanked everyone who had participated in the Flock Competition and provided hospitality during their visit which was their first time in Ireland. He also stated he had seen some ‘very fine’ Beltex sheep during his flock visits and that his task had been a very difficult one, ‘I was splitting hairs at the last, the competition was so tight’ was one of John’s many comments.
A special charity presentation took place on the evening, with a cheque for £540 handed over to representatives of the Children’s Comfort Fund at Antrim Area Hospital where young Ciaran O’Neill had spent several days earlier in the year. The money raised was mainly from the proceeds of the sale of a ewe lamb at the Club’s Premier Sale in September which had been donated by Ciaran’s grandfather, Hugh O’Neill, Glenarm. Flock Competition Results Small Flock Best Flock of Ewes: T & H Palmer (Burnside) Champion Beltex Flock 2009: T & H Palmer (Burnside) |
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