Northern Ireland Texel Sheep Breeders Club 2010 News

Texel Triumph at Fatstock Sales

Yet again the Texel cross has taken the Fatstock Show and Sales by storm taking the Championship at Garvagh YFC Show and Sale in Kilrea mart, the Show and Sale held in Lisahally Mart and Gleno Valley YFC Show and sale in Ballymena. [report]

Texel Sale Success at Moira

Despite the ice and snow a number of Texel enthusiasts travelled to Moira Pedigree sales arena on Monday evening when the NI Texel Club held their Annual In-Lamb Ewe Show and Sale. [report]

Annual Dinner Dance

The 31st Annual dinner dance and awards evening took place on Saturday 20th November in the Dunsilly Hotel, Antrim. The awards for the flock competition, ewe lamb and stock ram competitions and photographic competition were presented during the evening. [report]

Rathfriland Prices top at 900gns

The NI Texel Sheep Breeders Club held their annual Bank Holiday show and sale in Rathfriland Mart when trade for quality lots was the order of the day. [more]

Brague Texel Flock Success at Hilltown

The long established Brague flock, bred by Robbie Mulligan, Banbridge was triumphant at the 2010 NI Texel Club Show and Sale held in Hilltown Sale Yard. [more]

Texel Club Open Night Success

Jim and Frances Wilson, Blackstown, Crumlin, played host to the NI Texel Sheep Breeders Club on Monday 16th August 2010. The evening, kindly sponsored by the Ulster Bank, proved to be a resounding success with members, friends and many commercial breeders travelling from all corners of the Province to view the Janssen Texel Flock of the Year 2009, take part in various competitions and the visitors finally dug deep into their pockets to support this year’s chosen charity the Cystic Fibrosis Trust in the auction. [more]

NI Texel Club holds AGM


The NI Texel Club held their 2010 AGM with an excellent turnout of members considering the wintery weather conditions the Province has been experiencing.

Robert Calvin welcomes John Yates, Texel Society Chief Executive, while Victor Chestnutt welcomes guest speaker Ciaran Hamill to the NI Texel Club AGM

Robert Calvin, Club Chairman, welcomed members and friends with a special welcome to our guest speaker Ciaran Hamill, CAFRE, and John Yates, Chief Executive of the Texel Society, before presenting his report of the past twelve months. This covered the many activities and achievements of the Club throughout 2009. The first main event of the Year was Balmoral show, which had great support from members with all Texel classes filled with high quality stock, this carried on throughout the Show season where all shows were supported by the membership, winning many breed championships, keeping the breed to the fore.

Robert reported the Club were delighted to have three in-coming visits during the show season, the first being the Scottish Club, followed by visits from the North West Club and then the South Wales Club and he highlighted the importance of such visits as a shop window for Northern Irish Texels. In early July the Club attended the NSA, Sheep NI event, while in early August the Open night at the Tamnamoney flock, was a great event despite the weather. The stock on show was high quality, as expected, and the large number of Texel enthusiasts who turned up were treated to a good night’s craic.

Robert then continued his report with the Northern Bank Premier sale in Dungannon. Although there were no records broken most flocks enjoyed a steady trade which set a trend for the sale season where quality lots sold well with commercial farmers willing to pay more than the previous years to buy their stock rams. He reported that; by the fact over 2,000 texels were entered for the sales, with the vast majority being sold to an improved trade this could only be seen as a successful sales season when compared to previous years. He commented that no other breed can get close to the number sold or the averages achieved.

Following the sale season Robert then reported on the Clubs 30th Anniversary dinner dance and awards night, which was widely supported by members. We were delighted to welcome Robert Laird, Scotland, to judge the flock, stock ram, and ewe lamb competitions. He seemed impressed by the stock he saw throughout his week in the Province and congratulations go to all the winners.

Robert recounted the final event of a busy year was the in-lamb female sale which included the RAMS flock dispersal, attracting a large crowd with a new sale record price and greatly improved averages, this was yet another successful event in the Texel calendar.

The Chairman concluded his report by thanking the office bearers, committee and all the members who helped make all the events a success and stating “as a Club, we have had a great year and are well equipped to lead the way for the next 30 years”

Robert then called upon Brian McAllister Treasurer, who gave a detailed report on the Club’s finances. Following the adoption of both the chairman’s and treasurer’s reports Robert informed members that following his appointment as regional representative on the Texel Society Board, Henry Gamble had resigned from his post of Vice Chair of the NI Club. Robert thanked Henry for his support during the past year as vice chairman, and wished him well in his new post. Henry responded by thanking Robert for the sterling work he had completed for the Club during the past year through difficult times, especially for his hard work and dedication during the sale season.

John Yates congratulates Victor Chestnutt on his new post as NI Vice Chairman

Robert then announced Victor Chestnutt as the new vice chairman and welcomed him as a Club office bearer. Victor conveyed his delight with his new post looking forward to working in the exciting times the Club are experiencing.

Robert then invited nominations from the floor for the election of three new committee members with James Adams, Glarryford, Philip Hammond, Cookstown and Alex Thompson, Island Magee being duly appointed.

The Chairman was then delighted to welcome Mrs Valerie Saunders from Chest, Heart and Stroke, and Mrs Jane Curtis, NI Leukemia Research to accept cheques raised through the raffle and auction at the Club dinner and the auction at the Open Night and respectively.

Following a short break for refreshments Robert welcomed the guest speaker, Ciaran Hamill who gave a presentation on the forthcoming changes in sheep identification outlining the rules and regulations concerning the introduction of electronic identification. Ciaran gave a clear insight into the use of EID and answered many questions forward from members.

John Yates, Chief Executive of the Society updated the members on society affairs and again answered questions from the floor, after which the Chairman brought the meeting to a close.

2009 news archive