Northern Ireland Texel Sheep Breeders Club

Hundreds Attend Texel Open Night in Co Down

Moorfield Farm, Rathfriland was the venue for the NI Texel Sheep Breeders Club’s Annual Open Night, kindly sponsored by Ulster Bank, on Monday 1st August 2011. The Bell family, Barclay, Lesley, Elliott, Jonny and Gina opened their gates to members and friends from all over the Province inviting them to dander around, view stock, discuss the various on-farm enterprises, take part in the competitions, relish the delights of a Bar-b-Queued lamb burger and enjoy the entertainment.

Hosts Jonny & Elliott Bell with Richard Convery & Cormac McKervey, Ulster Bank and Victor Chestnutt, Chairman

Local commentator, Raymond Brady opened the evening with a short welcome, highlighting the various activities and encouraging both old and young to join in. This was an evening packed with activities keeping Raymond busy on his roving mic. On the livestock side visitors were treated to the 2009 Reserve Champion Texel Flock, a display of Texel cross gimmers and lambs, and the Kiltariff pedigree Angus herd. Diversification has become an important part of the farm business strategy and guests were welcome to tour the poly tunnels where a variety of flowers are grown for the cut flower market or take a trip out to the wind turbine which was erected recently to harvest the wind taking advantage of this source of renewable energy.

A Large crowd watch the Working Dog Trials

A series of competitions ran throughout the evening, kindly sponsored by MSD Animal Health including the very popular trailer driving, with guidance from Portadown based Trailer instructor Wendy McRoberts. Young members negotiated a purpose built course, with prizes for males and females and an overall championship the competition was tight. John Trimble, Newry was crowned the overall champion having taken first place in the men’s class, closely followed in second by Jonny Moore, with Samuel McConnell in third. In the Ladies class Leanne Rutherford drove her way into first place, with Victoria Bennett and Jocelyn Orr in second and third respectively. While all this was taking place, on the other side of the lane, John Maginn, Annalong, gave an excellent display of working sheep dogs before the working dog contest began. Local man William Heslip took the honours with his brown dog Trevor, with North Antrim’s Ian Olphert and Damien Tumelty, Downpatrick, following closely behind.

John Maginn, Annalong with competitors in the MSD Animal Health Working Dog Trials, Damien Tumelty and son Nathan, winner William Heslip, with dog Trevor and Ian Olphert and dog Fly.

As always the stock judging proved to be a popular event with a large number of entries in both classes. Christina McCollam, Loanends, agreed with Master judge Damien Tumelty, taking first place in the Over 18 class, while young Zara Robson, Ballyclare took the first place in the Under 18’s. Marcus and Rosemary Barton, Lack, were placed second and third in the over 18 class, with Stephen McConnell, Ballyclare and Robert Gamble, Groomsport second and third in the under 18’s.

Prize winners in the over 18 stockjudging competition - Marcus Barton, 2nd, Christina McCollam, 1st and Rosemary Barton, 3rd.

After an action packed evening the crowd were invited back to the main yard where the competition results were announced and visitors dug deep into their pockets raising over £900 for Leukaemia Research trough the charity auction.

Young Breeders serve up the Lamb Burgers

Bringing an excellent evening to a close Club chairman, Victor Chestnutt, thanked the Bell family as hosts for their hard work in preparation of the event and delighting the crowd with an excellent flock of Texel Sheep, Ulster Bank, main sponsors of the evening, MSD Animal Health for sponsorship of the competitions, Wendy McRoberts and John Maginn, the many trade exhibitors who attended, the Young Texel Breeders for providing a constant supply of burgers, and of course the large number of pedigree and commercial breeders who made the night a huge success.