Food features prominently at Ballymoney Show 2016

“This is the second year at which a food pavilion has featured at our event, and it is proving to be extremely popular both exhibitors and visitors,” he said.

“This year we have Garreth Wilson, head chef at Titanic Belfast, on hand to host cookery demonstrations throughout the day, plus a host of local artisan food businesses, promoting their wares.”

McClure was speaking as he took farm minister Michelle McIlveen on a guided tour of this year’s event.

He added: “The development of the food pavilion concept has been made possible by the support received from the Northern Ireland Regional Food Programme. And we want to build on this for the future.

“Farming and food go hand in hand. Consumers want to know more about how their food is produced and events, such as Ballymoney Show, can play a key role in this regard.”

This year’s show was attended by politicians and activists espousing the virtues of the UK either staying in or coming out of the EU. Eurosceptic MEP Daniel Hannan, who represents the South East of England in the European Parliament, said that farmers in Northern Ireland will be better off outside the EU.

“The money which the UK saves by coming out of Europe can be used, in part, to support its farmers,” he said.

Hannan was countered by the SDLP’s Connor Duncan who claimed that Northern Ireland is always left with the crumbs off the table when it comes to Westminster budgetary decisions, adding: “The EU is good for farming. There is no guarantee that Westminster will make up for the loss in EU farm subsidies, should Brexit become a reality.”

The show rings at Ballymoney saw the McLean family from Bushmills notch up a Co Antrim double with their elite Holstein cow: Priestland 5232 PS James Rose. The same animal had carried the day in Ballymena the previous week.

Judge Lindsay Fleming described his champion as an excellent example of the Holstein breed.

“She is a cow with tremendous scope and an exceptional rear udder,” he added.

The beef inter-breed championship was won by the Dorman family, from Dungannon, with an eye catching Beef Shorthorn bull. He is a half-brother to the 2015 Balmoral Supreme Beef Champion. Judge Robert Johnston described the bull as having tremendous length and poise.

Ballymoney always attracts a very large turnout of sheep and 2016 was no different in this regard. The inter-breed championship was won by Ballymena breeder Libby McAllister with her choice Beltex shearling ewe. The animal was sired by the noted ram Rathbone Tony. Judge Alastair Wylie, from Stirling in Scotland, described the champion as an excellent example of the Beltex breed.

“She has great presence: a real eye catcher,” he said.

Ballymoney Show results 2016

CATTLE

Supreme Champion: McLean family

Reserve: Dorman family

Dairy Inter-Breed Champion: McLean family

Reserve: McLean family

Beef Inter – Breed Champion: Dorman family

Reserve: R Creith

Dairy Young Handlers’ Champion (13 – 18 yo): L Henry

Reserve: E McLean

Beef Young Handlers’ Champion (13 – 18 yo) C Dorman

Reserve: V Dorman

Best Group of three dairy animals: 1st McLean family; 2nd McLean family

Best group of three pedigree beef animals: 1st M Loughran; 2nd P McGarry

Best pair of dairy heifers: 1st Henry family; 2nd McLean family

Best pedigree beef heifer: 1st: B & K Diamond; 2nd: Dorman family

Best pedigree dairy heifer in milk: 1st Henry family; 2nd McLean family

Best pedigree dairy heifer – not in milk: 1st Henry family; 2nd Gregg family

McLarnon’s Qualifiers: 1 McLean family; 2 McLean family

Centenary Silver Salver – McLean family

Perpetual Challenge Cup - McLean family

Lely Centre Prize: McLean family

Runner-up: McLean family

Most Successful Cattle Exhibitor Award: McLean family

DAIRY SECTION

Holstein classes

Champion: McLean family

Reserve: Henry family

Calf class – less than 8 months: 1st McLean family; 2nd Henry family

Calf class – 8 to 12 months: 1st McLean family; 2nd H & J Orr

Heifer – not in milk: 1st Henry family; 2nd Gregg family

Heifer in milk: 1st Henry family; 2nd McLean family

Cow in milk – 2nd lactation and above: 1st McLean family; 2nd Henry family

Dairy Coloured breeds classes

Champion: McLean family

Reserve: McLean family

Calf class – under 12 months: 1st R Magowan; 2nd R Magowan

Cow in milk class: 1st McLean family; 2nd McLean family

BEEF SECTION

Aberdeen Angus classes

Champion: M Lagan

Reserve: A Parke

Bull born in 2015: 1st M Lagan; 2nd A Parke

Cow class: 1st A Parke

Heifer born in 2015: 1st A Parke; 2nd M Lagan

Pairs class: 1st M Lagan; 2nd A Parke

Belted Galloway classes

Champion: R Creith

Reserve: D Henry

Senior heifer class: 1st R Creith; 2nd L O’Neill

Heifer born after September 1st 2014 and on or before August 31 2015: 1st D Henry

Junior bull/heifer class: 1st S & C Barry

Bull class: 1st R Creith; 2nd D Henry

British Blue classes

Heifer class: 1st C McCrea; 2nd Dorman family

British Blonde classes

Champion: P McGarry

Reserve: Johnston Farms

Bull class: 1st P McGarry

Cow class: 1st Dorman family

Senior heifer class: 1st P McGarry; 2nd Johnston Farms

Junior heifer class: 1st C & S Lyons; 2nd P McGarry

Pairs class: 1st P McGarry; 2nd C & S Lyons

Charolais classes

Champion: V & D Chestnutt

Reserve: G Henderson

Senior bull class: 1st V & D Chestnutt

Junior bull class: 1st G Henderson; 2nd G Henderson

Limousin classes

Champion: B & K Diamond

Reserve: M Loughran

Senior heifer class: 1st B & K Diamond; 2nd M McKenna

Heifer or bull – yearling class: 1st M Loughran; 2nd B O’ Kane

Bull class: 1st M Loughran

Simmental classes

Heifer class: 1st A Smyth

Beef Shorthorn classes

Champion: Dorman family

Reserve: D Alexander

Cow class: 1st D Alexander

Heifer class: 1st D Alexander

Calf class: 1st M Millen; 2nd M Millen

Bull class: 1st Dorman family; 2nd D Alexander

Commercial classes

Champion: R Miller

Reserve: B Ballantine

Store heifer class: 1st R Miller; 2nd B Ballantine

Beef heifer class: 1st R Miller; 2nd B Ballantine

SHEEP SECTION

Inter-breed Champion: E McAllister

Reserve: D & T Fenton

Beltex classes

Champion: E McAllister

Reserve: J Harbinson

Ram – any age: 1st J Harbinson; 2nd H O’Neill

Ewe class: 1st E McAllister; 2nd J Harbinson

Ram lamb class: 1st E McAllister; 2nd H O’Neill

Ewe lamb class: 1st J Harbinson; 2nd E McAllister

Pair of lambs: 1st J Harbinson; 2nd E McAllister

Lanark Blackface classes

Champion: G Crawford

Reserve: A McFarlane

Senior ram class: 1st McCormick Brothers

Shearling ram class: 1st A McFarlane; 2nd A McFarlane

Ewe – any age – class: 1st G Crawford; 2nd A McFarlane

Shearling ewe class: 1st G Crawford; 2nd A McFarlane

Ram lamb class: 1st A McFarlane

Ewe lamb class: 1st G Crawford; 2nd A McFarlane

Perth Blackface classes

Champion: M & R Smyth

Reserve: G Watson

Ram class – 2 shear and up: 1st M & R Smyth; 2nd M & R Smyth

Shearling ram class: 1st A B Carson; 2nd G Watson

Ewe rearing lambs class: 1st A B Carson; 2nd G Watson

Shearling ewe class: 1st M & R Smyth; 2nd A B Carson

Ram lamb class: 1st M & R Smyth; 2nd A B Carson

Ewe lamb class: 1st A B Carson; 2nd M & R Smyth

Pair of lambs class: 1st M & R Smyth; 2nd A B Carson

Blue Faced Leicester classes

Champion: S Laverty & Sons

Reserve: McCormick Brothers

Senior ram class: 1st E Loughran; 2nd E Loughran

Shearling ram class: 1st J Loughery; 2nd McCormick Brothers

Ewe class: 1st J Loughery; 2nd E Loughran

Yearling ewe class: 1st W Adams; 2nd S Laverty & Sons

Ram lamb class: 1st W Adams; 2nd M Wright

Ewe lamb class: 1st S Laverty & Sons; 2nd J Loughery

Pair of lambs class: 1st S Laverty & Sons; 2nd M Wright

Border Leicester classes

Champion: H Dickey

Reserve: H Dickey

Ram class: 1st H Dickey; 2nd I Barr

Ewe class: 1st H Dickey; 2nd H Dickey

Gimmer class: 1st H Dickey; 2nd H Dickey

Ram lamb class: 1st H Dickey; 2nd I Barr

Ewe lamb class: 1st H Dickey; 2nd I Barr

Pair of lambs class: 1st H Dickey; 2nd I Barr

Charollais classes

Champion: H McBratney

Reserve: T Fenton

Ram class: 1st T Fenton; 2nd M Taggart

Senior ewe class: 1st H McBratney; 2nd T Fenton

Shearling ewe class: 1st H McBratney; 2nd M Taggart

Ram lamb class: 1st T Fenton, 2nd T Fenton

Ewe lamb class: 1st McAllister Family; 2nd T Fenton

Dorset classes

Champion: S Wilson

Reserve: A Knox

Ram class: 1st T Wright; 2nd J & C Robson

Ewe class: 1st S Wilson; 2nd T Wright

Shearling ewe class: 1st A McNeill; 2nd J & C Robson

Ram lamb class: 1st A Knox; 2nd T Wright

Ewe lamb class: 1st T Wright; 2nd A McNeill

Pair of lambs class: 1st T Wright; 2nd A Knox

Group of three class: 1st T Wright

Greyface classes

Champion: J Adams

Reserve: M Wright

Senior ewe class: 1st J Adams; 2nd M Wright

Yearling ewe – dry: 1st J Adams; 2nd M Wright

Yearling ewe – suckling: 1st M Wright; 2nd J Adams

Ewe lamb class: 1st M Wright; 2nd W Adams

Pair of lambs class: 1st M Wright

Hampshire Down classes

Champion: D McAleese

Reserve: K & A McCarthy

Ewe class: 1st D McAleese; 2nd K & A McCarthy

Ram class: 1st D McAleese; 2nd K & A McCarthy

Ram lamb class: 1st K & A McCarthy; 2nd K & A McCarthy

Pair of lambs class: 1st K & A McCarthy

Ile de France classes

Champion: E Adamson

Reserve: E Adamson

Ram class: 1st E Adamson

Ewe class: 1st E Adamson

Ram lamb class: 1st E Adamson

Ewe lamb class: 1st E Adamson

Pair of lambs class: 1st E Adamson

Kerryhill classes

Champion: S & F McAllister

Reserve: J Barr

Ram class: 1st J Barr; 2nd J Barr

Ewe class: 1st S & F McAllister; 2nd S & F McAllister

Ram lamb class: 1st J Barr; 2nd J Barr

Ewe lamb class: 1st S & F McAllister; 2nd J Barr

Pair of lambs class: 1st J Barr; 2nd J Barr

Mules classes

Champion: E Loughran

Reserve: J Adams

Senior ewe class: 1st J Adams; 2nd V Anderson

Shearling ewe class: 1st: J Adams; 2nd P Donnelly

Ewe lamb class: 1st E Loughran; 2nd M Wright

Pair of lambs class: 1st M Wright; 2nd E Loughran

Blackface Ewe rearing 2 lambs: 1st E Loughran; 2nd E Loughran

North Country Cheviot classes

Champion: A McNeill

Reserve: M Devine

Senior ram class: 1st A McNeill

Ewe class: 1st A McNeill; 2nd M Devine

Yearling ewe class: 1st M Devine; 2nd A McNeill

Ram lamb class: 1st M Devine

Ewe lamb class: 1st M Devine

Pair of lambs class: 1st M Devine

Rouge de L’Oeust classes

Champion: J Tannahill

Reserve: J Harbinson

Ram class: 1st J Harbinson; 2nd J Tannahill

Ewe class: 1st J Tannahill

Shearling ewe class: 1st J Tannahill; 2nd J Harbinson

Ram lamb class: 1st J Tannahill

Ram lamb class: 1st J Harbinson; 2nd J Tannahill

Pair of lambs class: 1st J Tannahill

Suffolk classes

Champion: D Taylor

Reserve: S & W Tait

Senior ram class: 1st S & W Tait

Shearling ram class: 1st S & W Tait; 2nd P Donnelly

Ewe class: 1st S & W Tait; 2nd P Donnelly

Shearling ewe class: 1st D Taylor; 2nd R C & J C Watson

Ram lamb class: 1st S & W Tait; 2nd R C & J C Watson

Ewe lamb class: 1st P Donnelly; 2nd D Taylor

Pair of lambs class: 1st R A S Barkley; 2nd R C & J C Watson

Texel classes

Champion: V & D Chestnutt

Reserve: A Gault

Ram class: 1st V & D Chestnutt; 2nd A Gault

Ewe class: 1st A Gault; 2nd A Thompson

Shearling ewe class: 1st A Gault; 2nd A Gault

Ram lamb class: 1st P Donnelly; 2nd A Thompson

Ewe lamb class: 1st T Robinson; 2nd A Gault

Pair of lambs class: 1st A Gault; 2nd P Donnelly

Pair of hogget ewes: 1st A Gault; 2nd A Thompson

Butcher’s lambs classes

Champion: J Harbinson

Reserve: J Tannahill

Single lamb: 1st J Harbinson; 2nd J Tannahill

Pair of lambs: 1st J Harbinson: 2nd J Tannahill

Any other breed classes

Champion: E Verner

GOAT SECTION

Champion: Galbraith Brothers

Reserve: Galbraith Brothers

Female goat class – Saanen: 1st Galbraith Brothers; 2nd M J McMorris

Female goat class – Anglo Nubian: 1st Galbraith Brothers

Female goatling class – Saanen: 1st Galbraith Brothers; 2nd M J McMorris

Female goatling class – Anglo Nubian: 1st Galbraith Brothers

Female kid class – Saanen: 1st Galbraith Brothers

Female kid class – Anglo Nubian: 1st Galbraith Brothers