Slideshow: Record turnout of stock at Newry Show

There was a record turnout of cattle and sheep at this year's Newry Show. The beef inter-breed championship was won by Mullaghbawn Limousin Larry Crilly with his eye catching heifer Shanhill Jodie.
Getting ready for the Holstein classes at Newry Show: Stuart Dunlop, Banbridge and John Stewart, BanbridgeGetting ready for the Holstein classes at Newry Show: Stuart Dunlop, Banbridge and John Stewart, Banbridge
Getting ready for the Holstein classes at Newry Show: Stuart Dunlop, Banbridge and John Stewart, Banbridge

“She is 19 months old and was sired by Ampertaine Elgin,” he said.

“We are delighted with her progress. She is turning out to be a very special animal.”

North Down Charollais sheep breeder Diane Christie had another ‘good day at the office’. She won the inter-breed championship with a stunning shearling ewe. Home bred, the animal caught the eye of judges and the on-looking gallery of visitors to the show.

Getting ready for the Holstein classes at Newry Show: Stuart Dunlop, Banbridge and John Stewart, BanbridgeGetting ready for the Holstein classes at Newry Show: Stuart Dunlop, Banbridge and John Stewart, Banbridge
Getting ready for the Holstein classes at Newry Show: Stuart Dunlop, Banbridge and John Stewart, Banbridge

Christie has already won a number of inter breed championships in 2016. But most impressive is the fact that she can command the total respect of judges with a number of different sheep. This speaks volumes for the quality of stock that she has throughout her entire flock.

The dairy inter breed championship was won by North Down Holstein breeder Steven Robinson with Ortongrange Snowman Alysia. She calved for the second time in February and is currently giving 45 litres of milk per day. The cow was the All-Britain Heifer of the Year back in 2014.

The potential fall-out of last Thursday’s Brexit vote for agriculture was the key talking point for farmers attending this year’s Newry Show.

“There is totally uncertainty as to what now lies ahead,” admitted show society chairman Kyle Henry.

Getting ready for the Holstein classes at Newry Show: Stuart Dunlop, Banbridge and John Stewart, BanbridgeGetting ready for the Holstein classes at Newry Show: Stuart Dunlop, Banbridge and John Stewart, Banbridge
Getting ready for the Holstein classes at Newry Show: Stuart Dunlop, Banbridge and John Stewart, Banbridge

“But the last thing that farmers in this area want is the re-establishment of the border, from a trading point of view. This would create major difficulties for their businesses.”

He continued: “Farming and food remain at the very heart of our rural way of life,” he said.

“And all of our local shows play a key role in providing a shop window for agriculture in Northern Ireland. But they also represent a tremendous coming together of our rural communities. Without the tremendous voluntary effort put in by countless numbers of people, they just would not take place.

“And Newry Show is no different in this regard. Large numbers of people come together of their own volition each year to make it happen, and it is this solidarity which represents the fundamental message of hope for our farming and food industries moving forward.”

Kilkeel pig producer Trevor Shields agreed that the issue of the border could become a problem for Northern Ireland’s farming and food sectors, once the UK officially leaves the European Union.

“I run a pedigree breeding operation. Two thirds of the boar semen we sell is purchased by farmers in the Republic of Ireland.

“So I do not want to see the re-establishment of the border, and this is a key issue that must be addressed by all the relevant decision makers over the coming months.

“Our survival as an industry depends on us having access to having access to as many export markets as possible. Free trade with the Republic is crucial in this regard.”

But Shields believes that markets outside of Europe can play a vital role in maintaining the viability of Northern Ireland’s pig industry.

“Tremendous efforts have been made over recent years to secure direct access to the Chinese market for fresh pork that is produced here.

“That I am aware of every box has been ticked in meeting all the requirements specified by the authorities in China. All we are waiting on now is the final decision on their part. Having access to the Chinese market would probably boost local pig prices to the tune of 6p/kilo.”

Newry Show results 2016

CATTLE

Dairy Classes

Inter-breed champion: I Robinson

Reserve: K Henry

NISA Qualifiers: 1 I Robinson; 2 K Henry

Holstein classes

Champion: I Robinson

Reserve: K Henry

Heifer born after September 1st 2015: 1st T J Hamilton; 2nd S Dunlop

Maiden heifer class: 1st R Williamson; 2nd R Williamson

Heifer in milk class: 1st K Henry; 2nd S Dunlop

Cow in milk class: 1st I Robinson

Beef Cattle

Inter-breed champion: L Crilly

Reserve: R Henning

Charolais classes

Champion: J Wilson

Reserve: Connolly family

Weanling class: 1st Burleigh & Stubbs; 2nd Burleigh & Stubbs

Senior heifer class: 1st Connolly family; 2nd Connolly family

Junior heifer class: 1st Connolly family; 2nd Connolly family

Junior bull class: 1st D Connoll

Senior bull class: 1st J Wilson

Simmental classes

Champion: R Forde

Reserve: J Wilson

Bull or heifer born after September 1st 2015: 1st R Forde

Heifer born before January 1st 2015: 1st J Whitcroft

Heifer born after January 1st 2015: 1st T Gordon

Bull born on or after January 1st 2015: 1st J Wilson; 2nd J Wilson

Salers classes

Champion: S Connell

Reserve: S Connell

Cow class: 1st S Connell

Heifer class: 1st S Connell

Limousin classes

Champion: McParland family

Reserve: L Crilly

Cow class: 1st F O’Brien; 2nd F O’ Brien

Senior heifer class: 1st L Crilly

Junior heifer class: 1st L Crilly

Junior bull class: 1st McParland family; 2nd F O’Brien

Commercial beef classes

Animal under 1 yo: 1st K Williamson; 2nd S Doyle

Animal over 1yo: 1st S Doyle; 2nd A Colhoun

Blonde classes

Champion: McIlroy family

Reserve: Budore Blondes

Cow class: 1st Johnston family

Weanling class: 1st Budore Blondes; 2nd Johnston family

Heifer born after January 1st 2015: 1st Budore Blondes; 2nd McIlroy family

Heifer born before January 1st 2015: 1st McIlroy family; 2nd Budore Blondes

Junior bull class: 1st Johnston family; 2nd Budore Blondes

Young handlers’ class: 1st V Johnston; 2nd S Mercer

British Blue classes

Champion: O McCann

Heifer class: 1st O McCann

Beef Shorthorn classes

Champion: R Henning

Reserve: R Henning

Cow class: 1st R Henning

Weanling class: 1st R Henning

Senior heifer class: 1st R Henning

Junior heifer class: 1st R Henning

Senior heifer class: 1st R Henning

Bull class: 1st R Henning

Heifer classes

Champion: C Kerr

Reserve: J Graham

Cow class: 1st J Graham; 2nd D Smyth

Bull or heifer born after September 1st 2015: 1st M Moore; 2nd G Graham

Heifer born before January 1st 2015: 1st R M Richmond; 2nd J Henning

Heifer born after January 1st 2015: 1st C Kerr; 2nd J Henning

Junior bull class: 1st R M Richmond; 2nd J Henning

Senior bull class: 1st C Kerr

Aberdeen Angus classes

Champion: H Butler

Heifer class: 1st H Butler; 2nd E Peters

Bull class: 1st H Butler

Native bred classes

Champion: H Butler

Reserve: R Henning

Young Handlers class – Newry Show: 1st V Johnston

NISA Junior Bull qualifiers: 1 R Henning; 2 J Henning

Inter- breed pedigree bull class: 1st R Henning; 2nd J Wilson

NISA heifer qualifier: 1 L Crilly; 2 L Crilly

Beef calf championship: 1st R Forde; 2nd A Burleigh

Beef pairs’ championship: 1st L Crilly; 2nd J Wilson

SHEEP SECTION

Inter-breed champion: D Christie

Reserve: M Grant

Mourne breed classes

Champion: N Brown

Reserve: D Sloan

Aged ram class: 1st D Devlin; 2nd N Brown

Shearling ram class: 1st N Brown; 2nd S Fegan

Ewe class: 1st S Fegan; 2nd Branagan Brothers

Shearling ewe class: 1st N Brown; 2nd: C Killen

Ram lamb class: 1st: E Branagan; 2nd: E Branagan

Ewe lamb class: 1st: D Sloan; 2nd: S Fegan

Pairs class: 1st: N Brown; 2nd: E Branagan

Scottish Blackface classes

Champion: M Grant

Reserve: C McCullough

Ram class: 1st: L McCullough; 2nd: S Maginn

Shearling ram class: 1st: P Morgan; 2nd: B Doyle

Ewe class: 1st: D Maginn; 2nd: S & J Fegan

Shearling ewe class: 1st: S & J Fegan; 2nd: P Morgan

Ram lamb class: 1st: C & A McCullough; 2nd: S & J Fegan

Ewe lamb class: 1st: M Grant; 2nd: S & J Fegan

Pairs class: 1st: M Grant; 2nd: C & A McCullough

Suffolk classes

Champion: B Dixon

Reserve: P McVerry

Ewe class: 1st: P McVerry

Shearling ewe class: 1st: E McCracken

Ram lamb class: 1st: E McCracken

Ewe lamb class: 1st: B Dixon; 2nd: P McVerry

Pairs class: 1st: B Dixon; 2nd: P McVerry

Charollais classes

Champion: D Christie

Reserve: D Christie

Ram class: 1st: D Christie; 2nd: D Christie

Shearling ram class: 1st: D Christie; 2nd: D Christie

Ewe class: 1st: D Christie; 2nd: D Christie

Shearling ewe class: 1st: D Christie; 2nd: H McBratney

Ram lamb class: 1st: W Martin; 2nd: D Cowan

Ewe lamb class: 1st: D Christie

Pairs class: 1st: D Christie; 2nd: S Glasgow

Texel classes

Champion: P O’Connor

Reserve: M McConville

Ram class: 1st: M McConville; 2nd: S McGinn

Ewe class: 1st: M McConville

Shearling ewe class: 1st: P O’Connor; 2nd: J Herdman

Ram lamb class: 1st: J McPolin

Ewe lamb class: 1st: P O’Connor; 2nd J Herdman

Pairs class: 1st J McPolin; 2nd J Herdman

Zwartbles’ classes

Champion: K McCracken

Reserve: N Brannigan

Ram class1st: K McCracken

Shearling ewe class: 1st N Brannigan; 2nd K McCracken

Ram lamb class: 1st N Brannigan; 2nd C Lyons

Ewe lamb class: 1st K McCracken; 2nd N Brannigan

Pairs class: 1st N Brannigan; 2nd K McCracken

Butcher’s lamb classes

Best pair class: 1st Davey family; 2nd P McVerry

Single class: 1st P McVerry; 2nd Davey family

Continental sheep qualifier: 1 D Christie; 2 D Christie

Young handlers’ qualifier – Clogher Show: E Lively

GOAT SECTION

Champion: A Mullan

Goat in milk class

Toggenburg: 1st C Madden; 2nd C Madden

Goat in milk – Anglo Nubian: 1st A Mulan

Goatling class – Toggenburg: 1st G McKeown

Goatling class – Alpine, Anglo Nubian: 1st G McKeown; 2nd A Mullan

Female kid class – Anglo Nubian: 1st A Mullan

Group of three class: 1st A Mullan

Pygmy goat classes

Champion: G Barker

Female kid class: 1st G barker

Pygmy female under 1yo: 1st G barker

Pygmy male – under 1yo: 1st G Barker