Slideshow: Record turnout of stock at Newry Show
“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.”
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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.
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.
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“There is totally uncertainty as to what now lies ahead,” admitted show society chairman Kyle Henry.
“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.
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“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.
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“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
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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
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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
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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
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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