Sheep shearing competitors displaying their talents

Iain Wilson (middle) from Gleno Valley YFC was awarded first place in the YFCU Sheep Shearing Novice Competition. Patrick Quinn from The Glens YFC (left) was awarded second place while David Scott from Collone YFC (right) was awarded third place. Also pictured is YFCU President Roberta Simmons and David John from sponsor, Lister Shearing.

The competition was held in association with the British Wool Marketing Board (BWMB), The Northern Ireland Sheep Shearers Association (NISSA) and Lister Shearing Equipment Limited and consisted of two sections – novice and advanced.

In the novice competition, judges named Iain Wilson from Gleno Valley YFC as the YFCU sheep shearing novice winner for 2016 and he received a glass trophy from David John, Lister Shearing. Second place went to Patrick Quinn from The Glens YFC and third place went to David Scott from Collone YFC.

It was then the turn of the experienced shearers to show their craft at its best in the YFCU advanced sheep shearing competition. Competitors sweated it out in a tough contest with the top scorers making it through to the final.

Thomas Perry from Strabane YFC is presented with his trophy from David John, from sponsor Lister Shearing for coming first in the YFCU Advanced Sheep Shearing Competition. Russell Smyth from Coleraine YFC (pictured back left) was awarded third place and Stephen Morgan from Spa YFC (pictured far right) was awarded second place. Also pictured is YFCU President Roberta Simmons and Patrick Allen from Moira Equestrian Centre who provided a cash prize for the best shorn pen of sheep, with Stephen Morgan from Spa YFC (who also came second in the advanced section) taking the prize.

In the final, Thomas Perry from Strabane YFC, secured the top place and was presented with the Lister hand piece trophy by David John from Lister Shearing. Second place went to Stephen Morgan from Spa YFC and third place went to Russell Smyth from Coleraine YFC.

Stephen Morgan from Spa YFC was also awarded the prize for best shorn pen of sheep and received a cash prize from Patrick Allen, Moira Equestrian Centre.

The Association would like to thank The Northern Ireland Sheep Shearers Association (NISSA), British Wool Marketing Board (BWMB) and Lister Shearing Equipment Limited for their ongoing support of the YFCU sheep shearing competition.

The YFCU would like to extend their thanks to the sheep shearing committee at the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society for ensuring the smooth running of the competition on the day.