Golden Anniversary Dinner & Prize Giving
Dorset Breeders celebrate Golden Year
Gary & Lorna Henderson 1st Prize Draw Winners |
 Competition Cups for Presentation |
 Trevor & Sharon Knox Autumn Sale Supreme Champion Winners |
 Assoc. President Raymond Hill & Club Chairman Graham Cubitt
Presenting Cup to Trevor & Sharon Knox |
 Trevor & Sharon Knox ,Jayne McConnell & Angus Fleming
enjoying a chat at the dinner |
 Assoc. President Raymond Hill with Flock Competition Prizewinners |
 N. I. Club Chairman Graham Cubitt with section winners of the Flock Competition |
 Prize Winners from the Premier Sale in July |
 Kyle Sloan presenting the Carnamrock cup to Colin & Louise Johnston for the Best Horned Exhibit at the Premier Sale |
 Prize winners in the large Flock section of the Flock Competition |
 Prize winners in the Small Flock Competition 1st G. Henderson, 2nd A. McConnell, 3rd S. Mullan |
 John McCullagh and his Daughter enjoying the evening |
 Prize winners in the Ewe Lamb section of the Flock Competition |
 Prize winners in the Stock Ram section of the Flock Competition |
Dorset breeders from all over Northern Ireland met at Ross Park Hotel last Friday evening for their annual dinner and presentation of awards. After enjoying an excellent meal, Club Chairman Graham Cubitt welcomed all members and friends and gave a brief outline of the Clubs 50 year history. He noted how far the club has progressed in terms of numbers and also in the quality of the sheep bred here in Northern Ireland , so much so that local breeders have enjoyed great successes recently at the Dorset May Fair in England .
President of the N.I Dorset Sheep Breeders Club, Mr George Robson, Doagh, then presented the awards for the 2009 season. The silverware on display was awarded for various achievements throughout the year, covering Balmoral show, Premiere Show and Sale ; Autumn Show and Sale and the Northern Ireland Flock Competition. Thomas Wright’s Ballytaggart Flock had outstanding success this year, not only did he scoop ten of the trophies which were presented at the dinner, he also produced the Champion at all eight agricultural shows which had classes for Dorset sheep!
To mark the N.I. Club’s 50th year the members chose to support the “Friends of Jessica” Charity which provides much needed funds for the Neo-natal unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital , both by purchasing life saving equipment and funding research. Two of the members of the N.I Dorset Sheep Breeders Club have personal reasons for nominating the charity as they have children who received wonderful care in the Royal Hospital ’s Neo-natal unit. It is hoped that the club will be able to present a cheque for around £2500 to the “Friends of Jessica” Charitable Trust, thanks to the generosity of members. This money was raised by a raffle, an auction at the dinner and the donation of the full selling price of a ewe lamb from the Ballytaggart flock at the Autumn Show and Sale .
The Club would like to thank P&O Ferries for donating a return trip for a car and passengers to Scotland as the First prize. Thanks are also due to Temple Golf and Country Club, Ross Park Hotel and Jacksons Butchers in Ballynure for raffle prizes. An auction was held at the dinner, George Robson, Club President, offered a ewe lamb and Graham Cubitt, William and Karen Carson, and Thomas Wright all donated semen from their stock rams.
A very enjoyable evening was had by all!
Prize winners for 2009
Chairman’s award –Sandy Wilson
S. Robinson Memorial Cup – Balmoral – T. Wright
Temple Golf Club Trophy – Show Flock – T. Wright
Trevilley cup – Champion Flock – T. Wright
Galgorm cup – Best Small Flock – G. Henderson
Fane Valley Cup – Best Stock Rams – T. Wright
Eden Cup – Best Ewe Lambs – T. Wright
McClellands Cup – Best New Entrant – A. McConnell
Wm Marshall Cup – Supreme Champion – T. Wright
D.H & P.D.S.B Cup – Reserve Champion – A. Fleming
Cooper Wellcome Cup – Opposite Sex to Champion – R. Currie
Springwell Trophy – Best pair of Ewe Lambs – R. Currie
Coleman Trophy – Best Shearling Ewe – G. Cubitt
Nutrivet Cup – Best pair of Ram Lambs – T. Wright
Downkillybegs Cup – Best Progeny Group – T. Wright
E. Matthews Cup – Most Show Points – T. Wright
Carnamrock Cup – Best Horn Exhibit – W&C Johnston
Kane and McPhearson Cup – Supreme Champion – T&S Knox
JE McFarlane Cup – Reserve Champion – T. Wright
N. I. FLOCK COMPETITION RESULTS 2009
Judges:- Mr. Andrew Palk & Mr. Mathew Care
SMALL FLOCK:- 1st G. Henderson, 2nd A. McConnell, 3rd S. Mullan, 4th L. Weir
LARGE FLOCK:- 1st T. Wright, 2nd W & C Johnston, 3rd G & M Cubitt, 4th S Caldwell.
Best EWE LAMBS:- 1st T. Wright, 2nd S. Mullan, 3rd G. Henderson.
Best Stock RAMS: -1st T. Wright, 2nd G. Henderson, 3rd S. Mullan.
BEST NEW ENTRANT: - Amy McConnell.
CHAMPION FLOCK:- T. Wright - Large (Ballytaggart)
RESERVE CHAMPION:- G. Henderson - Small Flock (Sandelford)
