N.I. Flock Competition 2014
Dorset Flock Competition N.I. 2014
Judges:- Graham and Mary Cubitt
Ballytaggart Stock Ewes
This year’s flock competition took place in early July in fine dry weather.
Starting in Rostrevor and Donaghadee, (Co. Down), traveling then to Beragh and Plumbridge (Co. Tyrone). All around Co. Antrim finishing in the green glens of Antrim with a wonderful view of Dorset sheep grazing on the hill overlooking the sea.
It has been a great honour and pleasure for us to be judging the N.I flock competition 2014. It is not every day you get the chance to have such a good look at so many of your fellow breeders flocks and farming enterprises.
Visiting several first time entrants and the long established flocks, it was apparent how adaptable the breed really is, grazing from sea level to 1400 Feet. It was interesting to learn from Eamonn Matthews that having monitored Dorsets on the hill the Dorsets were grazing alongside and above the Blackies at the highest levels.
The standard has been extremely high, having judged the flock competition in 2006, I was impressed at how the sheep have improved over this short period of time. Some of the flocks visited then had a few different breeds, but are now concentrating solely on Dorsets and most have increased their numbers.
The enthusiasm from the young breeders to the long established flocks was very infectious and we hope this continues.
We would like to thank all the breeders for welcoming us to their farms, for the hospitality and effort that they put into showing their sheep to us.
We would like to congratulate the class winners, who went forward to represent us at the National level, and who all achieved such high results at that level.
Graham & Mary
 Church View Ewe Lambs |
 Stock Beechmount Stock Ram, Downkillybegs Ted |
Small Flock:-
1st - Amy McConnell, Beechmount Flock
2nd - Sean Paul McCarry, Turnavedog Flock
3rd - G. M. & S. Wright, Kilraughts Flock
Medium Flock:-
1st - M. & M. McCullagh, Church View Flock
2nd - A. & P. McNeill, Kilvaddy Flock
3rd - S. & S. Lyons, Bencran Flock
Large Flock:-
1st - T. G. Wright, Ballytaggart Flock
2nd- Eammon Matthews, Briarfield Flock
Stock Rams:-
1st - T. G. Wright, Ballytaggart Flock
2nd- Amy McConnell, Beechmount Flock
3rd - Aaron Fearon, Newross Flock
Ewe Lambs:-
Joint 1st- T. G. Wright, Ballytaggart Flock & M. & M. McCullagh, Church View Flock
2nd - Amy McConnell, Beechmount Flock
3rd - S. & S. Lyons, Bencran Flock
Best New Entrant:-
Eammon Matthews, Briarfield Flock
CHAMPION FLOCK:-
Thomas Wright, Ballytaggart Flock
RESERVE CHAMPION FLOCK:-
Amy McConnell, Beechmount Flock
Kilraughts Ram Lamb
