NSA Event 2013

Dorset Breeders Celebrate at Sheep N.I.

Club Chairman Trevor Knox, Vice Chairman Michael Maybin and Secretary
Wiliam Carson at the NSA Event

The Northern Ireland Dorset Breeders had plenty to celebrate recently at this year N.S.A Sheep Event earlier this month. The record crowd of spectators who attended the Ballymena event, visited the N.I. Dorset Club stand to view the exhibition and admire the Dorset sheep on show. The exhibits fully exposed the true attributes of the Dorset breed and left no doubt of the abilities that the Dorset breed has as a crossing sire, for both terminal and maternal traits.

The N.I. Dorset committee, led by Chairman Trevor Knox and Vice Chairman Michael Maybin worked hard throughout the day promoting the merits of the Dorset breed to interested commercial sheep farmers, and this was rewarded by the N.S.A judges who placed the N.I Dorset Club stand first in the best sheep breed exhibit.

All this good publicity comes in prime time for the start of the N.I. Dorset Club's sales calendar, which commences in just under two weeks with the 41st Annual Premier Show and Sale. This early season showcase to be held in McClellands Sale Yard on Monday 29th July 2013, will be run as a GB Export Status Sale, and already has created considerable interest from Scotland, England and Wales. The showing which is kindly sponsored by Norbrook Pharmaceuticals Worldwide will commence at 9.30am in the capable hands of Mr Sam Driver, Sandylane Dorset Flock, Derbyshire.

Mr Driver's Sandylane Dorset Flock is run as part of an extensive farming operation that the Driver family run over four English counties, Derbyshire, Lancashire, Yorkshire and Greater Manchester, farming more than 6000 breeding ewes. Sam's Dorset Horn Flock was founded by his grandfather in the 1970's and has been continued to the present with Sam's enthusiasm for the traditional breeds.

Next month the N.I Dorset Club is holding an EU Export Sale in Hilltown Mart, Hilltown, Newry and this will be followed with another EU Export Sale in Lisahally Mart, Co.Londonderry in mid September and their Annual Autumn Show and Sale in Ballymena.

Anyone requiring more information on any of the above sales or requesting a sale catalogue please contact Dorset Club Secretary on 07841746705