Saintfield Show slideshow: McIlveen confirms her commitment to Farm Business Improvement Scheme
“And this includes the Farm Business Improvement Scheme, which will provide support for capital projects on-farm,” she said.
The minister made these comments while visiting this year’s Saintfield and District Show at Balmoral Park, near Lisburn.
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Hide AdShe added: “The summer shows are a key part of the agricultural calendar in Northern Ireland. They bring communities, both urban and rural, together in competition and camaraderie.
“These events highlight the diversity, character and commitment of farmers across Northern Ireland. They also underline the vibrancy of the agri food sector.
“As minister, I have been eager to use this opportunity to engage with the rural community and hear at first-hand about their issues and concerns. But these events are also a celebration of local produce and husbandry: they provide a platform for the best this area has to offer.”
Meanwhile, Saintfield and District Show 2016 enjoyed a record turnout of visitors, according to the event’s organising chairman Brain Hunter.
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Hide Ad“Gate receipts are well up, but so are our costs,” he added.
“Everyone involved with the society is giving of their time and professional expertise on a voluntary basis.
“It requires hundreds of man hours to bring an event like Saintfield Show over the line. Each summer sees agricultural shows taking place the length and breadth of Northern Ireland. Each event plays a critical role in promoting the farming and food sector within its respective locality.”
Hunter confirmed that Saintfield Show Society has a plan to bring its annual celebration of farming and food to the next level.
“We want to engage more with young people,” he stressed.
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Hide Ad“This year has seen us strike up a very positive working relationship with Moneyreagh Young Farmers’ Club. We now want to build the same type of association with the other clubs in our catchment area. Young people are the future of agriculture: we need them on board.
“But we also need to generate new income streams, in order to maintain the financial sustainability of Saintfield Show. And I strongly believe that local councils and the Stormont Executive can do more to support the invaluable work carried out all the local show societies.”
Northern Ireland Shows Association chairman Robert Dick visited last Saturday’s event at Balmoral Park. He agrees that government should do more to support the activities of all the agricultural show societies.
“The shows must be officially recognised for the strategic role they play in promoting farming and food here in Northern Ireland,” he stressed.
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Hide AdOut in the Saintfield show rings, the judges were dealing with a record entry of beef cattle and sheep. The beef inter-breed championship was won by the Connolly family, from Ballynahinch, with their eye catching Charolais heifer. They had won the equivalent class at Armagh Show the previous week with the same animal. No doubt, one to watch out for in the future.
The inter-breed sheep championship went to Co Down flockowner Diane Christie with a majestic Charollais shearling ram. Judge Brendan Arthurs described his champion as a tremendous example of the breed.
“He has just about everything you would want in a breeding ram: very correct in all aspects and great skin,” he said.
Saintfield Show 2016 results
CATTLE
Beef Cattle
Inter-breed champion: Connolly family
Reserve: Budore Blondes
Hereford classes:
Champion: C Kerr
Reserve: M Richmond
Cow class: 1st D Smyth
Senior heifer class: 1st C Kerr
Junior heifer class: 1st M Richmond
Bull class: 1st C Kerr
Calf class: 1st M & L Moore
Pairs class: 1st D Smyth
Charolais classes
Champion: Connolly family
Reserve: Connolly family
Senior heifer class
1st: Connolly family
Junior heifer class: 1st Connolly family
Bull class: 1st F Reel
Calf class: 1st N Quinn
Pairs class: 1st Connolly family
Simmental classes
Champion: D McDowell
Reserve: J Whitcroft
Senior heifer class: 1st D McDowell
Junior heifer class: 1st J Whitcroft
Limousin classes
Champion: J Neill
Reserve: D Green
Heifer born in 2014 – class: 1st J McParland
Heifer born in 2015 – class: 1st J Neill
Junior bull class: 1st D Green
Pairs class: 1st J & J Aiken
British Blonde classes
Champion: Budore Blondes
Reserve: Johnston Farms
Cow class: 1st Johnston Farms
Heifer class – born in 2014: 1st Budore Blondes
Heifer class – born in 2015: 1st I & R McElroy
Junior bull class: 1st Budore Blondes; 2nd Johnston Farms
Calf class: 1st Budore Blondes; 2nd H & D Dorman
Pairs class: 1st Johnston Farms; 2nd Budore Blondes
Junior Handlers class: 1st M McGuigan; 2nd Johnston Farms
British Blue classes
Champion: O McCann
Junior heifer class
Joint first: O McCann
Joint first: Dorman family
Calf class: 1st R McCormick
Saler classes
Champion: S Connell
Reserve: R Millar
Cow class: 1st S Connell
Senior heifer class: 1st R Millar
Junior heifer class: 1st S Maginn
Junior bull class: 1st S Maginn; 2nd E Gregg
Commercial classes
Champion: JCB Commercials
Reserve: JCB Commercials
Crossbred heifer class: 1st JCB Commercials
Crossbred beef bullock: 1st JCB Commercials
Crossbred beef heifer: 1st J Killen
Minority Breed classes
Champion: E Edgar
Reserve: N Tumelty
Dexter cow class: 1st N Tumelty
Dexter Junior bull or heifer class: 1st E Edgar
Shorthorn classes
Champion: McDowell family
Reserve: H D Bailie
Calf, bull or heifer class: 1st D McDowell
Maiden Heifer class: 1st H D Bailie
Cow class: 1st H D Bailie
Pairs class: 1st H D Bailie
Aberdeen Angus classes
Champion: T Wallace
Reserve: T Wallace
Senior heifer class: 1st T Wallace
Junior heifer class: 1st H Mills
Bull class: 1st H Mills
Pairs class: 1st T Wallace
Young Handlers’ Competition: 1st J Whitcroft; 2nd M McGuigan
Dairy Cattle
Champion: Clandeboye Estate
Reserve: D & D Todd
Maiden heifer class: 1st L Kelly; 2nd D & D Todd
Heifer in milk class: 1st Clandeboye Estate
Pedigree cow in milk class: 1st D & D Todd
Pairs class: 1st Clandeboye Estate
SHEEP CLASSES
Inter-breed champion: D Christie
Reserve: A Gault
Newtownstewart Blackface classes
Champion: C McAteer
Reserve: A & C McCullough
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Hide AdRam – any age: 1st F & K McCullough; 2nd F & K McCullough
Ewe – any age: 1st C McAteer; 2nd F & K McCullough
Hogget ewe class: 1st A C McCullough; 2nd C McAteer
Ram lamb class: 1st A & C McCullough; 2nd A & C McCullough
Ewe lamb class: 1st F & K McCullough; 2nd A & C McCullough
Suffolk classes
Champion: P Donnelly
Reserve: P Donnelly
Ram class: 1st P Donnelly; 2nd R Armour
Ewe class: 1st P Donnelly; 2nd R Armour
Hogget ewe class: 1st P Donnelly; 2nd P Donnelly
Ram lamb class: 1st P Donnelly; 2nd A Patton
Ewe lamb class: 1st P Donnelly; 2nd A Patton
Group of three class: 1st P Donnelly; 2nd R Armour
Hampshire Down classes
Champion: K McCarthy
Reserve: J & A Fletcher
Ram class: 1st J & A Fletcher; 2nd K McCarthy
Ewe class: 1st K McCarthy; 2nd K McCarthy
Shearling ewe class: 1st K McCarthy; 2nd K McCarthy
Ram lamb class: 1st K McCarthy; 2nd K McCarthy
Ewe lamb class: 1st K McCarthy; 2nd K McCarthy
Novice breeder class: 1st P Lawson; 2nd P Lawson
Group of three class: 1st K McCarthy; 2nd J & A Fletcher
Kerry Hill classes
Champion: I Barr
Reserve: I Barr
Ram class: 1st A & M McConnell; 2nd Mr and Mrs W Clarke
Ram lamb class: 1st J Barr; 2nd I Barr
Ewe class: 1st I Barr; 2nd J Barr
Shearling ewe class: 1st I Barr; 2nd K Angus
Ewe lamb class: 1st Mr & Mrs W Clarke; 2nd J Barr
Group of three class: 1st J Bar; 2nd Mr & Mrs W Clarke
NISA Ewe Qualifier: 1 P Colhoun; 2 L Hamilton
Rare Breeds classes
Champion: L Hamilton
Reserve: R J McCauley
Ram class: 1st L Hamilton; 2nd R J McCauley
Ram lamb class: 1st R J McCauley; 2nd R J McCauley
Ewe class: 1st R J McAuley; 2nd L Hamilton
Ewe lamb class: 1st R J McCauley
Ile de France classes
Champion: W E Adamson & Son
Reserve: W E Adamson & Son
Ram class: 1st W E Adamson & Son
Shearling ram class: 1st W E Adamson & Son
Ram lamb class: 1st W E Adamson & Son
Ewe lamb class: 1st W E Adamson & Son
Group of three class: 1st W E Adamson & Son
Texel classes
Champion: A Gault
Reserve: A Gault
Ram class: 1st B Casement; 2nd A Gault
Ewe class: 1st A Gault; 2nd A Gault
Hogget ewe class: 1st A Gault; 2nd A Gault
Ewe lamb class: 1st A Gault; 2nd S Ferris
Ram lamb class: 1st A Gault
Pairs class: 1st A Gault; 2nd J Herdman
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 D Christie
Ewe lamb class: 1st D Christie
Group of three class: 1st D Christie
Any other breed classes
Champion: I Barr
Ram class: 1st I Barr
Zwartbles classes
Champion: M Dorman
Reserve: N Brannigan
Ewe class: 1st M Dorman; 2nd N Brannigan
Ram lamb class: 1st N Brannigan; 2nd C Lyons
Ewe lamb class: 1st C Lyons; 2nd C Lyons
Jacob classes
Champion: P & S Colhoun
Reserve: J Harkness
Ram class: 1st A Hamilton; 2nd A Hamilton
Ewe class: 1st P & S Colhoun; 2nd P & S Colhoun
Hogget ewe class: 1st P & S Colhoun; 2nd J McGrath
Ram lamb class: 1st J Harkness; 2nd P & S Colhoun
Ewe lamb class: 1st J Harkness; 2nd J McGrath
Pairs class: 1st: J Harknessl; 2nd: P & S Colhoun
Group of three class: 1st P & S Colhoun; 2nd J Harkness
Goat section
Champion: A Mullan
Reserve: C Madden
Female goat – Saanen: 1st C Madden; 2nd C Madden
Female goat – any other breed: 1st A Mullan
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Hide AdGoatling: TBT, Alpine or BS: 1st M & C Gilmore; 2nd M & C Gilmore
Goatling – any other breed: 1st M & C Gilmore; 2nd A Mullan
Female kid: TBT, Alpine or BS: 1st M & C Gilmore
Female kid – any other breed: 1st M & C Gilmore; 2nd A & Y Hamilton
Pigmy Goat results
Champion: G Barker
Reserve: J MacAulay
Female kid – under 6 months: 1st E Moulds; 2nd:E Moulds
Female kid between 6 and 12 months: 1st D Campbell; 2nd G Barker
Make kid under 6 months: 1st E Moulds; 2nd E Moulds
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Hide AdFemale kid between 6 and 12 months: 1st D Campbell; 2nd G Barker
Make kid under 1-yo: 1st G Barker; 2nd P Gillan
Female between 1-yo and 2-yo: 1st G Barker; 2nd G Barker
Adult female: 1st J MacAulay; 2nd P Gillan
Adult male: 1st G Barker; 2nd S Convery
Pig Classes
Champion: E Greg
Reserve: B Kelly
Sow class: 1st E Gregg
Senior gilt - 1: 1st C & G White; 2nd C & G White
Senior gilt - 2: 1st B Kelly; 2nd S Radcliff
Junior gilt: 1st E Gregg; 2nd S Radcliff
Boar – born before 2016: 1st B Kelly
Boar – born in 2016: 1st S Radcliff; 2nd B Kelly
Junior handlers’ class: 1st L Stewart; 2nd S Radcliff