Northern Irish Club reflects on successful 2016
Recently the NI Texel Breeders Club members gathered at Greenmount Agricultural College for their AGM. The Club’s chairman, Martin Cromie welcomed the turnout of members, friends, guest speaker Neil Clelland, Neogen and Adrian Farrell from the Southern Area Hospice.
The evening’s proceedings commenced with Mr Cromie and the Herdman Family presenting a cheque to Mr Farrell for £4200 from money raised at the Club’s Annual Open Night at their family farm last August. Mr Farrell thanked the Club and the Herdman family for the generosity of the donation made, informing those present that without public donations the Southern Area Hospice Service would not be able to continue to deliver the standard of inpatient and outpatient services to those patients suffering from cancer, MS, Motor Neurone and Aids.
Following the charity presentation, Dr Clelland, Business Development Executive at Neogen Europe gave those present an informative talk on genomics, its application and benefits to the future of the Texel Sheep Industry. After a short question and answering session vice chairman, Martin Cromie commenced the AGM formalities, with the previous minutes adopted.
Mr Cromie went on to highlight the Club’s successes during 2016 at shows, sales, Club activities and events. He thanked all the members who took part in the various competitions throughout the year, highlighting the importance of the Club’s sponsors in their continued support to run their annual events.
He congratulated those who took home trophies and encouraged members to continue to compete in 2017. As part of his resume of events, congratulations were expressed to Edna Corbett, Laganbann Texels, for her success at Balmoral Show and for keeping Texels well to the fore claiming reserve at the interbreed with her jointly owned aged ram. Mr Cromie also expressed congratulations to Roger Strawbridge, Tamnamoney Texels, for claiming the championship at the Northern Irish National Show and Sale and to Paul and Baillie O’Connor, Drumgooland Texels, for taking reserve champion.
Congratulations were also expressed to John and Richard Currie, Tullagh Texels, for receiving the top price for a ram lamb at the National and the O’Connor Family, Drumgooland Texels, for the top price shearling ewe. Congratulations were expressed again to John and Richard Currie for profiling Northern Ireland breeders at the Scottish National Show and Sale, claiming champion. Mr Cromie acknowledged that this was the third year in succession that a Northern Ireland breeder has claimed this achievement. Roger Strawbridge Tamnamoney Texels was congratulated for getting the top price for a Northern Ireland Breeder at Lanark, selling a ram lamb for 9K.
Mr Cromie thanked members for participating in this year’s Volac Show Flock Championship and Flock Competitions, recognising the hard work that goes in to preparing and participating in such events. Alastair Gault was congratulated for his success in the Volac Show Championship Competition with his Forkins flock taking the overall championship, and also congratulations were extended to Alastair Breen’s Drumderg Texels, for achieving Reserve Volac Champion.
Specific reference was made to Alastair Gault’s continued achievement in claiming overall champion flock in the Club’s prestigious Annual Flock Competition, judged by David McKerrow, Nochnary flock, Freuchie, Fife and also to Victor and David Chestnutt’s Clougher flock for coming reserve.
Mr Cromie paid special thanks to all the members of the committee for their hard work throughout the year, convenors for their hard work at shows and sales and to the judges supporting the club’s activities. He highlighted that without their hard work, support and commitment the club would not be able to function smoothly. The vice chairman also expressed particular thanks to those who sponsored the Club throughout the year namely, Danske Bank, Volac Ireland, Bank of Ireland, Farmware Supplies Northern Counties Co-op, Farm Care, Glen Farm Supplies, Smyth Daleside, S H Coleman, Holden Agri & Fuels, Fane Valley, Ivan Porter, Osmonds, and Oldstone Veterinary.