Big crowd for NI Texel Club Open Night

The Northern Ireland Texel Sheep Breeders Club held their Open night recently at the farm of Danny and Darren McKay, Rohan and Rowandale Texels, Rathkenny, Ballymena.

The McKay family currently farm 540 acres carrying 400 head of cattle including 140 milk cows alongside 150 commercial ewes and 20 purebred Texel ewes.  The Rohan and Rowandale Texel Flocks were established in 2005 and 2006 respectively, inspired by Danny’s experience of the Texel ram as a terminal sire in his commercial flock.

The Open Night gave pedigree and commercial breeders the opportunity for a tour of the Rohan and Rowandale Flocks and a pre-sale preview of this year’s Silverhill Bush Tucker and Auldhouseburn Bobby Dazzler progeny. Visitors were able to participate in the usual stockjudging competition, visit the various stalls and business stands, enjoy a bite to eat at the BBQ, have a go at archery and contribute to the charity auction in aid of Charis and OcuMel UK.

Many donations were made towards the raffle and auction and the McKay family and the NI Texel Breeder’s Club would like to thank all the businesses, members and friends who provided items to be raffled or auctioned and to those who purchased.   The McKay family and the Northern Irish Texel Club would like to thank the sponsor for the stockjudging event, namely Liam McKendry, O’Rouke, McDonald and Tweed Solicitors for their generosity.

Special thanks also goes to Steven McKay, DSB Developments Ltd as the overall sponsor for the event.

Results

Stockjudging

Under 12

1^stKatie Currie

2^ndAmber McNeilly

3^rdLucy Tumelty

12-25 Age Group

1^stHannah Ogle

2^ndIvanna Strawbridge

3^rdBen Robinson

Over 25

1^stDavid Doherty

2^ndIrwin Anderson

3^{rd =} Caroline Kennedy, Stephanie McCollam, Alastair Gault

Guess the Weight of the Texel Ram: Marie Kerr