Recently the NI Texel Breeders Club members gathered together for their Annual AGM at Loughery College. Club chairman Andrew Moses welcomed the turnout of members, friends and guest speaker and sponsor Ronald Annett, ruminant nutritionist, Thompsons Feeds.
Proceedings commenced with the presentation of charitable donations. Cheques were handed over to both the BOOM Foundation and MacMillan Cancer Support for £1200 each. Mr Annett then delivered an informative presentation on strategies on how to address deficiencies in trace minerals and their importance in sheep.
Following that came the main business of the AGM, with the previous minutes agreed followed by the chairman’s report, highlighting the Club’s success during the last year.
Mr Moses acknowledged and gave credit to breeders for taking the time to exhibit at Balmoral Show, congratulating Mark Priestley of the Seaforde flock on taking the championship with his gimmer.
June saw the Club hold their first National Show competition at Armagh with many new members participating and almost 200 entries. Thanks was extended to Galloway and MacLeod for sponsoring the event.
Congratulations was extended to Martin McConville of the Glenhone flock for taking the championship. Club members also enjoyed a trip in July to the Texel Society’s Textravaganza event with the Club team taking second place in the Club Champions event.
Once again, the NI Texel Breeder’s Show Flock was a huge success with a large number of entries across all six special classes and at local shows gaining points.
The cairman thanked all the judges for giving up their time to judge the respective classes and also extended thanks to the club members for participating. Mr Moses congratulated Alastair Gault for claiming Show Flock campion with his Forkins flock and Martin McConville for taking reserve champion with his Glenhone flock.
Sales season quickly followed and Mr Moses commented on the success of the Club’s sales, with good averages and clearance rates across the board. Mr Moses thanked the Club’s sponsors and judges for the various sales and Club activities throughout the year.
The Autumn saw the Club embark of its annual Flock Cmpetition in November, kindly judged by Frank Rushton, Derbyshire and sponsored by Danske Bank. He congratulated Martin Millar, Millar’s flock for being named champion flock and John Trimble for claiming reserve champion with his Curley Flock.
Mr Moses rounded up his report by presenting Ailish Ross of the Texel Society the Chairman’s Trophy for her work and support to Club members throughout the year. He also wished breeders another successful year and a successful lambing before handing over the chairmanship position to Philip Whyte.
Mr Whyte commenced his proceedings by paying special thanks to the committee for their hard work and commitment throughout the year and of those outgoing committee members Adrian Liggett, and Alex Thompson. Colin Price was duly elected as vice chair with Geoffrey Fleck, Mike Reynolds and John Trimble elected and welcomed on to the Club’s committee.