49th AGM of Northern Ireland Dorset Club
Members of the Northern Ireland Dorset Horn and Polled Dorset Sheep Breeders Club met for their 49th Annual General Meeting on Monday 4th February at Fort Royal, Glarryford. Mr. Richard Currie, Chairman reported on a busy and successful year for the club, noting both an increase in membership and in club activities. He commended the breeders for their excellent support for Dorset classes, both in quality and quantity, at local agricultural shows and commented on an increase in prices for breeders at the two pedigree sales in July and October2007.
After the business meeting there was a presentation of prizes to breeders for awards won throughout the 2007 season. These were presented by the guest speaker for the evening Mr. Adrian Hall , Swanage Dorset who warmly congratulated all the winners. Mr. Hall then gave an excellent talk to club members, giving them an insight into the running of his Armidale Flock of polled Dorset sheep, which was by far the largest flock of Dorsets in the U.K. He emphasized the importance of a good management system to maximize the yield and quality of lambs and showed that by having three strictly controlled lambing periods throughout the year, it was no problem for the Dorset ewe to produce three crops of lambs in a two year period. Mr Hall concluded by complimenting the N.I. Dorset breeders for the quality of their stock and by wishing the club continued success.
The Prize Winners for the 2007 season are
Balmoral Show Champion- Thomas Wright
Premiere Show and Sale- Champion- Gary Henderson
Reserve Champion-W&K Carson
Opposite Sex Champion- T&S Knox
Best Pair of Ram Lambs- W&K Carson
Best Pair of Ewe Lambs- Thomas Wright
Best Shearling Ewe- P&M Knowles
Progeny Group- W&K Carson
Most Show Points – T&S Knox
Autumn Show and Sale- Champion- Graham Cubitt
Reserve Champion - Graham Cubitt
2007 Flock Competition
Best Ewe Lambs- Thomas Wright
Best Stock Ram- Thomas Wright
Best New Entrant – Seamus Mullan
Large flock Category- 1st- Thomas Wright 2nd- Graham Cubitt 3rd- N Hammond
Small flock Category 1st- Lamb Bros 2nd- Alison Moore 3rd equal R.J Hill and P&M Knowles