Record crowds enjoy a stunning day in the park

Record crowds enjoy a stunning day in the park

17 July 2013

CASTLEWELLAN Show hit a new high on Saturday with the largest crowds ever recorded at the annual agricultural show.

Perfect weather and a late surge of people from the Sham Fight at Scarva pushed crowd figures to record levels — the perfect way to showcase the event for a television celebrity.

Nick Hewer, best known as Alan Sugar’s sidekick in the Apprentice, visited the show as part of a new television project. He was in Castlewellan to assess the show and look at ways to make it bigger and better.

There was plenty to do and see right across the 50 acres of show grounds with large crowds gathered around the dog agility, show jumping and livestock rings.

New this year was a fashion show and vintage tea tent with four catwalk shows throughout the day. Delicious food was served by Simply Irresistible catering with the fashion provided by Magee Clothing modelled by a selection of local volunteers. Funds were raised for the Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children. The Best Dressed Lady provided a highly competitive field for some wonderful prizes and was won by Clare McCollum. The Best Dressed Gent was a more motley crew though Jim Nelson was a worthy winner.

Displays of blacksmithing, threshing, felt making and spinning were complemented by the vintage cars, tractors and machinery which contrasted greatly to their more modern counterparts on the trade stalls.

The organisers were particularly delighted that the World of Owls was able to attend with some of their birds which were recovered after the recent vandalism.

The craft tent was steady throughout the day with a wide selection of things to buy including jewellery, wood turning products, knitwear, art, linen, ceramics and cookwear. The award for best stall went to Nosy Rosie Crafts.

The gourmet food tent was also popular hosting the best of Northern Irish and Irish produce with the Abernethy Cup awarded to Little Treats NI for their wonderful display of cake pops.

In spite of difficult times for many farmers, numbers in livestock classes held steady this year and the standard in many was very high. The Show hosted four national championships which brought people in from across the island.

Local limousine breeder Jim Quail, with Lynderg Hero, was a very popular winner of the All Ireland Limousin Bull Derby and overall supreme beef champion. There was a great selection of Irish Moiled cattle, a breed which was almost extinct a number of years ago.

The sheep pens once again yielded a very competitive field across all classes with W McAllister taking the interbreed champion with a Charollais ram. Castlewellan hosted the final of the Hampshire Downs National Final which was won by Show chairwoman Michelle McCauley.

The goats extended to a two day back-to-back competition which doubled the number of goats across the classes. Geoffrey and Lorraine Ringland from Ballyward once again dominated winning overall champion and Best British Goat in Milk with Churchview Swiftstill.

Ally Whan ran a tight but noisy operation in the poultry tent which was very popular. Steven and Ryan Reid were delighted to take the Best Bird in Show award.

The pig section was further down the field this year and attracted a good field of rare breeds and were popular with children and adults.

There was plenty of jumping with the Mossvale Riding Club running the unaffiliated showjumping in the main arena and the working hunters and ponies putting on a great display at the top of end of the field.

The home industries tent was busy with over 1,400 cakes, jams, art, crafts, models, handwriting and photography on display.

After a busy day, new Show Secretary Jackie Fitzpatrick thanked the huge team of volunteers.

“So many people work hard all year to make this day a great day out for all the family and certainly we succeeded, I’m looking forward to seeing the photos on our website,” she said.