Sun shines as thousands visit Castlewellan Show

Sun shines as thousands visit Castlewellan Show

17 July 2019

THE sun shone brightly for the 18,000 visitors who attended this year’s Castlewellan Show held at the Forest Park on Saturday. 

The event, which is one of Northern Ireland’s top one-day attractions, celebrated its 52nd year of showcasing the finest beasts the bovine and equine world has to offer. 

Attractions included the Grass Lads, featuring young lads displaying grown-up farming techniques, a gourmet food marquee, a dog agility show, vintage vehicles, alpacas, a charity vintage tea, a pet show and a jiving display. 

If that wasn’t enough to please the ice-cream-licking masses, there was also a threshing display and butter making revival. The bee keepers were out in force too. 

The NI Stickcarvers Club hosted a stick making competition and the County Down Young Farmers organised activities for visitors of all ages. 

Show secretary Jackie Fitzpatrick said he was delighted with this year’s energetic vibe at the show. 

“The sun was shining, the che crowd was massive and it has been another fantastic event,” he said.

“Entries in all the sections were on a par with last year and we were pleased to welcome a number of new trade exhibitions to this year’s show. 

“Trade stand awards were presented to Artistic Design from Co Monaghan for its fantastic wooden sculptures and the RSPB for its interactive display.”

The Fleming family’s noted Potterswalls Jersey herd reigned supreme in the dairy interbreed line-up. Potterswalls Excitation Glamour and Potterswalls Prim Flo Elisha also qualified for the Thomsons and NISA Dairy Cow Championship final. 

A highlight for many was the parade of prizewinning beef cattle. The crowds watched intently as judge, Sam Coleman inspected the line-up. 

Claiming top honours and a £150 prize was the junior Simmental bull, Ranfurly Jameson, from the Hazleton family’s herd at Dungannon. The bull has already won breed championships at Balmoral and Omagh. 

Runner-up was the 18 month-old Charolais heifer, Drumilly Overjoyed, exhibited by Jeremy Paynter from Armagh. 

Taking the second reserve award was JCB Commercials syndicate of Jonny Neill, Gareth Corrie and Charlie Beverland, who exhibited the cross-bred Limousin and British Blue heifer calf, Baby Shark. The award for the native inter-breed beef champion went to Aberdeen Angus breeder, Eric McClelland, for his June 2017 heifer, Brookhall Emma. 

Sheep exhibitors enjoyed a hotly contested final of the Danske Bank and Northern Ireland’s Show Association Ewe Championships. Qualifiers selected at nominated provincial shows came under close inspection from the interbreed sheep judge, David Walker. 

Overall winner and recipient of the £100 prize and crystal trophy was a Beltax ewe from Elizabeth McAllister’s Artnagullion flock at Kells. Runner-up was a Charolais ewe from Jim Bell’s Lornbrook flock at Comber. 

Taking the second reserve ribbons was a Texel ewe from Stephen and Jane McCollam’s Carmavy flock at Nutts Corner. 

Mr Walker also judged the interbreed sheep championship. Top honours went to a Texel shearling ewe bred by Henry Gamble from Bangor. In reserve place was a Charolais shearling ewe shown by William McAllister, 

Kells Suffolk breeder Allistair Gault of Newtownabbey claimed the second reserve award. 

Top honours in the pig section went to a senior gilt shown by Diane Ruddock, while the runner-up was a junior boar exhibited by Gary and Claire Wright.