Virtual cattle show raises £1,300 for local Hospice

Many of the well known show exhibitors and some new entrants have kept themselves busy halter training and preparing stock for the group’s 2020 Virtual Show.

This new initiative gave an excellent opportunity for members both young and old to compete with their Dexters in both haltered and un-haltered sections of the competition; with a wide range of classes from senior bulls right through to calves born in 2020 providing ample opportunity to showcase some of the best Dexter cattle in the UK.

The judge for the event was Mary Kay from Cumbria, who as the Chief Judge of the UK and Ireland Dexter Cattle Society was delighted to support the NI Group’s Virtual Show concept, stating that ‘it was a great idea which brings members together during these difficult times’. Mary was very impressed by the quality of cattle shown. She also complimented the professionalism which the NI Group members demonstrated in presenting both their Dexters and themselves. She confirmed that there is a very bright future for the Dexter Cattle NI Group.

Chairman of the NI Dexter Cattle Group, Ryan Lavery who helped organise the event, thanked her for the support for this new group event. Mary is no stranger to the show rings of NI, having judged several of the main Dexter Shows in Northern Ireland including the Antrim Premier Show in 2019 and NI Group hope to see her back here in the showring in the near future!

Ryan also expressed thanks to all of the exhibitors and stated that it was particularly good to see members who don’t normally show, entering and winning with their stock. The hope is that this success will encourage them to take their Dexters out in the ring when the live shows start back again.

The Virtual Show also had an important role in fundraising for the Southern Area Hospice and the NI Dexter Group are delighted to have raised £1,300 for this worthy charity. Thanks to all of those who contributed their entry fees or gave donations.

The work for the NI Group Virtual Show in 2020 will also be a useful long term investment, as the RUAS Balmoral Show 2021 will host the National UK and Ireland Dexter Cattle Society Show. This has only been held outside England once before in the 120 year history of the Society. The NI Group is really looking forward to hosting it again as it will showcase the best of the UK and Irish Dexter cattle. Already breeders from Germany and Denmark are indicating they will travel to see the show.

At the cheque presentation to the Southern Area Hospice Ryan reminded all NI Dexter breeders about the two for one offer on NI Dexter Group membership for the upcoming year. For £15 your herd can be a member of the NI Dexter Group until the end of 2023. There are also some exciting things planned over this winter period and the group committee is already planning for the 20th anniversary of the group in 2022. He recommended keeping track on the group’s social media pages, especially the new Instagram page - Facebook: NI Dexter Cattle Group, Instagram: NI Dexter Cattle Group.

Results

Haltered Section

Class 1- Senior Bull born before the 1st Jan 2018: 1st Northbrook Atlas EX95, bred by Mr Graham Hunt, owned by Bloomer Family

Class 2- Senior Cow born before 1st Jan 2017: 1st Ballyhartfield Binky, bred by Mr Mike Frazer, owned by Bloomer Family, 2nd Ballydrumman Elsa, bred by Mr Patrick Smyth, owned by McAreavey Family, 3rd Northbrook Begonia, bred by Mr Graham Hunt, owned by Mr Ben Neill

Haltered Senior Champio n- Northbrook Atlas EX95

Haltered Senior Reserve Champion- Ballyhartfield Binky

Class 5- Intermediate Heifer born in 2018: 1st Buckna Brenda, owned and bred by Mr David McCullough

Haltered Intermediate Champion- Buckna Brenda: Class 6- Junior Bull born in 2019: 1st Ballyhartfield Boyd, bred by Mr Mike Frazer, owned by McAreavey Family

Class 7- Junior Heifer born in 2019: 1st Ballylumford Isabella, owned and bred by R &J McCalmont

Haltered Junior Champion- Ballyhartfield Boyd

Haltered Junior Reserve Champion- Ballylumford Isabella

Overall Haltered Champion- Northbrook Atlas EX95

Overall Haltered Reserve Champion- Ballyhartfield Binky

Un-haltered Section

Class 12- Senior Cow born before 1st Jan 2017: 1st Ballykeel Una, bred by Mr Newell Bingham, owned by Alexander Family, 2nd Bunlougher Cookie, bred by Murphy Family, owned by Alexander Family, 3rd Ballyboley Elsie, owned and bred by Alexander Family

Class 13- Senior Heifer born in 2017: 1st Ballyboley Half Penny, owned and bred by Alexander Family

Un-haltered Senior Champion- Ballykeel Una

Un-haltered Senior Reserve Champion- Ballyboley Half Penny

Class 14- Intermediate Bull born in 2018: 1st Loughbeg Tommy, owned and bred by Thomas Scullion

Class 15- Intermediate Heifer born in 2018: 1st Ballyboley Ida, owned and bred by Alexander Family, 2nd Ballyboley Izzy, owned and bred by Alexander Family, 3rd Ballyboley Ilsa, owned and bred by Alexander Family

Un-haltered Intermediate Champion- Ballyboley Ida

Un-haltered Intermediate Reserve Champion- Loughbeg Tommy

Class 17- Junior Heifer born in 2019: 1st Ballylumford Grace, owned and bred by R & J McCalmont, 2nd Ballyboley Jolene, owned and bred by Alexander Family, 3rd Ballyboley Jan, owned and bred by Alexander Family

Un-haltered Junior Champion- Ballylumford Grace

Un-haltered Junior Reserve Champion- Ballyboley Jolene

Class 18- Bull Calf born in 2020: 1st Balinderry Spartan, owned and bred by McAreavey Family, 2nd Ballylumford Musk, owned and bred by R & J McCalmont, 3rd Ballylumford Elon, owned and bred by R & J McCalmont

Class 19- Heifer Calf born in 2020 : 1st Ballylumford Rosie, owned and bred by R & J McCalmont, 2nd Ballyboley Kate, owned and bred by Alexander Family

Un-haltered Calf Champion- Ballylumford Rosie

Un-haltered Calf Reserve Champion- Ballinderry Spartan

Overall Un-haltered Champion- Ballyboley Ida

Overall Un-haltered Reserve Champion- Ballykeel Una

Overall Supreme Champion- Northbrook Atlas EX95

Overall Supreme Reserve Champion- Ballyboley Ida

Class 21- Young Handler 12-18 years old: 1st Ross McCalmont, 2nd Jack McCalmont, 3rd Peter McAreavey

Champion Young Handler- Ross McCalmont

Reserve Champion Young Handler- Jack McCalmont