Two days of judging to end show season

Editorial Department • Published 29 Jul 2010 16:00 0 Comments

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The Fermanagh County Show marking 175 years of Fermanagh Farming Society, will bring together exhibitors from all over Northern Ireland with a focus on quality livestock and food.

This will be the final agricultural show of the season in Northern Ireland and there will be intense scrutiny in the showrings as judges from England, Scotland, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland make their decisions.

There has been an overwhelming response from exhibitors to all sections of the Show including the livestock, home industries, pets and schools classes. A popular miniature horse demonstration will also include showing classes for the first time.

The local food industry will be represented by many firms exhibiting their products in the Food Hall supported by Fivemiletown Creamery, an award winning firm in its own right, as well as the Northern Ireland Regional Food Programme.

With home industries featured at the opening of the Show on Tuesday afternoon next, it will be livestock day on Wednesday. Again there has been strong support from exhibitors in all classes.

This year, the National Hereford Show is being hosted by Fermanagh County Show this year and exhibitors will be welcomed for this flagship event.

The Ivomec Super Simmental Pair of the Year championship will also take place at the Show along with an excellent range of classes for pedigree and commercial beef cattle.

There has been increased sponsorship in many of the cattle sections, particularly Simmental and Hereford sections and Fermanagh Simmental breeders have also stepped up sponsorship for Fermanagh exhibitors in the Simmental section.

In the dairy section, Fermanagh County Show will be hosting the Semex Dairy Cow or Heifer Championship. Prizemoney of up to £400 for the best cow and £300 for the best heifer will ensure a high standard of competiton.

The All-Ireland Dairy Cow Championship, one of the main awards at the show has been sponsored by Fane Valley and there will also be the Glanbia Milk Dairy Heifer Championship.

Sheep will also play a major part in the classes next week and the Vaughan Trust, in addition to sponsoring cattle classes, have also continued their sponsorship of prizemoney for Fermanagh farmers.

This year will see the inauguration of the Knox Memorial Cup for the best Greyface sheep in the show, donated by Mrs. Margaret Knox, in memory of her late husband, Cecil, who served for many years on the Show Committee and who was a stalwart of Greyface sheep breeding in the county.

There will also be an opportunity for young people to show their mettle in the cattle and sheep classes with a number of young handler classes.

Poultry are now becoming important on farms and smallholdings and the poultry classes continue to increase exhibitors. This year there is a wider selection of classes available to reflect the renewed interest in this section. The highest placed bird in each class exhibited by a Fermanagh exhibitor wil go forward to compete for the Vaughan Trust Fermanagh Poultry Championships. There are also Irish Shows Association qualifiers for large fowl and bantams with the finals at Tullamore and Swinford Shows.

The Northern Ireland, Sperrin and Lakelands branch of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust will also be putting on a display of rare breed livestock running alongside classes. This will include a display of Alpaca Shearing on the Tuesday evening. Rare breeds pigs judging will also take place on the Tuesday evening at 7.30pm beside the Main Building.

The Impartial Reporter Schools Section will feature over 1,700 pieces of art, craftwork and writing making it one of the largest of its kind in Northern Ireland.

The Home Industries section is also well supported this year, with a resurgence of home grown produce revitalising the fruit and vegetable section. There are qualifiers for Irish championships in home cooking and vegetables.

The Dog Show now a main feature of the Tuesday evening, will begin at 6pm with classes supported byThornhill Country Club and Kennels. There is an All-Ireland qualifier for the All Ireland Gain Dog Food Championship.

Vintage displays and parade will take place on the Wednesday and the Donkey Derby is sure to attract crowds on the Tuesday evening.

Music recitals on the Tuesday evening will be given by Letterbreen Silver Band.

If you intend to dress up for the show you could be in contention for the Most Suitably Dressed Man or Woman sponsored by Graham Menswear and Graham Womenswear.

The Show Princess will be selected at a Show Dance, organised by Fermanagh YFC in the Valley Hotel, Fivemiletown this Saturday evening, July 31. Music will be by the band, Fantasy

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 29 Jul 10

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