Omagh poultry show an outstanding success

Omagh Agricultural Show celebrated its 180th anniversary at the weekend. Tyrone Agricultural Society showcased all that’s great in farming and the agri-food sector.

It was the latest agricultural show in Northern Ireland to be able to hold a poultry event after the Avian Flu controls were lifted.

The Omagh Show poultry committee, led by Ryan McLaren, was able to arrange a top team of judges from England, namely Richard Bett, Jade Bett and Ben Welsh, to officiate at this wonderful event and for the very talented Joshua Kittle to photograph the birds.

While the business end of showing was going on, exhibitors had a chance to enjoy the wonderful displays, stalls and eateries contained within the wonderful Omagh showgrounds.

Ryan McLaren and his team had worked tirelessly to establish an outstanding show.

They produced a wonderful display of eggs and yesteryear fowl breeds and a triple success for Gordon Walker, from Gilford, whose trio of Black German Langshan Bantams took the top award of Show Champion with James Weatherup, from County Antrim, taking Reserve Champion with his Black Poland female.

Second Reserve Champion award went to Kiera McGarry, from County Antrim, with a plate of three brown bantam eggs.

Results:

Show Champion, Champion Softfeather Exhibit and Champion Trio, German Langshan Trio: Gordon Walker;

Reserve Champion and Best Light Bantam, Black Poland female: James Weatherup;

Second Reserve Champion and Champion Egg Exhibit, plate of three Brown Bantam Eggs: Kiera McGarry;

Champion Waterfowl and Best Call, White Call drake: Jimmy Ryan;

Champion Hardfeather and Best OEG, OEG male: JBNA Adams;

Best Oxford, Oxford Bantam male: JBNA Adams;

Best Carlisle, Carlisle female: JBNA Adams;

Best Modern, – Modern female: JBNA Adams;

Best AOV Hardfeather, Ko Shamo male: Mervyn Elliott;

Best Large Heavy Softfeather, Black Orpington female: Ryan Liggett;

Best Large Light Softfeather, White Silkie female: Clogher Valley Poultry;

Best bantam Heavy, German Langshan female: Gordon Walker;

Best Light Duck, Fawn Indian Runner: JBNA Adams;

Best Miniature, Miniature Appleyard Duck: McKibbin family;

Best Goose, Toulouse: P & E Mone;

Best True, Blue Pekin female: JBNA Adams;

Best Rare, Kraienkoppe female: Hurst family;

Best Juvenile, German Langshan male: K & E Hurst;

Reserve Juvenile, Serama male: Forbes family;

Best Juvenile Eggs, plate of three: Lexi Sperritt;

Best Utility, Faverolles female: M & R Neill.

There were 420 entries in total, including eggs.

The committee wishes to thank everyone for making the effort to come to Omagh Show’s 180th anniversary outing.

In particular, the Poultry and Egg Committee wishes to extend its thanks to everyone who exhibited, helped in the putting up or taking down the cages, and sponsors, without whom it would be impossible to run these events.

Sponsors include Kilpatricks Feeds, Moneymore; Thompsons Feeds; Farm Feeds Omagh; Heathers Eggs; NFU Mutual; Poultry & Pets – Jimmy Ryan; Wagging Tails Boarding Kennels; along with Mr & Mrs A Wylie and the Crozier family for their kind sponsorship and prizes in kind for the poultry section.