Ready, steady, go as show season set to get underway

WE are nearly ready to get the show scene started here in Northern Ireland. It seems such a long time since we were getting geared up to get entry forms filled in and birds washed.

Just a quick reminder of the dates:

Ballymena Poultry Club:

First Show – Saturday, November 6.

Second Show – Saturday December 12.

Championship Show – January 15, 2022.

These will be held as usual in the Slemish Poultry Hall, Ballymena Showgrounds.

Dromore Poultry Association:

Saturday, October 23 – Waterfowl.

Saturday, October 30 – Hard Feather.

Saturday, November 13 – Soft Feather.

Saturday, November 27 – Hard Feather.

Saturday, January 8, 2022 – Soft Feather.

All to be held on the premises of James Hammond in Loughbrickland.

East Antrim Poultry Club:

Annual show – Saturday, November 20, to be held in Slemish Poultry Hall, Ballymena.

Please remember strict Covid regulations will be in place at all these shows. Looking forward to meeting up with some of you again.

The first of the autumn/winter shows is on this Saturday, October 23, with the Dromore club’s Domestic Waterfowl show. See below a welcome from the Committee of the Dromore and District Poultry Association and Covid advice on attending the show:

As a committee we are pleased to be welcoming you to our shows this season at our new venue, it will be great to get back amongst friends to enjoy our hobby.

However, as you can appreciate with the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic we have put in place some measures in line with government guidance to try and keep the membership safe.

These measures include:

n The provision of hand sanitiser at entry points which we encourage you to utilise.

n A one-way system will be in place around the pens

Note: contact information will be retained for 30 days post the event in the interests of contact tracing if required. Please address any queries in regards to this to R Liggett Contact Tracing Officer 07751 257691.

However, we would ask you the members to assist us where possible by:

n Socially distancing, please ensure social distancing is maintained within the show venue;

n Please listen and undertake any instructions given by members of the Committee;

n No boxes are to be left within the show hall once judging has commenced;

Prior to the event if you find yourself displaying any of the following symptoms:

n High temperature/fever;

n A new continuous cough;

n A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste.

n Please do not attend the venue, however, notify the secretary via telephone and seek a PCR test.

If after the event you display any of the above symptoms we would recommend you seek a PCR test immediately. If the test should prove to be positive please make contact with R Liggett.

We would recommend anyone in attendance has been double vaccinated and/or undertaken and received a negative result from a lateral flow test 24 hours prior to entering the show.

If you wish to wear a mask or other face covering, please feel free to do so.

Once again thanks for your assistance with these matters and we wish you a successful and safe show season.

n Regards, The Committee of Dromore & District Poultry Association.