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After a last minute change of date and venue due to the cancellation of Galway County Show, the West Region Championships for 2017 were held at Athlone Agri-Show on Sunday 25^th June.

On a beautiful warm sunny day which was a welcome change from the torrential rain which was a feature of the 2016 Championships, over 120 Texels were put before our Judge, John Foster of Springhill Texels from Castlederg, Co. Tyrone

We started with the Senior Ram Class. Niland’s White Knight exhibited by Gerard Niland took the red rosette. He was sired by Knock Ursus, his dam was Chessy PNI 10103 by Ettrick Oki Doki.

We had a fine display of Senior Ewes with Tom Kenny’s ewe Hillswood KTE14029 by Annakisha Uproar and a Chessy ewe by Ettrick Oki Doki taking 1^st place. Alma & Lorraine Brennan, Brendan & Patrick Hanley, PJ Kenny, Tom Kenny and David Gibbons were the other prizewinners, in that order

PJ Kenny’s Shearling Ram Shannagh YoYo was the winner in the next class. He is by Knock Trident and a Shannagh ewe by Mossknowe Pudsey. Brendan & Patrick Hanley were 2^nd & 4^th in this class, with Cyril Keane 3^rd, and John Brooks and John Higgins 5^th & 6^th respectively

Padraic Niland won the Shearling Ewe class with a fine gimmer PNI 16038 by Niland’s White Knight (winner of the Senior Ram class) and a Chessy Ewe by Wayside Topgun. Seamus Delaney was 2^nd, with Darragh Cunniffe, Gerard Niland, Brendan & Patrick Hanley and Alma & Lorraine Brennan in 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th & 6^th places

Padraig Treacy’s Gailey A One, a half-brother to last year’s 8,000gns lamb in Blessington took 1^st place in the Senior Ram Lamb class. He is by Baltier Nailer and a Gailey ewe by Duncryne Uber Cool. Tom Kenny swept the boards in this class taking 2^nd, 3^rd, 5^th & 6^th places with Darragh Cunniffe in 4^th place.

In the Senior Ewe Lamb class, Brian Connelly took 1^st place with a ewe lamb by Thornville Yankee Doodle Dandy and a Turoe ewe by Master Vantastic. John J Brennan was 2^nd; Tom Kenny was 3^rd and 5^th, with Brendan & Patrick Hanley 4^th and Gerard Warde 6^th

Maree AP McCoy exhibited by Cyril Keane was the winner of the class for Ram Lambs born after 1^st March. He is by Tooreen West Yehudi and a Maree ewe by Craighead Masterpiece. Other prizewinners were Gerard Warde, Tom Kenny, Kenneth Bailey, Michael Haverty and John McGloin

In the class for Ewe Lambs born after 1^st March John Brooks ewe lamb took the red rosette. She’s by Millar’s Windbrook and a Racepark Ewe by Glenside Razzle Dazzle. Patrick Joyce was 2^nd with Padraic Niland, Tom Kenny, John Brooks and Brian Egan also in the prizes.

In the class for members who joined the Society since 2011, Brian Connelly’s Ram Lamb, Stonepark Ace by Stonepark Yuri and a Miller Ewe by Donnelly Ultan was 1^st, with Brian Egan in 2^nd place.

In the class for a Group of 3 from the same flock, Tom Kenny was 1^st, with Padraic Niland and Brendan & Patrick Hanley, 2^nd and 3^rd.

We had 12 excellent Young Handlers compete and Michael Brooks was in 1^st place with Evan Turley 2^nd and Ella Bailey in 3^rd place

Padraig & Michael Treacy’s ram Lamb Gailey A One was the Male Champion with Tom Kenny’s Ram Lamb Hillswood Aztec, Reserve Male Champion

Padraic Niland’s Shearling Ewe PNI 16038 was Champion Female with Tom Kenny’s Senior Ewe KTE 14029 in Reserve

The Supreme Champion was judged to be Padraic Niland’s Shearling Ewe with Tom Kenny’s Senior Ewe, Reserve Supreme Champion

Thanks to the Committee of Athlone Agri-Show for accommodating us in holding the Championships at short notice. Thanks also to those members who assisted with setting up beforehand and taking down the penning after the show. To our 3 ring stewards for their work on the day. Congratulations and thanks to the members for the huge show of support in the great number of entries.

A huge vote of Thanks also to our Sponsors:

Roscommon Co-Operative Livestock Marts Ltd

Vet Supplies, Roscommon

Greenvale Feeds

Chanelle Veterinary

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With a midland destination, The Bridge House hotel Tullamore was the location where Texel sheep breeders met for a night of deserved commemorating. Over one hundred members attended the night, Mr. John Shirley was the master of ceremony during the event, spot prizes were given out, the regional winners for sheep flock of the year were announced and Dr. Gerry More O’Ferrall was the guest of honour.

Photos lined the entrance of the dining room as the society members walked to their seats. Newspaper cut-outs and photos of past winners of National Texel Sheep titles were laminated and placed for all to view and admire. A table was also dedicated to the yearbooks that the society publish annually. Detailed accounts of all winners and events associated with the Texel Sheep Society were enclosed in each annual publication.

As guests nestled into their seats for the meal, they were met with a token of slate that had the sentence ‘Making headlines for forty years’ written across the front of it. This mug coaster was a keepsake for people to take home with them along with the banquet booklet that included interviews with Texel sheep members and interesting stories and photos that the society had gathered throughout its lifetime.

A delightful three course meal was enjoyed and devoured by all who attended the event. Ten lucky members of the society won spot prizes during the night and each of the triumphant winners had a plethora of valuable Animax sponsored prizes to choose from. The door prize of 2.5litres of Growvite sponsored by Univet was won By Johnny Payne Rathangan.

The Five flocks that are still active since the foundation of the Society were honoured by Dr. Gerry More O’Ferrall who spoke eloquently about the original days of the society. The founding flocks include; Derrinlerrig, Ml Murray Co. Roscommon, Ballybur John Donohoe Co. Kilkenny, Coolderry Donal Mee Co Roscommon & Lisgobbin Sean Brennan Co. Roscommon.

Mr. Padraic Niland from Co. Galway was given a notable token of recognition as the tea and coffee cups were being filled. His dedication to the Texel Sheep Society over the past forty years was noted and honoured. As Padraic was a founding member of the Texel Sheep Society, he and his wife were awarded with a gift of appreciation. Mr. Niland combined his two life passions; Sheep and hurling, as he gave a humorous and sentimental speech about his experience with the society since 1976. Giving each founding member of the society a starting position on a hurling team, Mr. Niland’s speech was one which only a character such as himself could deliver.

The Regional Flock of the Year winners were announced and awarded their deserved plaques. The South-East award went to Springbridge Flock, Tom Whelan. The South West award went to Annakisha Flock, A & P O’Keeffe. The Midlands award went to Castlekelly Flock, Jimmy Kelly. The North-East award went to Glassdrummond Flock, P Leonard. Darragh Cunniffe claimed the Western award with his Horseleap Flock and finally, A Donnelly brought home the North Connacht award with his Ballyglass Flock.

As the band set up their stand for the night, couples who knew how to jive filled the dancefloor. Before long, the music changed and anyone with or without a beat in their feet, also joined the dancefloor. The night ended after hours of laughter, dancing, and commemorating.

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Zoe, who comes from a non-farming background, is currently waiting on acceptance to do the Green Cert, and in her spare time her off farm passion is weightlifting. She quickly developed a passion for the breed and all things agriculture and decided to join the Irish Texel Sheep Society and started her own pedigree flock in 2012, Mountvilla Texels. The pedigree flock consists of 20 ewes. “We are paying particular attention to selecting flock replacements and select our replacement ewe lambs early in the year.”

Zoe, with their 3-year old son Rocky, is also pro-active in the management of the commercial flock.
“Since we moved to Texel replacements, the traits that they are breeding into our flock include easier handling at lambing, greater prolificacy and less fostering due to their great mothering ability. We also find the Texel cross ewes are better value as they out live other breeds and have a higher cull value. The Texel breed has greatly increased the flock standard and encouraged my interest and love for farming with the Texel.”
The Payne’s will be buying their commercial ewe replacements at this year’s Hiltex ewe sale in Ballinrobe on Saturday 22nd August. Stock rams are purchased at the Texel Premier Sale in Blessington where, with 250 rams on offer, any buyer is guaranteed to find a Texel to suit his or her budget.

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