ULSTER’s Clydesdale enthusiasts turned out last Saturday for the Co Londonderry Horse Breeding Society’s 49th Annual Clydesdale Foal Show in Ballymena livestock market. Exhibitors were joined by many spectators and the task of judging this year’s show was taken on by Pete Tennant, part of the West Forth Clydesdale team.

The overall champion award went to the McKay family from Dervock with their February-born senior filly foal, Carnaff Cynthia. She is sired by the home-bred stallion Carnaff Fascinator and, with her dam being Inny Chloe, Cynthia is a half-sister to last year’s champion Carnaff Julie.

Reserve overall award also went to the McKay family with senior colt foal winner Carnaff Knockout, again by Carnaff Fascinator and out of Archfarm Jessie. Knockout also walked away with the best opposite sex to overall champion award.

The senior champion prize went to CLHBS chairman Nigel Taggart and family, courtesy of the two-year-old filly winner Ballaney Lady Clover, sired by Carnaff Perfection out of Rhoin Bonnie Jean. Clover was overall champion here in 2014 as a foal.

The reserve senior champion went to Wendy Holmes with first prize yearling filly Bratwell Colleen, sired by Dillars Scottie Boy and out of Carnaff Sabrina.

The excellent class of six young handlers was won by Ben McClaughlin (Glebeview), with second place going to Craig Hanna (Macfin), and third prize to Bonnie Taggart (Ballaney), who qualifies for the final at the Royal Highland Show in 2017.

Maureen Currie of main sponsors Danske Bank presented the overall prizes. Thanks was also expressed to Jervis Nutt Esq., Limavady, who contributed generously towards the overall and reserve champion prizes, also to Kenneth Irwin of Bluegrass Horse Feeds who sponsored the senior and reserve senior champion.

The CLHBS was delighted to receive a donation from the Clydesdale Horse Society towards its show. The Society was also pleased to receive three new trophies from James Irwin (Churchill Clydesdales), Craig Black (Bush Tavern, Ballymoney) and the George Jamieson Memorial Trophy from his son Callum.

Secretary Yvonne Hanna thanked the society members who annually contribute towards special prizes down through the classes and J.A. McClelland & Sons for the use of their first-class facilities.