‘Outstanding’ Limavady Show 1945

The entries totalled more than 1,500, an increase of almost 400 on the previous year.

The Londonderry Sentinel noted: “Apart altogether from the record entry, a notable feature, was the remarkably high standard of the exhibits. The attendance was also a record.”

Excellent arrangements for the show had been made by the club, of which Mr J C Drennan, JP, was the president, Miss D Robertson, vice president, Mr A Oakley, chairman, Messrs R Parke and W Alcorn, honorary treasurers, and Mr R Moffatt, honorary secretary.

The judges were: horses, Mr W Wilson, Barrhead, Glasgow; cattle, Mr Victor Love, Bready, Co Tyrone; sheep and goats, Border Leicester, Mr Jacob Horner, Comber; Blackfaced, Mr Hamilton, Belfast; pigs, Mr G Lowe, Hillsborough; poultry, Miss R E Dick, Church Street, Antrim; eggs and butter, Miss A A Parke, Craigmore, Maghera; jams, Mrs M I Smith, Castlederg; cookery Mrs Suffern, Crumlin; fruit, flowers and vegetables, Mr and Mrs Hamilton, Malone Nurseries, Belfast; flax, Mr J Bankhead, Belfast; potatoes, Mr S Smith, Kilkeel; and needlework, Mrs Brown, Enniskillen.

Special prizes in the various sections were awarded as follows: Horses, Porter Challenge Cup for best, brood mare, J C Drennan, JP, Carse Hall, Limavady. Best foal in show, J C Drennan. Best exhibit in horse classes, J C Drennan. Reserve champion exhibit, J C Drennan. Best vanner, John B McNickle, Limavady. Best mare in, draught horse classes, R and S W Fleck, Crevamoy, Broughshane.

Cattle: Best dairy cow, H W Craig, Bellarena; best pure-bred dairy shorthorn or pure-bred shorthorn bull, Douglas Gibson, Broighter; best heifer for dairy purposes, H W Craig; best pail-fed calf, John E Campbell, Aghanloo; best group of three animals, Douglas Gibson.

Poultry: Best pit game cock, George Davison, Cullybackey; best pit game hen, George Davison; best hen (confined to Co Londonderry), Mrs W Loughrey, Aughansallagh.

Sheep: Best pen of two cross-bred ewe lambs, the property of a member of a Young Farmers’ Club, Fred Purcell, Carrick House, Limavady; best group of three Blackfaced sheep, James Harkin, Knockoniel, Swatragh; best Border Leicester gimmer, the Reverend R J McImoyle, Dervock.

Pigs: Best gilt, R Holmes, Ltd, Ballymoney; best cart of suckers, Miss M Doherty, Irish Green Street, Limavady.

Potatoes: Young Farmers’ Perpetual Challenge Cup for members of Limavady YFC gaining highest number of points, James Haslett, Ballyleighery; exhibitor gaining highest number of points, R A Eaton, Derrychrier.

Other results included: Horses, pure-bred Clydesdales stallion, any age, first, J C Drennan, JP; second, John Brown, Elagh House, Londonderry; third, John Hynds, Templemoyle. Brood mare, first, J C Drennan; second, J McElroy, Rossdowney; third, Richard Wallace, Englishtown, Drumcroon, Coleraine. Gelding or yeld mare, first, J C Drennan; second, Messrs M and S Mark; third, J B Love, Drumbane. Gelding or filly, first, J C Drennan; second, Jack Henry, Cullyvenny, Coleraine. Colt, gelding or filly, one year old, first, J C Drennan. Draught horses, brood mare, first, R S Ritchie, Tully, Limavady; second, Samuel Morrow, Ringsend; third, John Carmichael, Ballycastle. Gelding or geld mare, first, R and S W Fleck; second, John Brown; third, George Haslett, Myroe. Gelding or filly, first, J McElroy; second, John Harte, Damhead, Coleraine; third, Joseph Hamilton, Dromore, Limavady. Colt, gelding or filly - one year old, first, W J Linton, Magheramore; second, Michael Healy, Ardlough; third, James Faith, Killylane. Vanner, first, J B McNickle; second, James O’Connor, Faughanvale; third, John Townley, Termacoy, Carrichue. Best turn-out of horse and cart, first R and S W Fleck; second J C Drennan; third, Major Patton, Ballyspallin, Ballykelly.

Cattle, dairy cow, in milk, first, H W Craig; second, Josephine McKee, Camus House, Coleraine; third, W McCollum, Greysteel. Dairy cow in calf (not in milk), first, Harold Adams, Loguestown, Portrush; second, Josephine McKee; third, J McElroy.

Dairy cow in calf or milk (confined to members of Young Farmers’ Club), first, Josephine McKee; second, Harold Adams; third, Jack McElroy. Ayrshire cow, first, Josephine McKee; second, James M Lees, Outhill, Cloyfin; third, Lieutentant-Colonel F S N Macrory, Limavady.