Rasharkin man wins top prize

Rasharkin-based sheep farmer, Ian McCaughern, took the top three spots in the annual Beltex cross-bred carcass competition held at Dunbia's premises in Dungannon recently.
Ian McCaughern from Rasharkin (second right) winner of the Pairs and Supreme Carcass titles in the Irish Beltex Sheep Breeders Club cross-bred carcass competition with John Harbinson, left, Secretary of the Irish Beltex Sheep Breeders Club and competition judge, Kenny Linton, agricultural manager of Dunbia.Ian McCaughern from Rasharkin (second right) winner of the Pairs and Supreme Carcass titles in the Irish Beltex Sheep Breeders Club cross-bred carcass competition with John Harbinson, left, Secretary of the Irish Beltex Sheep Breeders Club and competition judge, Kenny Linton, agricultural manager of Dunbia.
Ian McCaughern from Rasharkin (second right) winner of the Pairs and Supreme Carcass titles in the Irish Beltex Sheep Breeders Club cross-bred carcass competition with John Harbinson, left, Secretary of the Irish Beltex Sheep Breeders Club and competition judge, Kenny Linton, agricultural manager of Dunbia.

And Ian wasn’t finished there, he also won the individual Supreme Carcass title and altogether took a total of seven places in the top 10 of the pairs.

Fourth place in the pair of lambs went to first time entrant in the competition, Richard Magee from Trillick. James Carten from Limavady finished in fifth place while Marcus Johnston from Fivemiletown was ninth.

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The winning pair of lambs were sired by a Beltex ram purchased from B & D Wylie’s Balbrydie flock in Angus, Scotland. The second place pair of lambs were sired by a ram from Richard T. Woods’ Kingledores flock purchased at the Carlisle show and sales and the third place pair were out of a Sugar Daddy ram from A & M Dunlop from Broughton in Scotland.

Commenting on his success Ian McCaughern said he was absolutely delighted.

“I finished in third place last year and to take the first three places in the pairs along with the individual Supreme Carcass title this year is just great,” said Ian.

Competition judge, Kenny Linton, Agricultural Manager at Dunbia said the overall standard was very high. “All lambs entered were very much in spec,” said Kenny. “The winning pair were exceptionally well balanced both coming in at 20.7kg and the best single lamb carcass on the day was exceptional.”

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Organised by the Irish Beltex Sheep Breeders Club and supported by the Beltex Sheep Society the competition was sponsored by Dunbia and AB Europe.

On the day Ian McCaughern took the lion’s share of the £550 prize fund that was up for grabs. “I would like to congratulate Ian McCaughern on his very successful day,” said John Harbinson, Secretary of the Irish Beltex Sheep Breeders Club. “And all the competitors who took part and give special thanks to our sponsors, Dunbia and AB Europe.”

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