In spite of some afternoon showers, over 16,000 people attended Castlewellan Agricultural Show. The number of families was particularly noticeable and children crowded to see the various animals with the pigs, rabbits and goats very popular. They also got a chance to view spinning, felt making, threshing, blacksmithing and purchase locally made crafts and food from over 80 producers. The dog agility ring entertained onlookers all day as more than 220 dogs of different sizes and breeds were put through their paces. The crowds seemed to enjoy it more when the dog decided to go its own way across the hurdles. Once again the poultry tent was exceptionally busy as people snaked their way past the cages with a variety of hens and ducks. Raymond Bready did a fantastic job of compering the day, interviewing exhibitors and visitors and reuniting lost children.
In the more traditional show sections, the newly arranged cattle rings got great feedback from exhibitors and visitors. The afternoon parade featured sixty of the Show’s best cattle with Libby Clarke talking through the breeds and what makes a good animal. The sheep numbers were on a par with last year and it was good to see so many young handlers in the pens, the next generation learning their craft. Horses and ponies have always been a significant element of Castlewellan Show and numbers were high. While much of the jumping took place in the top corner of the field, Mossvale Riding Club’s unaffiliated jumping provided some thrills in the main arenas. Along with this were some of the in hand and hackney and driving classes where elegance and skill was on display. The Young Farmers attracted a great crowd for their tug of war and other antics with this year’s YFC President local woman Roberta Simmons in attendance to keep an eye on proceedings.
Save The Children hosted the vintage tea tent with a steady stream of visitors matching the never ending supply of tray bakes. The fashion marquee featured a lovely ion of Target Dry and Joules clothing from Lila’s in Armagh alongside a model farm which young children were entranced by. There was great drama with skits from the Johnny and Molly show and musical performances all afternoon in the beer tent. The PSNI tractor and community support team were a great hit with young people and the array of shiny agricultural machinery on the field got many admiring glances, but not quite as many as our Best Dressed Lady Henrietta Hunter and Best Dressed Gent Joseph Connolly.
The home industries tent was thronged from early morning with a huge array of crafts, baking, sewing, embroidery, art, photography and handwriting. This year attracted the largest ever number of crocheted items adding to the vibrant and colourful display in the Maginns Bar handcraft section. The schools entries included over 1200 pieces of handwriting and in excess of 500 crafts making it a tough choice for the judges. The Women’s Institute competition of a ‘Walk in the Countryside’ was won by Seaforde and the judge was particularly impressed with their recreation of a stone wall. However, the judge’s favourite item award was given to Lorna Watson for her beautiful piece of machined embroidery with a prize of Ferguson linen. The overall award, the Moorcroft salver, went to Kathleen Moore who had a wide range of winning entries in baking and crafts, the reserve went to Helen Newell.
A very tired but happy Show Secretary Jackie Fitzpatrick thanked the many volunteers who work hard all year to pull this one day event together so it can be enjoyed by people from far and wide.
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