JIM Kennedy has taken on the role of chairman of the Beltex Sheep Society and was handed the reins at the society’s recent Annual General Meeting weekend hosted by the Northern Beltex Club.

The weekend first saw members flock to the Marriot Hotel near Preston for a race night with a twist on the Friday evening. The AGM was held the following morning before a visit to Withy Trees Farm by kind permission of Andrew and Claire Wood, with attendees then enjoying a formal dinner and dance.

Mr Kennedy, who runs the Lyonpark flock near Maybole, Ayrshire, takes over from outgoing chairman, John Harbinson, of the Glenkeen flock near Limavady, Co Londonderry. Thre new members were also appointed to the society council – Dylan Hughes, of the Tredath flock near Amlwch, Anglesey; James McGarva, of the Horseclose flock near Cummertrees, Annan; and Kenny Preston, of the Glenpark flock near Omagh, Co Tyrone.

Members dug deep throughout the weekend to raise funds for Lucy’s Mission to Michigan. Lucy Wright was just eight-years-old when she was diagnosed with stage 4 high risk neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer that usually forms in certain types of nerve tissue. Thanks to the race night, raffle and charity auction – which included a gimmer from the Woods’ Withy Trees flock which was knocked down to Richard Wood for his Kingledores flock for £2000, with Andrew and Claire matching that £2000 – a whopping £6750 was raised, with more donations still coming in.

On the Sunday, members of the Beltex Young Breeders club headed back to Withy Trees Farm where they were treated to a sheep dressing demonstration, stockjudging, guess the weight of the teaser ram, rodeo competition and showing workshop.

COMPETITION results:

Guess the weight of three fat lambs – Ellie Jennings

Cake and welly stockjudging classes – Megan Wood

Sheep stockjudging classes – Kayley Kennedy

Ladies and overall stockjudging – Maimie Paterson

Gents stockjudging – Richard Wood

Beltex Young Breeders:

Guess the weight of the teaser ram – Charlotte Findlay

Rodeo –Daffyd Owen

Charity auction:

Shepherd’s crook, donated by Mark and Ellie Jennings – £200 to Wade and Alison McCrabbe

Chocolate hamper, donated by CCM Auctions – £100 to Mark and Ellie Jennings

Withy Trees shearling ewe, donated by Andrew and Claire Wood – £2000 to Richard Wood

AI of 10 ewes, donated by D and C Fawcett – £200 to Nick Gill

H and H jacket and whisky, donated by Harrison and Hetherington – £200 to William McAllister

Show winners hamper, donated by Henry Jewitt – £80 to Tom Goldsmith

10 straws of semen, donated by Jeff and Sue Wilkinson – £450 to Neale and Janet McQuistin

Eight straws of semen, donated by John and Melissa Harbinson – £300 to Nick Gill