Club members and guests travelled from throughout the Province to attend Holstein NI’s annual dinner and presentation of awards held in Portrush.

Chairman Tommy Henry extended a warm welcome and said he was delighted to see such a large turnout.

Tommy gave a resume of the club’s activities throughout the year, reflecting on the highly successful Open Day at the Smyth family’s Ballyweany Herd which raised £34,000 for the regional Neonatal Unit at the Royal Maternity Hospital in Belfast.

“It has been a busy year for Holstein NI and I am privileged to be chairman. This year we hosted the Holstein Celebration and the HYB Weekend Rally, which attracted hundreds of visitors from throughout the UK and Ireland. Both events gave us an opportunity to showcase the best that Northern Ireland has to offer.

“Holstein NI members were delighted to see David Perry elected to the position of Holstein UK president. It’s a great honour for David, and his wife Beatrice.

“The monthly sales in Dungannon have really taken off with good numbers of heifers and cows forward, and I’m pleased to say that trade remains buoyant.” 

Guest speaker was Irish Holstein Friesian Association president Kathleen Watson from County Wexford.

Mrs Watson thanked Holstein NI for its invitation. “I have visited numerous local herds and made many valued friendships over the years. I’d like to thank the club for its excellent hospitality during my recent trip to the Holstein Celebration in June. I was very impressed with the Abercorn and Simlahill Herds, and the beautiful Galgorm Resort, as well as the picturesque north Antrim coast.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate the McCormick family on winning this year’s Bailey’s championship with their great cow Hilltara L’authority Echo 2. Well done!

“On behalf of IFHA I wish all Holstein NI members every success in the future, and safe farming!”