A Year to Remember
when she presented her secretary’s report for the year.
She pointed out that the breed had taken three Interbreed titles at Balmoral including the Interbreed bull performance award which combines the scores for performance along with those in the show ring. The breed then went on to take the commercial championship and reserve highlighting the role of the Charolais in the commercial beef herd. The final accolade was the Tesco Best Steak award which confirmed the breed’s choice by the consumer for taste and tenderness.
Another highlight of the year was the appointment of Martin Donaghy as vice chairman of the British Charolais Society, only the second time that a Northern Ireland breeder has been elected to this post.
The fact that young breeders are taking an interest in the breed is further encouragement and she congratulated brothers, Andrew and William McMordie on taking the reserve team for the UK and the reserve senior individual award at the young judges competition at the Royal Show, while another set of brothers, Ryan and Noel Kerrigan had taken fifth place in the team awards.
This success was matched in the financial affairs of the club when Treasurer, Rosemary McAllister announced that the generous sponsorship for shows and sales, the Dectomax competition and the NI National Charolais Show at Fintona had increased by £800 while membership subscriptions and income from shows and sales had also shown a substantial increase. A successful summer BBQ had enabled the club to present a cheque to the Alzheimer’s Society for £1000.
This cheque was presented at the AGM by Nan Brown who with her husband, Stephen, has done sterling work in helping the club to raise funds for charity, Raymond McCord from the Mid Ulster Branch of Alzheimer’s Society thanked the club for their support stating that through the work of volunteers the Society is able to support sufferers across the country. He pointed out that there are 16,000 people in Northern Ireland living with dementia and this is expected to treble by 2051. He added “ These figures highlight just how much we value and need the support of volunteers and organisations and individuals who raise money “
The election of new committee members resulted in the following being elected – Ian Balfour, Bellanaleck; Brian McAllister, Kells; Will Short, Beragh and Stephen Somerville, Ballygawley.
Club Chairman, John McGrath thanked the committee and members for their support throughout the year and announced the recent appointment of Mary McCormack as the new club Secretary and Public Relations Officer. He thanked the outgoing Secretary and Public Relations Officer, Doris Leeman for her work over the years and for the support her husband Tom had also given the club. Gilbert Crawford, the NI representative on the British Charolais Council presented Doris and Tom with a gift from the Society while John Currie, vice chairman of the NI Charolais Club presented Doris with a beautiful bouquet of flowers.
The evening concluded with entertainment from Gerry Donnelly.