News from Lisburn & Saintfield District Show

The Schedule for the 2013 Lisburn and Saintfield District Show is now available here. If you have any queries please contact the Show Secretary!

The Night at the Races was a great success and we would like to thank everyone involved, in particular the Chestnutt Inn, Ballygowan which let us use their premises for the evening and of course our very own Vera George and Hilary Gibson for organising the event!  We would like to thank everyone for their kindness in donating ballot prizes and sponsoring and also the committee members and friends who provided food for the supper. 

Please note that the Lisburn & Saintfield District Show is affiliated to the Irish Pony Society and all pony classes will be run according to IPS rules.

There will be much for spectators to see at the 68th Annual Lisburn & Saintfield District Show on Saturday 15th June 2013. Choose from Home Industries, Poultry, Cattle, Sheep, Goats, Clydesdales, Carriage Driving, Show Jumping, Dressage, Horse and Pony Working Hunter and Showing, Donkeys and Miniature Horses. Enter on the day for the Show Jumping and also the ever popular Dog Classes. 

Entrance charges are £5 per car with occupants and pedestrians charged at £5 per adult with children under 16 free. The Show starts at 9am so come along and see the trade stands, craft marquee and vintage tractors with refreshments and children's amusements at the Show's new venue!

Please note that entries close on Friday 24th May 2013. You will be able to download schedule and entry forms from the Schedules and Results  page very soon.  Please check our website for further details.  Should you wish a copy to be posted to you please email secretary@saintfieldshow.co.uk with your name and address.

It is with great sadness the Committee announce the death of their Chairman Jim Kirk.

After serving for a number of years on the Committee Jim was elected Head of Cattle Section in 1981 following in the footsteps of his late father in law Mr RA Morrow. When Dr Jimmy McKelvey, the then President and Chairman retired from the Chair in 1995 Jim was the obvious choice for Chairman. He held that position until his death in November. This position of Chairman was never an easy job but Jim tackled it with great enthusiasm and skill.

His background was on the family farm between Saintfield and Crossgar where he learned his skills from his father JP Kirk. JP as he was fondly known, was also a great stalwart of Saintfield Show since its inception. Jim's depth of knowledge in farming and the farming community; allied to his friendly and relaxed manner gave him the skills to become an excellent Chairman.

The amount of time and energy Jim gave to Saintfield Show will never be known – it was immense. He had that great ability to keep the Committee working together and in harmony even when the going was tough.

We will all miss him greatly.

Our sincere sympathy goes to his wife Liz, his son James and daughter Catherine and the family circle.

Kirsten McDonald presents The Ledsome Lad Cup to Saintfield Show Chairman Jim Kirk. Also included are from left Vera George, Head of Cups and Trophies, Alistair McDonald, Hilary Gibson, Head of Ridden Hunter, Dr. James McKelvey, Show President, Ngaire McDonald and Wilbert George, Head of Working Hunter.

SAINTFIELD  Show Limited have been presented with a new Cup for next year's Show by a young rider whose horse tragically died whilst competing at this year's event in June.

Kirsten McDonald from Crumlin and “Ledsome Lad” had success in various classes before tragedy struck when “Leddy” fell and died as a result during the Working Hunter class and Kirsten was taken to hospital with a broken collar bone.

At a reception at the home of Vera and Wilbert George in Saintfield, Kirsten presented The Ledsome Lad Cup in remembrance of “Leddy” to Show Committee Chairman Jim Kirk.

Speaking during the trophy handover Kirsten said “On few occasions a horse such as 'Ledsome Lad' comes along. It was a great privilege to have owned and ridden him if only for a few short years. It is only fitting that he be remembered by this trophy for many years to come. I hope his memory inspires others. Once again I would like to thank all those who sent me support after Leddy's fatal accident at Saintfield Show earlier this year.”

Show Committee Chairman Jim Kirk said “On behalf of Saintfield Show Limited I would like to thank Kirsten and her family for their generosity and kindness in presenting this magnificent trophy in remembrance of 'Ledsome Lad'. It was a tragic accident following success in various classes throughout the day which left Kirsten nursing a broken collar bone and we are delighted to see that she has made a full recovery. For someone who has been involved in dairy farming all my life and knows how attached one can become to particular animals, I can appreciate the heartache when you lose an animal as special as 'Ledsome Lad'. I hope that in the years to come, while competing for this magnificent trophy, it will bring back happy memories for you and your family.”

The well known “Ledsome Lad” was a US bred 17.1hh gelding. His sire was “Torrential” and dam “Ca Va Tres Bien”. As a yearling he was brought to Ireland by Michael O'Brien. Early in his racing career he had a few wind operations which denied him his breathing to go further on the track. He changed hands to P2P.IE owner, trainer and commentator Richard Pugh. Richard's wife Jennifer successfully rode him on the point to point circuit with his best finish being a second. It was always felt that his wind denied him an elusive win. Richard and Jennifer encouraged his final owner Kirsten McDonald through her Jockey's Licence by letting her school “Ledsome Lad”. After being gifted the horse in 2007, Kirsten raced him for a final season. Out of racing he began to show just how versatile a horse he was by taking to his retraining with great style. He excelled in all his new and very popular Racehorse to Ridinghorse show classes never coming home without a ribbon. This culminated in him finally showing some a clean pair of heels by standing alongside household racing names in Dublin where in 2010 he took a very respectable 5^th.

“Ledsome Lad” could also be seen taking ribbons at Eventing Ireland and ridden classes throughout the County Shows with Champion Hunter being awarded to him on several occasions.

His tragic loss has not only been felt by Kirsten and her family but by many others through the organisation Racehorse to Ridinghorse Ireland.

Kirsten McDonald pictured with Ledsome Lad competing at Dublin Horse Show last year.

Thank you to Audrey Gregg for providing the photographs and article for the press. 

The Committee of Saintfield Show would like to thank Alan Dunlop of Balloo Vets, Killinchy, Robert Steele of Robert Steele & Associates, Hillsborough Road, Comber and Raymond Thompson and Andrew Fletcher of Jubilee Vet Centre, Newtownards for kindly agreeing to be available as Veterinary Surgeons on Show Day. 

On show day representatives from many of the local vintage clubs gather to display their vehicles to the general public.  There is generally a good sample of many different vehicles including vintage and classic tractors, motorbikes and lorries.  The vintage clubs of the area continually run events such as road runs and demonstration events with monies being raised donated to various charities in Northern Ireland.  In return for the display Saintfield Show makes a donation to one of the charities supported by the clubs. 

All vintage vehicles are welcome whether from local clubs or not.  It is hoped that this feature of the show grows as it gives the public an insight into the history of agricultural machinery and how it has developed over the years.

Members of one of the clubs cutting corn in the ‘old fashioned’ way in preparation for a threshing event
(Click on image to enlarge)
 

Show Chairman, Jim Kirk, brought a copy of the 1st Annual Saintfield Show catalogue to the April Committee Meeting. Then called Saintfield Young Farmers' Club First Annual Show & Gymkhana, the show was held on Saturday 23rd June, 1945 at The Demesne, Saintfield. Classes covered Agricultural Horses, Hunters, Cattle, Sheep, Swine, Poultry, Butter and Eggs, Home Baking, Knitting and Embroidery, Handwriting, Flowers and Honey. Many familiar family names can be spotted throughout the lists of officials and competitors and adverts were placed by local businesses and companies that still support the Show today such as John Thompson and Sons Ltd and R J Allam Ltd.