Transcribed by Teena from the Londonderry Sentinel and the Tyrone Constitution
17 Feb. 1871 Omagh Farming Society Ploughing Match
The Annual Ploughing Match in connection with the Omagh Union Farming society came off on Thursday, the 9th inst, in a field of Mr David WILSON’S of Crevenagh. The day was beautifully fine for the season. A great many of the gentry of the neighbourhood, as well as merchants and others from the town, visited the field during the day and all seemed highly pleased with the manner in which the work was executed but the great attraction of the field was a double-furrow plough belonging to John SMITH, Cavanakirk, Clogher. The plough was drawn by three first-class horses, with a silver-mounted harness, altogether a magnificent turn out. The implement is a first rate one, made by A. JACK and Sons, Maybole, Ayrshire. It turned up the ground to the admiration of everyone and though not entered in the list for competition, it was acknowledged by all to have made by far the best ploughing in the field, some good judges going so far as to say that it was the best ploughing they had ever seen. The plough was held by Mr SMITH’S son, John A.SMITH, under 20 years of age. Mr SMITH deserves great credit for having introduced these double-furrow ploughs into this neighbourhood, as they are calculated to effect a great saving in both manual labor and horse-power.
The ploughs started at 11 o’clock and the appointed task was got through by 3 p.m., each plough having gone over upwards of 30 perches. The following is the award of the
Judges;
1st Prize – Mr James ROULSTON, Dervaghroy, plough held by his son, James.
2nd Prize – James MOORE, Drumragh, plough held by servant, Patrick GORMLEY
3rd Prize – Mr Montgomery ARMSTRONG, plough held by servant, John M’WILLIAMS
Prize – Mr Hugh JOHNSTON, plough held by servant
5th Prize – Mr Thomas OSBOROUGH, plough held by himself
6th Prize – Mr John BRATTON, plough held by servant, John QUIN
In the Gentlemens class; 1st prize was obtained James GREER jun. Esq.
The Judges were;
Mr Mungo SLOAN
Mr Charles POLLOCK
Mr James JOHNSTON
The members and friends of the society dined together in the evening at the White Hart Hotel.
4 Aug. 1871 Omagh Farming Society
The Committee of the Omagh Farming Society hereby give notice that the Annual Cattle Show of the society will be held in Omagh, on Tuesday Sept. 12th 1871. By a rule made and adopted at a general meeting held on the 20th February 1866, the Society is now divided into 2 classes; Honorary and Money. The first to be given to the Stock, Crop, &c., of gentlemen and persons not deriving their support from farming or trade; the latter to be given to persons deriving their sole living from farming or trade.
The following Premiums will be awarded by the Society;
Horses
For the best stallion for saddle and harness purposes, £1 10s.
Second best, 10s.
Best stallion for agricultural purposes, £1 10s.
Second best, 10s.
Best mare and foal for agricultural purposes, £1 10s.
Second best, 10s.
Bulls
For the best bull of any pure breed, calved in 1869, or older, £1 10s.
Second best, 10s.
Best bull of pure breed, calved in 1870, £1 10s.
Second best,10s.
Best bull calf, reared in 1871, £1
Second best, 10s,
Best bull in the yard, a sweepstakes £1 (Entry for sweepstakes, 5s.)
Cows
For the best short-horn cow, visibly in calf or giving milk, £1 10s.
Second best, £1
Third best, 15s.
Fourth best, 10s.
Best cow of any other pure breed £1
Second best, 15s.
Third best, 10s.
Best cow of mixed breed, £1
Second best, 15s.
Third best, 10s.
Best two-year old heifer £1
Second best, 15s.
Third best, 10s.
Best one-year-old heifer, £1
Second best, 15s.
Third best, 10s.
Best heifer calf, reared by exhibitor in 1871, 15s.
Second best, 10s.
Third best, 7s. 6p.
Sheep
For the best pen of three ewes, having reared lambs this season, 15s.
Second best, 10s.
best pen of one shear ewes, 15s.
Second best, 10s
Best Ram, 2 years and upwards, 15s.
Second best, 10s.
Best year-old ram, 15s.
Second best, 10s.
Pigs
For the best boar, 15s.
Second best, 10s.
Best breeding sow, rearing pigs this year, or visibly in pig, 15s.
Second best,10s
Green Crops
For the best crop swede Turnips not less than an acre, £2 Second best, £1 10s.
Third best, £1
Best crop of Aberdeen Turnips, not less than an acre, £1 10s
Second best, £1
Third best, 15s.
Best crop of Mangold Wurtzell, not less than half an acre, 15s.
Second best, 10s.
In case the premiums be awarded to the 1st class or class A, a Certificate will be given. In the 2nd class or class B, the money will be paid; but persons competing in class B may also compete in class A, provided they shall have duly entered their stock with the secretary.
Rules for the Competitors
- All Stock to be bona fide the property of exhibitor at time of entry and to be entered with the secretary before four o’clock, p.m., upon Saturday the 9th September next, after which time no entries will be taken. The cattle to be in the yard at eleven o’clock upon the day of the show. This rule will be strictly enforced. No entrance fee or charge for admission to the show yard will be made this season. Subscribers of 10s and upwards will be considered members of the Society.
- In case it shall be proved to the committee that any person exhibiting has attempted any fraud in the exhibition of stock, shall be disqualified from any prize and from ever again competing in the Society.
- No person to compete or receive prizes, who has not paid his subscription for the current year to James GREER jun., Esq., the treasurer, on, or before, the day of entry.
- Each beast must have a halter round the neck and a man at the head and all bulls must have cavisons or nose rings.
- In case of objections to the age of stock, exhibitor must (when called upon by the judges) produce evidence of the date of birth, in absence of which, the case to be decided by the teeth.
- All objections must be made the day of the show and will be disposed of as soon as possible by the committee, whose decision must be final.
- The entrance of Green Crops to be made on or before the day of the cattle show.
- No exhibitor shall be entitled to exhibit more than two animals in the same class, only one of which will get a money prize.
- The Judges have power, and are particularly requested, to withhold a premium in any case from want of merit in the animals exhibited.
- Any animal having got a first prize for two years shall not be eligible to receive a money prize in any ensuing year in the same class and section, though it may be placed first on the judge’s list. Horses and bulls alone excepted from the rule.
The members and friends of the Society will dine together on the evening of the show.
By order of Committee,
Montgomery ARMSTRONG, Hon. Sec. Omagh
15 Sept. 1871 Omagh Farming Society
The annual cattle show of this Society was held on Tuesday last, the 12th instant, in the spacious flax market of Omagh. The weather was very pleasant and genial and a goodly number of persons were present in the show-yard during the day. The number of animals entered for exhibition was not so large as on former occasions, but this was counterbalanced in a great degree to the excellence and superiority in the classes of animals shown. We believe the two principal reasons for falling off in the number of animals shown and the attendance of exhibitors were these –
The “foot-and-mouth disease” being now prevalent, farmers or breeders of stock are unwilling to bring their cattle out for exhibition, through fear of contagion and, this being the busiest time for harvest operations, those engaged in securing their crops are loathe to leave off while they are favoured with such fine weather. Notwithstanding those drawbacks, the show, on the whole, was considered very successful, which was owing in great measure to the exertions of the secretary, Mr. Montgomery ARMSTRONG.
The competition was very keen and in several instances the judges experienced considerable difficulty in arriving at a decision, but in every case, we believe the awards gave satisfaction. In the evening a large number of the members and friends of the Society dined together in the White Hart Hotel, Omagh, when the usual toasts were given and responded to.
Award of the Judges
Horses
For best stallion for agricultural purposes
1 Mr. James ADAMS
2 Mr. William JACK
Best mare and foal for agricultural purposes
1 Mr. Thomas WILSON
2 Mrs. WATSON
3 Mr. Henry LYONS
Bulls
For the best bull of any breed, calved in 1869, or older
1 Mr. John BOYLE
2 Mr. James ROULSTONE
3 Mr. Thomas WILSON
Cows
For the best short-horn cow, visibly in calf or giving milk
1 Mr. Montgomery ARMSTRONG
2 Mr. MACKEY
3 Mr. Miller BARBER
4 Mr. Thomas WILSON
For the best cow of mixed breed
1 Mr. Miller BARBER
2 Mr. Miller BARBER
3 Mr. Thomas WILSON
4 Mr. James MACKEY
5 Mr. John DONNELLY
For the best cow of any other pure breed
1 Mr. Montgomery ARMSTRONG
2 Mr. Thomas WATSON
3 Mr. John DONNELLY
4 Mr. John MACKEY
Heifers
For the best two-year old heifer
1 Mr. James MACKEY
2 do.
3 Mr. M. BARBER
4 do.
5 Mr. John MACKEY
For the best one-year old heifer
1 Mr. M. BARBER
2 Mr. John MACKEY
3 Mr. John BOYLE
4 Mr. Thomas WILSON
For the best heifer calf reared by exhibitor in 1871
1 Mr. M. ARMSTRONG
2 do.
3 Mr. Thomas WILSON
4 Mr. John MACKEY
For the best bull calf reared in 1871
1 Mr. Miller BARBER
2 do.
3 Mr. John MACKEY
Sheep
For the best ram, two years old and upwards
1 Mr. DOAK
2 Mr. James MACKEY
3 Mr. M. ARMSTRONG
For the best one year old ram
1 Mr. James MOORE
2 Mr. James MACKEY
For the best pen of three ewes, having reared lambs this season
1 Mr. James MACKEY
2 Mr. James MOORE
3 Mrs. WATSON
For the pen of one-shear ewes
1 Mr. James MOORE
2 Mrs. WATSON
Pigs
For the best boar
1 Mr. Anthony DOAK
2 Mr. Anthony DOAK
3 Mr. Joseph MATTHEWS
For the best breeding sow, rearing pigs this year, or visibly in pig.
1 Mrs. WATSON
Sweepstakes
For best bull in the yard of any breed
1 Mr. John BOYLE.
There were also prizes given for green crops and farming implements. There were a few implements sent for exhibition by Mr. Thomas MAGUIRE; but there was no competition. There were no entries for green crops.
The judges were (the) Messrs-
Robert GREER Camus
Wilkin BIRD, Keenogue
John SMITH, Cavanakirk, Clogher