Ballynure charity pet show aids Malawi

The church car park and halls were packed to capacity with an excellent turnout of church members, friends and their pets to support one of the highlights in the Yewnite calendar, and while not quite Noah’s Ark - “It was like a scene you would view from the Vicar of Dibley,” the Rev. James Rogers remarked.

The Pet Show is now well established and was originally the idea of Alice Forbes, who was the 2008 Yewnite Representative.

Yewnite Youth Club Leader Christine Murray said: “It is one of our highlight events when young and the not so young come together to show and share their pets, whilst sharing the rewards with those who are less fortunate than themselves.”

This year the excellent sum of 550 was raised and this was presented to Una Brownlie, a PCI missionary in Livingstonia, Malawi. Una manages the David Gordon Memorial Hospital and along with Josephine Soko, a Malawian co-worker, recently gave a talk to the young people of the church. The much needed money will now be put towards the installation of a well and to help with the needs of the many orphans at the hospital.

On the night there were 70 entries ranging from ponies, calves, dogs, rabbits, fish, a goat, cat, hamster and a sheep, and several hundred people in attendance. The barbecue did a roaring trade and almost ran out of burgers, but thankfully a very generous and prompt donation from Jackson’s - Ballynure’s local butcher, managed to bring the situation under control, with an extra supply of burgers and sausages.

Presenting rosettes, badges and the Yewnite USPCA Cup were representatives from the USPCA, David and Helen Wilson and judges - Mark Penney, Jim Logan, Dennis Boyd, Heather Boyd and Keiron Forbes.

The prizewinners were as follows:

Aquatic: The Best Turned Out Fish: Fishy owned by Amy Patterson; The Fish that Would Best Play the Leading Role in Nemo II: Goldy owned by Ben Patterson.

Poultry: The Best Turned Out Bird: Polly owned by James Weatherup; The Coolest Chick in Ballynure: Bluey owned by James Weatherup; The Fowl Most Likely to get a Star Role in Chicken Run II or Babe III: Jill and Jane owned by Rosalind Currie; The One That Would Make The Best Pillow or Pie: Donald Duck owned by Andrew Murray.

Large Animals: The Best Turned Out Large Animal: Apache owned by Anna Boyd; The Most Noisy Large Animal: Poppy owned by Brian Weatherup; The Most Obedient Large Animal: Jester owned by Jessica Baird; The Most Cheeky Large Animal: Ruby owned by Rhonda Currie; The Best Fancy Walker: Rosie owned by Adam and Abigail McQueen; The Large Animal That Would Best Play a Role in a Home on the Range Western: Harry owned by Lauren Hamill; The Large Animal the Judges would most like to Take Home: Rachael owned by Robert James Currie.

Small Animals: The Best Turned Out Dog: Poppy owned by Barbara Cathcart; The Best Turned Out Cat: Fluffy owned by Nance Mackey; The Best Turned Out Rabbit or Other Small Pet: Coco owned by Catherine McBarnet; The Cutest Small Pet: Daisy owned by Aimee Laird; The Small Pet That Looks Most Like its Owner: Sooty owned by Emma Gamble; The Most Obedient Small Pet: Sparkle shown by Jamie McCowan and owned by Margaret McCowan; The Small Pet with the Most Attentive Owner: Clover owned by Harry Mathers; The Small Pet That Could Audition in Britain’s Got Talent: Troy owned by Alastair and Patricia McKinley; The Happiest Small Pet and Owner: Nell owned by Julie Weatherup; The Most Energetic Small Pet: Toby owned by Yasmin and Sasha Bain; The Small Pet That Could be Filmed for Britain’s Most Funniest Animals: Jasper owned by Rebecca Thompson; The Most Colourful Small Pet: Riley owned by Emma Fullerton; The Small Pet That is the Softest To Stroke: Cocoa owned by Grace Murray; The Small Pet the Judge Would Most Like to Take Home: Storm owned by Peter Baird.

Finally, the USPCA donated a cup to the most deserving animal that had been rescued or had come through a traumatic experience. This went to Meg owned by Hannah Masson.

All the entries received a USPCA badge as David Wilson explained, “each pet is a winner as they are so special to their owner”.

Yewnite Youth Club leader Christine Murray would like to thank all her fellow leaders, reps and helpers; Cameo for donating the tea and biscuits, Ross’s Joint for supplying the meat, the judges for their deliberations, the USPCA for presenting the prizes, to all those who supported the event, and to the Rev. James Rogers for closing in an epilogue and prayer.

And finally a word of thanks is undoubtedly due to the aforementioned Christine Murray. Christine ran in the Larne Half Marathon that very same afternoon, dashed home for a short period, then went down to the church to help set up the halls, answered a emergency call as a retained fire-fighter in Ballyclare, and was back again supervising the show before most of the guests had arrived.