A Regional Group of the British Alpaca Society
The 2020 Annual General Meeting of the Northern Ireland Alpaca Group will be held as follows:
Date – Sunday 15 March 2020
Time – 2pm
Venue – Oxford Island, Lurgan
Anyone that is not currently a member of the group can join now for a reduced fee of just £12.50. For more information please contact Lee Kane, NIAG Chair, at chair@alpacani.org.
The Northern Ireland Alpaca Group is delighted to announced the following event:
ALPACA CHAT SOCIAL
Sunday 20 October
1pm – 4pm
Lough Neagh Discovery Centre, Lurgan
This event is open to everyone, members and non-members alike. It will be a relaxed and hopefully very enjoyable afternoon with lots of opportunities for alpaca newbies or prospective owners to ask questions about the breed as well as see first hand what can be done with the fleece!
Some of our members will be hosting demonstrations of fleece processing techniques and also crafts such as felting & spinning.
Add in some refreshments and you’ve got a recipe for every alpaca lover’s perfect Sunday afternoon!
For any questions or if you require any further information, please email chair@alpacani.org.
The Northern Ireland Alpaca Group was delighted to once again showcase all things alpaca and alpaca fleece at the Spinning Yarns festival.
Held on Saturday 31 August and Sunday 1 September 2019, NIAG created an ‘Alpaca Zone’, showing the whole process of alpaca fibre processing, ‘From Field to Fashion’.
The event allowed us the opportunity to raise awareness of the alpaca community in Northern Ireland, educate the general public on the wonders of alpaca fleece and promote key alpaca welfare messages to current and prospective owners and breeders. Over the course of two days we engaged with a huge number of people, from right across Northern Ireland and beyond.
Commenting at the event, Lee Kane, Chair of the Northern Ireland Alpaca Group, said:
“As alpaca enthusiasts, nothing gives us greater pleasure than spending two days talking about nothing but alpacas! We love our animals, we care deeply for them and are always grateful for the opportunity to promote the wonderful world of alpaca keeping to others.
“As I have said many times, it is essential that anyone thinking about keeping alpacas takes the time to do lots of research, to talk to current owners and breeders and to develop a strong, basic understanding of what is involved in looking after these amazing creatures. Events like Spinning Yarns gives us the opportunity to meet with people interested in alpacas and to support them in their journey.”
The NIAG Committee would like to thank all those members who came along to the event, especially those who brought alpacas, brought alpaca products or helped to staff the NIAG display over the two days.
More than 30 alpacas and their owners descended upon the showgrounds at Gosford Forest as the Northern Ireland Alpaca Group once again hosted its annual Judged Halter Show as part of Armagh County Show on June 8.
As always, the alpacas attracted large crowds searching for something a little bit different in amongst the cattle and sheep, and despite ominous skies, the rain held off to enable us to put on a great spectacle for the public!
This year’s show was judged by Rob Bettinson of Toft Alpaca Stud and we were also pleased to welcome first time exhibitors, Briar Ridge Alpacas, to the show. As always, the standard in the ring was high with some lengthy deliberations and insightful comments from the judge, which were appreciated by the exhibitors and non ‘paca peeps’ alike!
Our thanks as ever go to those that work so hard behind the scenes to make this event happen; to our show secretary Roger Clarke, to the committee at Armagh Show, to our generous sponsors, to Rob for his expertise, to Paul MacDonnell from the AAI who performed his ring steward duties with aplomb and to all our exhibitors, without whom there would be no show! Congratulations go to everyone who took home rosettes, sashes and cups, with special mention to Ballymac Alpaca who took the Supreme Champion Huacaya title with their wonderful young male, Houghton Prometheus; and to Amberly Alpacas who took home the Supreme and Reserve Champion Suri titles, plus Reserve Champion Huacaya. A full list of results is published under our Show section here. Our sincere thanks also to Melani Poulsen, who took these fabulous photographs!
The 2019 Annual General Meeting of the Northern Ireland Alpaca Group will be held as follows:
Date – Sunday 7 April 2019
Time – 2.30pm
Venue – Premier Inn, Lisburn
The Group would like to extend a special invitation to all alpaca owners, breeders and enthusiasts from across Northern Ireland to join us at the meeting.
For more information please contact Lee Kane, NIAG Chair, at chair@alpacani.org.
Roger & Elaine Clarke of Amberly Alpacas, will be delivering BAS Affiliate Training in association with the Northern Ireland Alpaca Group and the Alpaca Association of Ireland.
WHAT?….The BAS Affiliate programme is composed of 11 modules in total (as detailed below). These will be categorised and delivered over a number of different days (Day 1 & Day 2)
WHERE?…In order to facilitate attendance; the training will be hosted by Amberly Alpacas in N.Ireland and Hushabye Farm Alpacas In ROI.
WHEN?…Day 1 Training-Saturday 9th February 2019 at Amberly Alpacas and Saturday 16th February 2019 at Hushabye Farm Alpaca
COST?… The course fee is £90 per person, including refreshments. NIAG Members can available of a £20 on each place booked. Anyone not currently a member of NIAG can join ahead of booking to receive the discounted rate.
ABOUT…
DAY 1; will encompass Modules 1-5 and is aimed at prospective and new alpaca owners (as well as anyone wishing to avail of revised training)
Module 1: Catching your alpaca
Module 2: Fitting a head collar
Module 3: Halter training
Module 4: Feeding and basic management
Module 5: Vaccination, worming and supplements
DAY 2; will feature all aspects of Modules 6-11 and is aimed at prospective, new and experienced breeders/keepers.
Module 6: Alpaca breeding
Module 7: Alpaca mating
Module 8: Birthing
Module 9: Shearing
Module 10: What do to with fleece
Module 11: Marketing your alpaca business
(Dates for Day 2 modules will be announced in due course)
Please contact Roger and Elaine at Amberly Alpacas (amberlyalpacas@yahoo.co.uk) for details of these practical courses; including times, pricing and booking.
The next General Meeting of the Northern Ireland Alpaca Group will be held as follows:
Date – Sunday 14 October 2018
Time – 3pm
Venue – Premier Inn, Lisburn
The Group would like to extend a special invitation to all alpaca owners, breeders and enthusiasts from across Northern Ireland to join us at the meeting.
For more information please contact Lee Kane, NIAG Chair, at chair@alpacani.org.
After much planning and preparation, members of the Northern Ireland Alpaca Group gathered at Gosford Estate on June 9 for the group’s annual halter show, judged this year by Jo Bridge and with a number of new exhibitors showing for the first time.
Beautiful sunshine and a vibrant show atmosphere made for a truly enjoyable day, with a steady stream of visitors to the arena throughout the day and plenty of opportunities for members to introduce them to the wonderful world of alpacas as the judging continued apace.
Our sincere thanks go to all our generous sponsors; to judge Jo Bridge of Hilly Ridge Alpacas for her insightful and balanced critique of the animals in the ring; to Paul MacDonnell of Hushabye Farm Alpacas for his expertise as ring steward on the day, and to our volunteer scribes Niall Clayton & Lisa Hughes of MountainView Alpacas, as well as all of our alpaca colleagues from across Ireland who visited on the day, and everyone who came to see the animals, ask questions and learn more. The results are published below and congratulations go to all exhibitors on their success.
Results:
| Class (Huacaya) | Name | Placing |
| Junior White Female | Amberly Simply Starstruck | 1st |
| Junior Fawn Female | Amberly Keep The Faith | 1st |
| Junior Grey/Rose Grey Female | Amberly Glass Slipper | 1st |
| Junior Black Female | Edenderry Lovestruck Aphrodite | 1st |
| Junior White Male | Amberly Fire & Ice | 1st |
| Junior Fawn Male | Ballymac Beau | 1st |
| Junior Brown Male | Amberly Reckless Behaviour | 1st |
| Intermediate White Female | Ashtonelle Bridget the Midget | 1st |
| Intermediate Brown Female | Edenderry Liberty Belle | 1st |
| Intermediate Black Female | Edenderry Titania’s Dream | 2nd |
| Intermediate White Male | Beck Brow Hey Now of Amberly Ashtonelle Bamboozled | 1st 2nd |
| Intermediate Black Male | Hushabye Cassius Clay | 1st |
| Adult/Senior White Male | Popham Spitfire | 1st |
| Adult/Senior Fawn Male | Beck Brow Bees Knees of Amberly Atkins Julius | 1st 2nd |
| Multi-Coloured (male/female) | Ashtonelle Ceilidh | 1st |
| Amberly New Sensation | 1st | |
| Pet/Wether | Ashtonelle Buddy Boy | 1st |
| Houghton Black Knight | 2nd | |
| Amberly Blackout | 3rd | |
| Class (Suri) | Name | Placing |
| Junior Light Female | Amberly Suri Illusive | 1st |
| Amberly Suri Grace & Mercy | 2nd | |
| Intermediate White Male | Amberly Suri Invitation Only | 1st |
Championship Classes
| Huacaya Colour Championships | Name |
| Champion White (sponsored by The Coffee Dock) | Beck Brow Hey Now of Amberly |
| Reserve Champion White | Ashtonelle Bamboozled |
| Champion Fawn (sponsored by Joan McCammon) | Beck Brow Bees Knees of Amberly |
| Champion Brown (sponsored by Pure Alpacas) | Amberly Reckless Behaviour |
| Champion Grey (sponsored by Sperrinview Alpacas) | Amberly Glass Slipper |
| Champion Black (sponsored by Alpacas of Cornwall) | Hushabye Cassius Clay |
| Champion Multi (sponsored by KDM Hire Ltd) | Amberly New Sensation |
| Best Pet(sponsored by Ashtonelle Alpacas) | Ashtonelle Buddy Boy |
| Supreme Champion Huacaya (sponsored by Alpaca Association of Ireland) | Beck Brow Hey Now of Amberly |
| Reserve Champion Huacaya (sponsored by Blackberry Alpacas) | Beck Brow Bees Knees of Amberly |
| Supreme Champion Suri (sponsored by CS Alpacas) | Amberly Suri Invitation Only |
| Reserve Champion Suri (sponsored by Iveagh Veterinary Surgery) | Amberly Suri Illusive |
| Overall Judges Choice (sponsored by Craig Haylage) | Amberly Suri Invitation Only |
The NIAG Annual Alpaca Halter Show will be held on Saturday 9 June at Gosford Forest Park, as part of the Armagh County Agricultural Show.
Entry for the show is now open, to both NIAG members and non-members. For more information click here.
Amberly Alpacas, in association with the NI Alpaca Group, will be hosting a one-day practical course on pregnancy, birth and neonatal care of alpacas. The course will cover the first few months of an alpaca’s life, exploring:
The training will be delivered by Sarah Caldwell, Calweton Veterinary Group, and is aimed at alpaca owners, breeders and enthusiasts, along with their vets and other animal health care professionals.
Date Saturday 27 January 2018
Time 9.30am – 4pm
Venue Carntall Primary School, Clogher Co Tyrone
Cost £50 per person (including lunch)
Places can be booked online via the link below:
or by contacting Lee Kane (NIAG Chair) on chair@alpacani.org.