WORLD BUTCHERS CHALLENGE 2018 15 TH 21 ST MARCH 2018 INTERNATIONAL STUDY TOUR ALL IRELAND BUTCHERY & TOURISM FOOD TRAIL OFFICIAL STUDY TOUR DELEGATE ITINERARY Day One: 15th March 2018 Belfast City Past, Present and Future Belfast Welcomes Butchers of the World. Study Tour Delegates arrive in Belfast. Host City of Worlds Butchers Challenge 2018. 1.45 p.m.- 14.30 p.m. WBC Council and Team Captains VIP visit to Belfast Lord Mayor at Civic reception in Belfast City Hall, Lord Mayors Parlour. Tour Guides: Rhonda Montgomery & Sean Owens Shuttle Bus being provided to move delegates on this visit from Hotel to City Hall and return to Stormont. All delegates will leave Stormont together on shuttle buses to go to Titanic for 4pm. WBC STUDY TOUR REGISTRATION Stormont Hotel 12pm - 4 p.m. Check In to Stormont Hotel and register with Tour Operator Butchery Excellence Ireland desk situated in reception area. Check In Staff: Niamh Maguire, Dave Lang and Rhonda Montgomery Stormont Hotel, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast BT4 3LP T: +44 (0) 28 9065 1066, F: +44 (0) 28 9048 0240 N.B on registration each fully paid delegate will be given a BEI / WBC named I.D. lanyard that you must keep for the duration of the tour and for all visits and any food. All delegates will be given a welcome pack that includes Tour Itinerary, Bus pass, Shuttle bus pass, Taxi cards, things to do in Belfast, Nightlife in Belfast, where to shop in Belfast, Shuttle Bus Schedule, Gala Dinner/Soriee Tickets, Calendar of Events for WBC Competition. Titanic Belfast Tour
4 p.m - 5.00pm - Tour of the Home of the Titanic, with an in-depth chance to understand the real events of 10th April 1912 and the effect the sinking of the worlds greatest ever liner had locally and internationally. Titanic Belfast - Meet at Ticket Office Main Door. Soiree Evening - Welcome Butchers of The World To Belfast Complimentary drinks on arrival sponsored by Butchery Excellence Ireland 6.30 p.m. - 8 p.m. Welcome addresses by Rhonda Montgomery CEO Butchery Excellence Ireland, followed by Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast Cllr. Sonia Copeland and Rod Slater WBC Founder. WBC Senior Team LIVE draw will take place to determine what country is competing in Heat 1 and Heat 2 at Meat @ IFEX. The Mayor & Rhonda will draw the balls and Rod Slater will announce the Countries that have been selected. Andrews Suite - Titanic Belfast WBC Welcome Soiree event with tastings of Local Irish Produce and Local Irish Craft Beers and Ciders for all study tour delegates together with many of the top meat industry stakeholders and sponsors from across the island of Ireland and around the world. Enjoy. Opening of WBC Tour by Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast Cllr. Sonia Copeland. WBC Draw for Station & Heat Allocation Senior & Junior WBC Competitions. Shuttle bus will take people back to Hotel after Soiree - see bus timetable 8.30 p.m. PRACTICE RUN FOR WBC ENTRANCE INTO GALA DINNER WBC TEAM CAPTAINS / COUNTRY FLAG BEARERS & CHAMPION PIPER KEN STEWART Dress Code: Casual Total delegates: 155
Day Two: 16th March 2018 Mid Ulster Tour. CAFRE Food Innovation Centre 6.00 a.m - 7.00 a.m Full Irish Breakfast at Stormont Hotel. Bus 1: 38 seater bus Leaves at 7.00 a.m. Arrive Linden Foods 8 a.m. Team Captains and WBC Council Only. Linden Foods is a Marks and Spencer dedicated Red Meat Retail Packing Factory Tour. New Product Development Area. Granville Industrial Estate, Dungannon, County Tyrone (Bus 1 Only). Tour Guide: Rhonda Montgomery - Butchery Excellence Ireland Bus 2: 53 seater bus leaves Hotel at 8.30a.m. and arrives at 9.30 a.m. Tour of Mid Ulster Area with Butchers Shop visits to Lowe Brothers Master Butchers, Stewartstown, Co Tyrone. Tour Guide: Niamh Maguire - Butchery Excellence Ireland Master Butcher Kevin Lowe Photographs Shoot with Kim Ashton MU Chairperson Bus 3: 53 seater bus leaves Hotel at 8.30a.m. and arrives at 9.30 a.m. Tour of Mid Ulster Area with Butchers Shop visits MacMahons Butchers Cookstown. Colum Donnelly Team Ireland Member, Photographs Shoot with MU Councilors Tour Guide: Dave Lang - Butchery Excellence Ireland At 10.15 a.m. Bus 2 and Bus 3 switch to go to the alternate shop. 10.45 a.m. All Buses Leave for CAFRE Loughry Campus - Food Innovation Centre 11.30 a.m. Arrive at CAFRE Loughry Campus, Food Innovation Centre for Group Tours. 5 groups of 20. Photoshoot with Prized Bull, Permanent Secretary, DAERA and Butchers of the World Outside FIC - Damien Tumelty, Top Irish Dexter Beef Primary Producer. 12.30 p.m. Arrive at Sports Hall CAFRE Loughry Campus Welcomes by: Permanent Secretary, DAERA Councillor Kim Ashton Mid Ulster District Council 1.00 p.m. Lunch with Ballyriff Buffalo, Glenarm Shorthorn Beef and Local Producers, Loughry Success Stories. 1.45 p.m. Keynote Address by Peter Hannan to Welcome the Butchers of The World and to speak on being Supreme Champions Great Taste Awards 2.15 p.m. Speaker from Food Standards Agency UK 2.30 p.m. 45 Minute Live Master Butcher Demo: Nose to Tail Pig Butchery and Irish Charcuterie Session by Artisan Master Butcher Dave Lang from Butchery Excellence Ireland and 3 Star
Great Taste Award Winner Charcutier Jonny Cuddy. Ispini Charcuterie Tasting with Local Craft Beers. 3.15 p.m. Rhonda Montgomery, Butchery Excellence International to give thanks and closing address at CAFRE 3.30 p.m. Buses Leave for Visit to M & W Meats, Portadown 4.30 p.m. Buses Leave to Return to Belfast Hotel Finish in M&W Meats, Scotch Street, Portadown, Northern Irish Master Butcher. Return to Hotel Study Tour Delegate Accommodation: Stormont Hotel, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast. Evening Meal 7.30 p.m at Stormont Hotel Council Meeting: WBC Council Meeting at 8.30pm in Stormont Hotel - All WBC Council Members must attend this meeting and any countries that are placing Bids to Host WBC in 2020. Dress Code: Casual Total Tour delegates for buses: 115 Total visitors: 85 Total: 200 Guests
Day Three: 17th March 2018 Dublin - World s Greatest St Patrick s Day Parade, O Connell Street, Dublin 6.00 a.m - 7.00 a.m Full Irish Breakfast at Stormont Hotel. Leave Hotel Sharp for Dublin Bus 1: 7.15 a.m (Tour Guide Rhonda Montgomery) x53 seater bus Bus 2: 7.30 a.m (Tour Guide Niamh Maguire) x53 seater bus Bus 3: 7.45 a.m (Tour Guide Dave Lang) x38 seater bus Tour to Irelands Capital City St Patrick s Day Parade Bus 1 Arrive 9.00 a.m. Bus 2 Arrive 9.15 a.m. Bus 3 Arrive 9.30 a.m. Visit to Whelans Butchers Swords: Multi Award Winning Butchers a shining light in the training of Butchers in Ireland with the Butchery Excellence Scheme Professional Butchery Internship. Simply a great advocate for Irish Butchers and Irish Meat Trade. 11.00/11.15/11.30 a.m. Arrival at St Patrick s Day Parade Delegates are free to enjoy our capital city until buses leave DIT Cathal Brugha Street at 2pm sharp for Croke Park. (EVERY-ONE MUST BE BACK ON TIME). NOTE: Guests should bring St. Patrick s Day Props e.g. Hats/Glasses/Wigs etc to get into the spirit of the Parade in Dublin - Fancy dress not required. Visit to Páirc an Chrócaigh / Croke Park Lunch. The home of GAA / CLG Gaelic Athletic Association - Gaelic Football and Hurling the Irish National Sporting Headquarters. The stadium is one of the largest in Europe, with a capacity of 82,300 Match Tickets for All Ireland Club Finals are included with Buffet Lunch and Complimentary Bar for all delegates. 6 p.m. Leaving Croke Park for Belfast 8.30 p.m. St Patricks Night - Irish Late Night Stormont Hotel with Themed Evening Dress Up Night Irish Themed Fancy Dress - Irish Buffet Dinner. Study Tour Delegate Accommodation: Stormont Hotel, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast. Dress Code: Casual and evening Fancy Dress Total delegates for buses: 120
Day Four: 18th March 2018 North Antrim, Causeway Coast & Glens Breakfast from 6.30 a.m. - 7.30am Full Irish Breakfast at Stormont Hotel Buses Leave Hotel: Bus 1: 7.30 a.m, Tour Guide Rhonda Montgomery (53 seater bus) Bus 2: 8.00 a.m, Tour Guide - Niamh Maguire (53 seater bus) Bus 3: 8.30 a.m, Tour Guide - Dave Lang (38 seater bus) Bus 1 - Arrive 9.00 a.m Bus 2 Arrive 9.30 a.m & Bus 3 - Arrive 10.00 a.m. Visit to McKays Family Butchers, Ballycastle, County Antrim. Bus 1 leaves at 9.30am, Bus 2 leaves at 10.00am and Bus 3 leaves at 10.30am Giants Causeway Tour Bus 1 Arrives 10.40 am, Bus 2 Arrives at 11.10am and Bus 3 Arrives at 11.40am Visit to Giants Causeway World Heritage Site. The megalithic Hexagonal Stones and mythological home of Irish Giant Fionn McCumhaill (Finn McCool). 1 p.m - 1.20 pm Packed Lunch at Giants Causeway All buses leave Giants Causeway at 1.20pm sharp. 1.30 p.m. Whistle stop Tour of Bushmills Whiskey Distillery The World s Oldest Whiskey Distillery by Charter 1608. With one shot Bushmills reserve whiskey tasting only available at the distillery. Travel along World Famous Antrim Coast Road Tour voted one of the best Coastal Routes anywhere on the globe by Lonely Planet. Simply breath taking. All buses leave Bushmills at 2.45 p.m. to go to Game of Thrones Site at Dark Hedges Site of the Award Winning Kings Road in Game of Thrones. 3.30 p.m. Arrive Visit to Artisan Farmer Campbell Tweeds Hill Farm overlooking Mull of Kintyre, Scotland and site of HBO TV hit Game of Thrones. Ken Stewart World Champion Piper set of Ulster Scots and Irish Piping Tunes. Hill Top Irish Sheep Croft Outdoor Clothing is preferred on this day to account for all weathers. 4.30 p.m. Leave for Ballygalley Castle 5 p.m. Game of Thrones Meal at the most haunted Castle in Ireland, Ballygalley Castle with Game of Thrones Type Medieval Character in Attendance. Tasting of Jawbox Belfast Gin & Talk by Gerry White Master Distiller. Tour to Ghost Room 400 year old Lady Isabella Shaw 7 p.m. Leave Ballygalley Castle Hotel for Stormont Hotel. Study Tour Delegate Accommodation: Stormont Hotel, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast.
Dress Code: Casual - Hat, Gloves and Coats recommended as we have a farm tour and umbrella. Total delegates for buses: 120 Day Five: 19th March 2018 - County Tyrone, Fermanagh Lakelands. All young Butchers and Apprentice are advised to stay in Belfast to shop and prepare for WBC Competition and are free to visit the City of Belfast. Breakfast 6.30 a.m - 7.30 a.m. Full Irish Breakfast at Stormont Hotel 7 a.m - 7.45am Check Out - Study Tour Delegates 8.00am check out for Apprentices and Young Butchers All Tour Delegate Luggage to be placed on the buses as we check in to Europa Hotel on our return from Fermanagh. Juniors and Young Butchers are to use shuttle bus to go to Europa to check In. Bus will arrive at 9.00am - see shuttle bus time table. Bus One Tour Guide: Rhonda Montgomery Bus Two Tour Guide: Dave Lang Bus One Leaves at 8.00 a.m & Bus 2 Leaves at 8.30 a.m. Leave Hotel to Visit Enniskillen in Fermanagh Lakelands and County Tyrone (x two 53 seater buses) Bus One Arrives at 9.00 a.m and Bus Two Arrives at 9.30 a.m. Ian McKernaghan Vice Captain Team Ireland - Lisdergan Meats, Fintona County Tyrone. Bus one will leave at 10.00 a.m and Bus two will leave at 10.30 a.m. for Enniskillen Town Centre. Bus 1 - Arrive 10.45 a.m. at Traditional Butchery - Pat Doherty s - World Famous Black Bacon. Bus 2 Arrive 11.15 a.m. Stewarts Enniskillen - Artisan Butchers Shop Tour At 11.45 a.m Bus 1 and at 12.15pm Bus 2 switch to go to the alternate shop. Both Buses Leave alternate shops at 12.45 p.m /1.15 p.m to go to Killyhevlin Hotel for Carvery Lunch. 1.00/1.30 p.m. Arrive for Meal at The Lakeside Killyhevlin Hotel Resort, Enniskillen Attended by Arlene Foster MLA. Bus 1 leaves Killyhevlin at 2.00 p.m and Bus 2 leaves at 2.30 p.m sharp. Charles Crawford s Farm Tour, Fivemiletown Co.Tyrone Bus 1 arrives at 2.30 p.m. Bus 2 arrives at 3.00 p. m Both buses leave farm together at 4.00pm to go to the Valley Hotel in Fivemiletown for tea - this is a 5 minute drive to Hotel. Tea will be served at 4.45 p.m. Buses leave Valley Hotel at 6.00 p.m to return to Belfast
Return to Check into Europa Hotel, Belfast on return from Fermanagh. Estimated arrival time is 7.15 pm - All Guests check into new Hotel. (WBC Council and Judges will be given priority check in over tour guests as they have to go to exhibition centre for a meeting at 8.30 pm. Study Tour Delegate Accommodation: Europa Hotel, Great Victoria Street, Belfast - BT2 7AP At 8.30 p.m. The shuttle bus will take the WBC Council & Judges Only to IFEX Exhibition Centre, where they can see the arena and a judges meeting will be held in the Judges area at 8.45 p.m - see shuttle bus time table. The bus will bring WBC Council & Judges back to the Europa at 10.00 p.m. Dress Code: Casual - Hat, Gloves and Coats recommended as we have a farm tour and umbrella. Total delegates for buses: 99 Visitors at Killyhevlin: 4 Total: 103
Day Six: 20th March 2018 5.00 a.m. - 5.30am Continental Breakfast at Europa Hotel - Apprentice Competitors and Judges - Take Away Boxes being provided. 6.30 a.m - 10 a.m. Full Irish Breakfast at Europa Hotel - Young Butchers and Guests. Junior World Butcher / World Apprentice Finals - 2 Heats Titanic Exhibition Centre, Belfast - See Time Table Shopping Day for Senior WBC Teams. Senior Pre - Preparation will be in the arena area from 3pm at Titanic Exhibition Centre and storing of ingredients See Time Table. Study Tour Delegate Accommodation: Europa Hotel, Great Victoria Street, Belfast BT2 7AP Tour Delegates are free this evening to do as they wish. No Lunch & Evening Meal provided on Competition Day. Press Conference at Europa Hotel at 7.00 p.m - 8.30pm Being held in Dublin Suite in Europa. WBC Council and Team Captains and Teams MUST attend press conference with Media for pre competition question and answer session led by Rod Slater - WBC Council. ALL TEAMS MUST BE DRESSED IN FULL COMPETITION DRESS UNIFORMS FOR PHOTOGRAPHY AT THE EVENT FOR THE PRESS CONFERENCE AND SOUVENIER BOOK Shuttle Bus services are in place from Europa to Titanic Exhibition and Vice Versa in morning and evening - see shuttle bus time table.
Day Seven: 21st March 2018 5.00 a.m. - 5.30 a.m. Continental Breakfast at Europa Hotel for WBC Competitors and Judges - Take Away boxes being provided 6.30 a.m. -10.00am Full Irish Breakfast at Europa Hotel - Guests. WBC Senior Finals - 2 Heats Titanic Exhibition Centre, Belfast - See Event Time Table WBC Gala Dinner 7.00/7.30 p.m. Drinks On Arrival Dinner 8 p.m. (Sharp). A magnificent 500 Seater - Celebratory Gala Dinner in an International Banqueting Setting in Titanic Belfast, Voted World Best Tourist Attraction 2016/17. The evening will be the Platform for the announcement of World Butcher Challenge Overall Winner 2018 and subsequent award. The room will be set to an international 5 - star standard. Awards will be presented by our VIP guests with keynote speech by Food Standards Agency before the presentation of the World Butcher Challenge Trophy for 2017. Dancing & Networking until 1 a.m. No Lunch provided on Competition Day. Study Tour Delegate Accommodation: Europa Hotel, Great Victoria Street, Belfast BT2 7AP Shuttle Bus services are in place from Europa to Titanic Exhibition and Vice Versa in morning and evening - see shuttle bus time table. The shuttle Bus Service is also in place from Europa to Titanic Belfast for Gala Dinner and return to Europa after Gala Dinner - See Shuttle Bus Time Table. Dress Code: Smart Casual for Dinner (Cocktail dress for the ladies) THANK-YOU FOR BOOKING YOUR TOUR WITH BUTCHERY EXCELLENCE IRELAND, I HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR TIME SPENT WITH US IN NORTHERN IRELAND! It is recommended that you dress warm and have a hat, gloves, scarf and arm coat and umbrella on you at all times while on tour as we are experiencing the coldest winter in 7 years. Note: Shuttle Bus Passes can be purchased during registration for 15 GBP per person - only cash can be accepted or you can alternatively use local taxi services. Rhonda Montgomery World Butchers Challenge WBC Co - Ordinator Belfast 2018.