Earlier this week, Boortmalt announced the winners of its malting barley excellence awards for 2016 at a gathering in Carlow.

These announcements are a precursor to the Diageo excellence awards which take place towards the end of next month.

Winners for the 2016 crop were chosen from its five supply regions, plus one specifically for seed producers.

The first and second awards in each area were as follows:

Enniscorthy: Andrew Byrne, Enniscorthy, and Willie Fitzpatrick, Bunclody.

Wexford/New Ross: Vivian Tubritt, Saltmills, and John Rowe, Hilltown.

Carlow: Tony Pender, Milford and Danny Delaney, Cullahill.

Laois area: John Conroy, Mountmellick, and Patrick Keegan Jnr, Rathleague, Portlaoise.

Kildare: Joyce and Robert Chambers, Castlemitchell, and Nicholas Brennan, Barrowhouse.

Seed Growers: Brennan Bros from Laois and Charlie Walsh from Ferns.

All of these award winners now go on to the Diageo awards at the end of next month.