35th Annual Show and Sale
35th Annual Show & Sale
in Ballymena Livestock Market
Sponsored by McAfee Properties
( Agriculture land & Sites )
Trevor Knox with Judge Robert Hole and Nigel Taggart from McAfee Properties,
with opposite sex to the champion ewe lamb.
W & K Carson with Judge Robert Hole and Nigel Taggart from McAfee Properties,
with reserve champion pair of ram lambs
Gary Henderson and son Gareth with Judge Robert Hole and Nigel Taggart from
McAfee Properties, with Supreme Champion ram lamb
Dorset Premier sale
Northern Ireland Dorset breeders had plenty to smile about on Monday 30th July when they held their premier sale in McClellands Mart, Ballymena, and it wasn’t just all about the fine weather when 232 sheep forward sold to a top price of 1200gns. No fewer than 11 lots where sold for export to the mainland when some of the UKs leading Dorset breeders attended hoping to purchase some of the best bloodlines available.
It was a ram lamb from the Sandleford Flock of Gary and Gareth Henderson who collected the honours of Supreme Champion. This big bold son of Roci ‘Fireball’ and grandson of Hilltop ‘Zulu’ immediately caught the eye of judge Rob Hole from Sherbourne, Dorset winning the Ram Lamb class before being crowned Champion after a rally of bids he was eventually knocked down to Trevor and Sharon Knox of the Riverview Flock for the days second highest price of 840gns.
Reserve Champion award went to William & Karen Carson from Ballymena with their Pair of Ram Lambs. One a Wilsey Casper Son, the other a Casper grandson created at lot if interest in the pre-sale show and inspection. Both lambs were purchased for export to the UK, making 300gns and 500gns respectively selling to Francis Fooks Poorton Flock, Dorset and Trish Laws Charlton Flock, Somerset.
A very powerful son of Ballytaggart F25 presented by Caldwell Bros. of Rasharkin was the lamb of biggest demand when he topped the sale selling to Jim Duffosee, Warminster, Wiltshire for a wopping 1200gns. 3rd highest price on the day was lot number 4, a Ballytaggart ‘Hotstuff’ son forwarded by Thomas Wright, Kilraughts, Ballymoney, selling for 680gns. He joins the noted flocks of A & A McNeil and Alison Moore, Ballymena. In all a total of 38 ram lambs sold to a very credible average of 396.50gns, shearling rams averaged 252gns and aged rams 133gns.
Best opposite sex to the Champion grabbed all the female headlines both in the show as well as the sale ring. This Kildowney F16 daughter presented by Trevor & Sharon Knox sold for 600gns, 4th highest on the day and highest priced female. She makes her way to Bushmills to the highly noted flock of Gary and Gareth Henderson. Another ewe from this fine Riverview Flock achieved 2nd highest price for females selling for 310gns to Richard Currie, Ballymena.
A first prize pair of ewe lambs from the Ballytaggart Flock of Thomas Wright sold for 300gns and 260gns respectively to a third generation of the Robson Family from Doagh. George Junior being only 2 ½ years old bid hard hoping to regenerate the famous Ballyhamage prefix. Ewe lambs sold under brisk demand to an average 144gns, shearling ewes averaged 134.50gns and senior ewes 147gns.
The next sale of Dorset Sheep will be held in early October with details to be released shortly. Meanwhile any enquiries about Dorset Sheep contact William Carson on 07841746705 or visit our website at www.nidorsetclub.co.uk
