41st Annual Show and Sale
Buyers Flock From Far Afield for Dorset Sale
Michael Maybin, Patrick Donnelly, Sam Driver (Judge) and Jacqueline Hamilton
representing Norbrook Pharmaceuticals sponsors for the 41st Annual Premier Dorset
sheep sale with Supreme Champion
 Thomas Wright, Jacqueline Hamilton (Norbrook Sponsors) |
 Richard Currie and Daughters Molly and Katie, |
THE 41st annual premier show and sale of the Northern Ireland Dorset Horn and Polled Dorset Sheep Breeders' Club took place last Monday at Ballymena Livestock Mart, with the average price for ram lambs 410gns.
It was a double delight for Michael and Catherine Maybin of the Galgorm flock, who not only walked away with the supreme championship, but also scooped the highest price on the day with their ram lamb selling for 1250gns. The ram is now across the water after being bought jointly by Sam Driver from Derbyshire - who was also the judge on the day - and Jim Dufosee from Wiltshire for their Sandy Lane and Blackhill flocks respectively.
Bidders flocked from far and wide with buyers not only from across the province, but also England, Scotland and Wales.
The second highest price for ram lambs went to Amy McConnell from Templepatrick, selling to Jim Dufosee for 700gns. Other top prices went to Gary and Gareth Henderson, father and son from Bushmills, selling to Samuel Caldwell from Rasharkin for 600gns; Amy McConnell who sold to Bernard Moss from Castlederg for 520gns; Ballymena's William and Karen Carson selling to Adrian Dodd of Saintfield for 480gns; John and Iris Wilson from Ballymoney who sold to new breeder, Matthew Stonehouse, of Dumfriesshire, Scotland, for 450gns.
Three shearling rams were next to enter the sale ring with Thomas Wright from Kilraughts, Ballymoney, selling the reserve champion to Wiltshire's Jim Dufosee for 500gns. There was one entry in the senior ram class with Samuel Caldwell from Rasharkin selling to Castlederg's Bernard Moss for 420gns.
Attention then shifted onto the females with ewe lambs going for an average of 234gns. The highest price of 680gns was paid to Ballymena man Richard Currie - following his top price success at the recent May Fair - by James and Craig Robson of Doagh, for their Ballyhamage flock. Richard was also winner of the Best Opposite Sex to the Champion with his ewe lambs.
Pocketing the second highest price for ewe lambs was Michael and Catherine Maybin from Ballymena selling for 500gns to Shane Wilson from Ballynure for his Legaloy flock.
Other high sellers were Richard Currie, again, selling to double act Gary and Gareth Henderson of Bushmills for 480gns; William and Karen Carson from Ballymena selling to Terry Treanor from Warrenpoint for 440gns; Raymond and Julie Hill, Doagh, who sold to David Lewis from Pembrokeshire, Wales, for 440gns; Graham and Mary Cubitt, winners of the recent NI flock competition, had the next highest price of 400gns selling to Nigel McClure from Ballymoney.
The highest price for shearling ewes went to William and Colin Johnston from Glenavy who sold to David Dodds from Ballinaskeagh, Banbridge, for 260gns. Crumlin woman Julie Rea took home the second highest price after selling to J. Blackburn from Clougher for 230gns. Other high prices included 210gns paid to William and Colin Johnston by J. McAuley from Ballyward, while the next six lots brought the gavel down on 200gns. The final sale class of the day was for senior ewes with Samuel Caldwell of Rasharkin taking the top price of 190gns after selling to J. McAuley of Ballyward.
Crumlin's Julie Rea sold two ewes at 180gns to I. Davidson of Markethill and J. Hall from Larne. The next five lots made 170gns for Margaret Wright from Larne and, again, Julie Rea.
William and Colin Johnston from Glenavy also sold a pen of four horned ewe lambs for an average of 150gns to Declan McGee from Dungannon.
Sale averages:
Ram Lambs - 28 sold - £410 (-27)
Shearling Rams - 1 sold - £525 (+134)
Senior Rams - 1 sold
Ewe Lambs - 95 sold - £234 (-9)
Shearling ewes - 18 sold - £200 (-6)
Senior ewes - 12 sold - £170 (-13)
Show & Sale organised by N.I. Dorset Club.
Show kindly sponsored by Norbrook Pharmaceuticals.
Auctioneers - JA McClelland & Sons, Ballymena.
The N.I. Dorset Club is holding its second export sale in Hilltown Market on Friday, August 16 with all usual classes on the day. Judging will commence at 12noon with the sale following at 1.30pm.
For catalogues and further information contact secretary William Carson Tel. 07841 746705.
Prizewinners at 41st Annual Premier show & sale.
Judge Mr Sam Driver, Sandy Lane flock, Derbyshire.
Horn Ram Lamb: 1st Ben Lamb, 2nd W & C Johnston
Poll Ram Lamb: 1st M & C Maybin, 2nd Amy McConnell, 3rd Ben Lamb, 4th J & C Robson, 5th W & K Carson, 6th Samuel Caldwell, 7th Raymond Hill, 8th M & C Maybin
Pair of Ram Lambs: 1st W & K Carson, 2nd Raymond Hill, 3rd R & M Coulter
Shearling Ram: 1st Thomas Wright, 2nd Catherine McAuley
Horn Ewe Lamb: 1st W & C Johnston, 2nd Ben Lamb, 3rd Sean McCarry, 4th W & C Johnston
Poll Ewe Lamb: 1st W & K Carson, 2nd M & C Maybin, 3rd M & C Maybin, 4th J & C Robson, 5th W & K Carson, 6th Ben Lamb, 7th G & M Cubitt, 8th G & M Cubitt
Pair of Ewe Lambs: 1st Richard Currie, 2nd M & C Maybin, 3rd Ben Lamb, 4th Thomas Wright, 5th G & M Cubitt, 6th Raymond Hill, 7th J & C Robson, 8th R & M Coulter
Shearling Ewe: 1st W & C Johnston, 2nd J Baird & Sons, 3rd W & C Johnston, 4th J Baird & Sons
Pair of Shearling Ewes: 1st W & C Johnston, 2nd J Baird & Sons
Senior Ewe: 1st Samuel Caldwell, 2nd Samuel Caldwell 3rd Margaret Wright
Senior Ram: 1st Samuel Caldwell
Novice Breeder: 1st J & I Wilson, 2nd Andrew Knox, 3rd J & I Wilson, 4th Alexander Hanna
Progeny Group: 1st M & C Maybin, 2nd Richard Currie, 3rd Ben Lamb, 4th Raymond Hill
Champion: M & C Maybin
Reserve Champion: Thomas Wright
Best Opposite Sex to Champion: Richard Currie
Best Horn Exhibit: Ben Lamb
Flock gaining most Show Points: M & C Maybin
