May Fair 2014
Top Spot for Northern Ireland Breeders at Exeter May Fair
Karen Carson with May Fair Supreme Champion Downkillybegs Ultimate
Ben Lamb with the Best Pair of Ram Lambs
For the third year running the top spot in both the Dorset May Fair show classes and the sale ring has returned home to Northern Ireland with breeders from the province. This year it was the Ballymena duo, William and Karen Carson from the Downkillybegs flock who had the first day show success and followed that up the following afternoon with bumper sale ring attention and prices.
Leading the way and winning the 2014 overall supreme championship was Downkillybegs Ultimate, a Downkillybegs Tic Tac son with myomax muscling who was winner of the single poll ram lamb class. He went on to sell for the second highest price of the sale at 3500gns to Jim & Joe Dufosee, Warminster, Wiltshire. Topping the sale at 4800gns was Ultimate's pen mate Downkillybegs Unique, a myomax gold ram who had the record muscle depth of 44.4mm and who stood third in the signet performance class. Securing this one from the Carson's was David and Richard Rossiter, Kingsbridge, Devon.
Next top in the sale prices was another from Downkillybegs, this time Ultimo, a full brother to last years record priced ewe lamb, selling to Thornbank Farms, Cumbria for 2600gns with another pen mate from the Carson's offering matching the 2600gns this time Downkillybegs Ultracool, the number one Signet Sheep breeder top EBV and also winner of the May Fair performance class. He sold to Mr M. Jones, Corntown Farms, Glamorgan.
The Downkillybegs pen of six ram lambs returned a personal best and a new record May Fair pen average of £2747.50.
The next best sale price came from last year's Overall champion winner - the Richhill flock from Ben Lamb, Richhill Co Armagh. Richhill Ucal, one of the best pair of ram lambs from Mr Lamb sold at 2300gns while his show companion and full brother Richhill Uzi sold at 1200gns helping the Richhill pen of four to average out at £1136.10.
The Reserve Championship this year stayed in England with the ManorCroft flock belonging to Tom Clarke, Credition, Devon. Tom's Manor Croft offering also secured the day's second top sale average of £1597, champion Female, top female price, top pen price and first prize ewe lambs. Leading the Manor Croft offering was Utopia at 2000gns selling to Northern Ireland to James and Craig Robson. Others from the same pen sold at 1900gns, 1800gns, 1700gns, & 1600gns helping to secure the impressive second top pen average.
Securing the third best pen average of £1312.5 was first time exhibitors James & Craig Robson, Doagh, Ballyclare. Leading the way for their Ballyhamage flock was Ulster Boy who sold at 1800gns to W.L. French, Launceston, Cornwall.
Other Northern Ireland flocks who were represented in the sale were T.G. Wright, Ballytaggart flock, Ballymoney who averaged £1115.62 for four, G. & G. Henderson, Sandelford flock, Bushmills, who averaged £1102.5 for two. Richard Currie, Hilltop Flock, Ballymena who averaged £1050 for two. Seamus Mullan, Islaharnan flock, Armoy who averaged £647.85 for three. Raymond Hill, Olivertree flock, Ballyclare who averaged £603.75. Samuel Caldwell, Granagh flock, Rasharkin, who averaged £594.3. for three. G. M. & S. Wright, Kilraughts flock, Ballymoney who averaged £577.5 for two. S. & S. Lyons, Bencran flock, Omagh who averaged £551.25 for two. T. & S. Knox, Riverview flock, Armoy who averaged £525 for three.
All in all twelve flocks from Northern Ireland were represented in the 2014 May Fair show and sale and once again the top spoils were taken by the N.I. Club members over the two day event.
Ewe lambs average £170.08
Ewe Hoggets average £173.55
Auctioneers:- Simon Alford and Mark Davis representing Kivells & Husseys
Karen Carson with Downkillybegs Unique, May Fair Top Sale Price
