25th Annual Autumn Show and Sale
Averages Soar at Dorset Sheep Sale
Trevor Knox and Sons Adam and Jason with the Supreme
Champion. Also included are Peter Whiteside Representing
Sponsors Danske Bank and Judge Samuel Caldwell
 Angus Fleming with the Reserve Champion and Peter Whiteside Representing Sponsors Danske Bank and Judge Samuel Caldwell |
 Auctioneer Mr Tom Symington being Presented with an engraved glass plaque by Club Chairman, Trevor Knox and Club Secretary, William Carson. |
The average sale price across all the sections at the October Dorset sheep sale - 25th Annual Autumn event, took a big jump as demand out stripped supply and it was the Riverview flock, belonging to Trevor and Sharron Knox from Armoy, Ballymoney who truly had a night to remember. Their outstanding pen of inlamb ewe lambs produced the Show Champion, and the top priced lot in the ewe lamb section with two Riverview entries.
The judge Mr Samuel Caldwell from Rasharkin, awarded the top award to a very eye catching ewe lamb, a daughter of the English bred Blackhill sire from the renowned flock of J.B. Dufosee, Warminster, Wiltshire. This Danske bank sponsored, Autumn show Champion was later snapped up in the sale ring for 440gns by Colin Woodside,
Ballynure, Ballyclare.
Claiming top price in the ewe lamb section and second highest overall of the evening was another Riverview ewe lamb again from the Knox's pen who sold for 460gns to Laura Weir, a Ballymena Veterinarian Surgeon who added this one, the second prize ewe lamb to her Lisnafillan flock at Gracehill. Laura Weir's Lisnafillan flock was winners in the shearling ewe section and was also responsible for the evening's top sale price of 470gns, selling to G. Farrell, Drumquin, Omagh. This heavy inlamb ewe by the flocks Granagh No1 sire was first prize shearling and comes from Laura's prize winning Lisnafillan flock.
The Riverview offering was back in the price listing with a 420gns sale to Alan and Fiona Cathcart, Enniskillen. William and Colin Johnston 's Islandview flock at Glenavy, Crumlin, produced a strong consignment of ewe lambs, again all scanned inlamb, and were well rewarded selling one at 360gns to Robert Burns, Magheramourne, Larne, and another at 340gns to Ken Thompson, Drumquin, Omagh. Ken Thompson purchased another ewe lamb at 340gns also, this time coming from the Knox's Riverview offering, with her triplet sister also making above the 300gns mark. Martin Campbell from Carnlough also broke through the 300 gns mark on a couple of occasions and recorded a high of 320gns for his third prize winner. The ewe lamb section levelled at £244 on average, up £47 per head on the year.
The shearling ewe and older section did not have as large of turnout as the ewe lamb section but still fared very well at auction, with a big demand for inlamb ewes from the buyers around the ring, being led by Laura Weir's first prize winner. The Johnston's Islandview flock offering from Glenavy, were again a strong contender in the prices with their best selling at 350gns to Cameron Carson, Mainevalley, Ballymena, with others selling at 300gns to Colin Davidson, Congo, Dungannon, and 270gns to Paul Butler, Rathkenny, Ballymena. The shearling ewe section averaged £298 up £75 on the equivalent sale last year.
The senior ewes were topped at 330gns for the first prizewinners from the Johnston's flock and sold to Declan McGee, Cabra, Dungannon. The section average sale price came in at £242 per head.
Angus Fleming from Ballymoney, brought out two strong ram lambs which were placed first and second and were winners of the Danske bank awards for the Reserve overall and Best Opposite sex to the Champion. They later sold for 420gns to Winston Harkness, Moneymore for the Reserve Champion, and 340gns to Tom O'Kane, Crebilly Farms Ltd, Ballymena. Trevor and Sharron Knox, Armoy, rounded off an excellent evening, selling a shearling ram at 360gns to Mr G. Heggarty, Omagh. This year's Autumn sale section of ram lambs recorded an average price of £399 per head.
The N.I. Dorset Sheep Breeders Club are delighted with the roaring success of this their 25th Annual sale and would like to thank their sponsors Danske Bank, for their generous and continued sponsorship of this event and a special word of thanks to Peter Whiteside from Danske Bank for his attendance at the Ballymena Salesyard to present the prizes.
This October also witnessed a milestone in the N.I. Dorset Clubs history with the Dorset sheep sales in Northern Ireland being held continuously for 40 years with J.A. McClelland (Auctioneers)Ltd, initially in the Market Square, Ballyclare and latterly in the Ballymena Mart but throughout this time the breed Auctioneer remains the same Mr Tom Symington. Tom's dedication to the Dorset breed throughout the forty years was marked by a special presentation of an engraved glass plaque by Club Chairman, Trevor Knox and Club Secretary, William Carson.
2014 Autumn Sale, Show Results -
Judge Mr Samuel Caldwell, Granagh Flock
Ewe lambs:- 1st & 2nd T. & S. Knox, 3rd M. Campbell
Shearling ewes:- 1st Laura Weir, 2nd & 3rd W. & C. Johnston
Senior ewe:- 1st W. & C. Johnston
Ram lambs:- 1st & 2nd A.J. Fleming, 3rd M. & C. Patton
Shearling Rams:- 1st Andrew Johnston, 2nd T. & S. Knox
Overall Champion- T. & S. Knox
Reserve Champion and Opposite sex to the Champion- Angus Fleming
