Spring Ram Sale 2015
NI Dorset Club Spring Ram Show and Sale
Thomas Wright with the Champion Ram Lamb and Judge Samuel Caldwell
Reserve Champion Ram Lamb owned by S&S Lyons with Judge Samuel Caldwell
On the last Monday in March the NI Dorset Club held their annual Spring Ram Show and Sale, at McClelland’s Livestock Market, Ballymena. A select gathering of rams were on offer for the show and sale with increased number of rams for sale and new vendors exhibiting from the sale last year. Judging the rams at the pre-sale show was Dorset enthusiast and experienced breeder of the multi-prizing winning Granagh flock, Mr Samuel Caldwell.
The judging commenced at 5.30pm with the ram lamb class. Eventually placed first and subsequently champion was lot 3 exhibited by long standing breeder, Thomas Wright from Ballymoney. This was a fine September born ram lamb out of Richill Samson, reaching a sale topping price of 620 guineas, finding a new home with Betty Moon in Garvagh. Thomas’s second lot a Ballytaggart Uppercut ram lamb fetched 400 guineas and was sold to David Hamilton of Maguiresbridge. Our reserve champion and second place in the ram lamb class, was lot 9, a lamb with a strong carcase from S&S Lyons Bencran flock, sired by Richill Top Tip, which went on to sell for 360 guineas to M Keys of Fintona. Third place in the pre-sale show was lot 17, a smart lamb from Ben Lamb's Richill flock, this son of Ballytaggart Trojan later sold for 360 guineas, purchased by W.T. McGookin from Larne. The same figure was achieved by Ben's other entry, a Sandelford Thunder son purchased by Kenneth Sloan from Larne. Other leading prices for the sale included two lots from W&K Carson's Downkillybegs flock, lot 12 a Sandelford Thunder son reached 480 guineas purchased by S.McGookin of Carrickfergus and lot 11 a Downkillybegs Pablo son reached 380 guineas, sold to M&M
McCullagh from Plumbridge. A horned ram lamb by Turnavedog L2 from G Wright, Ballymoney, reached a figure of 260 guineas sold to Albert Davison, Broughshane, whilst the first prize shearling ram by Manor Croft Thunder, entered by Matthew Steenson from Armagh was later sold for 250 guineas to Terry Treanor from Warrenpoint. The sale average was £391.36.
The Northern Ireland Dorset Club would like to thank everyone who supported the sale. Our next club sale will be the Premier sale in July. For any further information on upcoming sales and events please contact our club secretary William Carson on 07841746705
