29th Annual Autumn Show and Sale
Dorsets Hit the High Notes at Autumn Sale
Shane Wilson with the overall Champion, Danske Bank representative
Mr Seamus McCormick and judge Mr Steven Lyons
William Carson with the Reserve Champion, Danske Bank representative
Mr Seamus McCormick and judge Mr Steven Lyons
The NI Dorset Club held their 29th Annual Autumn Show and Sale in Ballymena Mart on Monday 1st October 2018 and was very kindly sponsored by Danske Bank, represented on the day by Mr Seamus McCormick.
Judge for the evening was noted breeder Mr Steven Lyons, Bencran Dorsets, Co Tyrone.
Traditionally this Autumn Show & Sale attracts a select offering being brought forward and trade was buoyant with keen interest from the strong number of buyers present. Once again there was great interest in female breeding stock, resulting in a high clearance.
Proceedings began with the judging of the various Classes with a good representation for the judge to choose from. Mr Lyons found his Supreme Champion in a superbly bred ewe lamb from the Legaloy Flock of Shane Wilson. Sired by Richhill Xuberant off a Rossiz dam she later went on to top the market at 850 guineas, being purchased by Richard Fitton to join his Dynamite Flock in Lancashire. This superb ewe lamb earned the honour of attracting the highest price achieved for her class in the annual Dorset Autumn Sale. The Judge went on to find his Reserve Champion in a ewe lamb from the Downkillybegs Flock of William and Karen Carson. Sired by Downkillybegs Xian off Downkillybegs Z41 dam she went on to sell for 520 guineas, and was purchased by the judge under the name of S & S Lyons to join the Bencran Flock.
Buyers were definitely in the market for quality stock and other leading prices were: Shane Wilson following up his champion ewe lamb with 500 gns going to Raymond & Julie Hill’s Olivertree Flock and 340 gns from the same pen going to Paddy McCracken, and Laura Weir’s Lisnafillan flock with a shearling ewe selling for 450 gns to Trevor Knox of Riverview Flock, and Adrian Dodd with a very strong pen of shearling ewes selling at 340 gns to Wendy Wilson, two to 320 gns and 300 gns to Fiona McKeown and two selling at 300 gns to Raymond Bowden. A smaller number of ram lambs saw Thomas Wright’s two Ballytaggart entries selling for 480 gns each to Murray Brennan and M McAleenan respectively, with K & A Hughes’ Kirkistown lamb selling for 300 gns to Bernard Moss, Castlederg.
There was a high clearance of sales in all classes and sale averages were:
Class One Ewe Lambs : £ 266.70
Class Two Shearling Ewes: £ 287.82
Class Four Ram Lambs: £ 385.88
Class Five Shearling Rams: £ 262.50
The Judge Mr Steven Lyons, in addition to selecting the champions in each class, had the task of selecting the prize winners in each section and these were as follows:
Ewe lambs-1st Shane Wilson 2nd W&K Carson 3rd K&B Sloan 4th R Cousins
Shearling ewes- 1st L Weir 2nd A Dodd 3rd A Dodd 4th A Dodd
Ram lamb- 1st K&A Hughes 2nd T Wright 3rd A Fleming
Shearling ram- 1st L Weir
The Club would wish to record it’s appreciation to Mr Steven Lyons for his judging of the event and to Danske Bank for their continuing generous support in sponsoring this 29th Annual Show & Sale Prizes.
The Club would also wish our buyers all the very best with their new purchases, and would invite non members interested in joining the NI Dorset Club to contact the Secretary by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The NI Dorset Club would take this opportunity to commend this popular breed for its qualities, both in the pedigree sector and its ease of lambing, fast growth rates and finishing in the commercial sector. The next sale organised by NI Dorset Club members is the Spring Sale, held in March and this sale will see the introduction of elite Shearling ewes on offer, in addition to rams, with details nearer the time.
