Dorset Diamonds Spring Sale 2025
Ballymaconnelly flock tops 10th anniversary Dorset Diamonds Sale
Champion from S & E Caldwell with Judge David Lewis
Reserve Champion from Rachel Moore with Judge David Lewis
On Saturday the 29th of March Ballymena Livestock Market hosted the 10th annual Dorset Diamonds show and sale of Dorset Horn and Poll Dorset sheep. There was an extremely strong standard of sheep on offer and this was evident throughout the sale will many lots selling into four figure sums. The female section achieved a strong overall clearance rate of 92% and the male section achieved an overall clearance rate of 74%.
The strong standard of Dorsets on show made it no easy task for the days judge Mr David Lewis of the well-known Pembroke flock, Pembroke, Wales.
Claiming the champion spot and topping the sale was Samuel and Elaine Caldwells leading ram lamb Ballymaconnelly Hobnob H438 (lot 62). This exceptional ram lamb was sired by the Caldwells much-admired stock ram Pembroke Deadringer. With Hobnob being the only son of Deadringer to be offered for sale from the flock this year he attracted a lot of interest from ringside and online bidders. After a flurry of bids flying in, it was the father and son duo of Thomas and Sam Wright from Ballymoney that placed the winning bid of 4,000gns on the champion lamb.
Following closely behind the champion selling for 3,800gns was a ram lamb named Hilltop Hero H03017 (lot 42) from Richard Currie, Ballymena, Co Antrim. Hero was out of a hombred ewe Hilltop F2606 and was sired by Castlemount Ferdinand F700. This extremely well bodied lamb sold in a two-way split to well-known Northern Ireland based breeders Ben Lamb and Andrew Kennedy.
It was a ram lamb from the pen of James and Craig Robson, Ballyclare, Co Antrim that sold for 3,200gns, the third highest price of the day. Ballyhamage Hallabaloo H458 (lot 49) caused a frenzy of online bids when he hit the sales ring but it was Richard Fitton, Bolton, that placed the winning bid for this powerful son of Bencran Frank.
Next best was a call of 2,400gns which secured the days overall reserve champion Bannside Heineken H1522 (lot 35), a Poll Dorset ram lamb from young breeder Rachel Moore, Portglenone, Ballymena. Heineken was sired by Foyleview Firecracker F002. This stylish lamb was purchased by the days judge David Lewis.
Producing the sales next two highest priced ram lambs was Ella and Harris Kennedy, Ballymena, Co Antrim. The first was Rivervalley Hulk H2674 (lot 38), that sold for 2,300gns to South of Ireland breeder K O’Connell, Bantry, Co Cork. The second lamb was Rivervalley Hunter H2667 (lot 39), the fifth-place ram lamb that went on to sell for 2,000gns to Ellen McClure, Crumlin, Co Antrim. Both of the Rivervalley ram lambs where sired by Sherborne Falcon F7986, one of the Harris’s most consistent stock rams that was purchased for 3,200gns at Mayfair.
Next highest price of 1,800gns was paid out for the days 4th prizewinning ram lamb H3326 (lot 69) from Tommy Wrights Ballytaggart flock. This Sherborne Falcon son stood out for his correctness and muscle and was picked up by Armagh man Kyle Bradshaw.
A total of 29 ram lambs were sold to average £1,237.19 up £134.14 on the 2024 sale.
Shearling rams
Topping the shearling ram section selling for 1,400gns was the first prizewinning shearling ram Lisnafillan Grenadier (lot 90) from Laura Weir, Gracehill, Ballymena. This very powerful shearling ram was a son Mountdale Fergie that was purchased at the 2023 Dorset Diamonds sale for 2,000gns. This prizewinning shearling ram will be heading across the channel to purchaser Andrew Jones, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire.
The next highest price in the shearling ram section went to Ballymaconnelly Gorgonzola G388 (lot 91) from Samuel and Elaine Caldwell, Rasharkin, Ballymena, when he sold for 850gns to Lee Geddis, Moira, Co Down.
A small entry of two shearling rams sold to average £1,181.25.
Ewe lambs
The ewe lamb section was dominated by young breeder Rachel Moores impressive consignment. Rachels leading ewe lamb Bannside Heidi H01513 (lot 11) picked up 4th place in the large ewe lamb section in the pre-sale show. This impressive ewe lamb went on to top the female section when she sold for 900gns South of Ireland breeder Elaine Clarke, Athboy, Co Meath.
Rachels second ewe lamb Bannside Halo H01507 (lot 12) followed closely behind her pen mate selling for the next highest price in the ewe lamb section of 750gns. The winning bid on this classy ewe lamb was placed by J Redford, Kearsley, Bolton. Both of these sale topping ewe lambs where sired by the extremely consistent Bannside flocks stock ram Foyleview Firecracker F002.
Selling for 550gns was the first prizewinning ewe lamb Olivertree H779 (lot 16) from Ballyclare based breeder Raymond Hill. This prizewinning ewe lamb was sired by Galgorm Fergus F007 the 2023 Dorset Diamonds champion. The buyer of this genetic dream was A Armour, Bushmills, Co Antrim.
A strong entry of 17 quality ewe lambs sold to an average of £443.12.
Shearling ewes
The first shearling ewe into the ring Ashvale G1141 (lot 27) from Carloine McKeown, Templepatrick, Ballyclare got the section of to a flying start when she sold for 780gns. This top priced shearling ewe was sired by Beechmount Edwardo E671 and was out of a homebred ewe Ashvale F0838. She was purchased by Charlie Curran, Ballymartin, Co Down after a frenzy of ringside bids.
The next top call in the shearling ewe section was 750gns for the first prizewinning shearling ewe Ballymacnamee G37 (lot 31). The Lisnafillan Del Torro D1618 daughter was brought forward for sale by Elaine Gilmore and Peter Breen, Portaferry, Newtownards. This classy hogget ewe caught the eye of Jordan Hall, Lisnakee, Co Fermanagh leading him to place the winning bid.
Two more shearling ewe followed selling for a joint price of 720gns each. The first was Ashvale G1135 (lot 28) from Caroline McKeown to R & A Quinn, Ballymoney, Co Antrim and the second was Ballymacnamee G36 (lot 32) from Elaine Gilmore and Peter Breen to Charlie Curran, Ballymartin, Co Down.
The six quality shearling ewes on offer sold to average £677.25.
Class averages:
17 ewe lambs sold to average – £443.12
6 shearling ewes sold to average – £677.25
29 ram lambs sold to average – £1,237.19
2 shearling rams sold to average – £1,181.25
