38th Annual Show & Sale
38th Annual Show & Sale
in Ballymena Livestock Market
Judge Mr. Philip Baker
Sponsored by
Norbrook Pharmaceuticals Worldwide
Ben Lamb with Jacqueline Hamilton (Norbrook) & Judge with Supreme Champion
William, Karen & Cameron Carson with Judge and Jacqueline Hamilton (Norbrook) & Reserve Champion.
Samuel Caldwell, Elaine Hunter, Jacqueline Hamilton (Norbrook), Judge and opposite sex to champion
Line up of ewe lambs
Line up of ram lambs
Sale Report
A large crowd packed the ringside at Ballymena Livestock Market on Monday 26th July for the 38th Annual Premier Show and Sale run by the N.I.Dorset Sheep Breeders’ Club. Purchasers were not disappointed as the record entry of 236 sheep were of excellent quality and bidding was keen. The Supreme Champion of the show, selected by the President of the Dorset Horn and Poll Dorset Sheep Breeder’s Association, Mr Philip Baker from Yeovil, Somerset, was a horn ram lamb from the Richhill Flock of Lamb Bros, Co Armagh. This was a remarkable achievement, the last time a horned Dorset won the championship was in 1974 when it was won by Stanley Warnock, Limavaddy. This Richhill ram lamb is a really good example of what a horned sheep should be and was sired by Poorton Lambros, from the renowned flock of Francis Fooks. Throughout the catalogue there was a marked increase in the number of horned sheep and there appears to be a renewed interest in this area. The reserve championship went to a striking pair of ram lambs from the Downkillybegs flock of William and Karen Carson, Ballymena.
The club would like to thank Norbrook Laboratories for their generous sponsorship of the showing classes and to Jackie Hamilton who came along to the sale to present the prizes and some special rosettes to mark the launch of Closamectin for use in sheep.
Top price of the day went to the N.I. Club’s youngest breeder Cameron Carson, whose Maine Valley ram lamb fetched 820gns, having been placed first in the class for polled ram lambs. This lamb was purchased by Mark Hayman,Sidmouth, Devon and is one of a number of sheep purchased by breeders from mainland Britain who had travelled over for the sale. The standard of Dorset sheep bred here in Northern Ireland is very highly rated by English breeders and they are always enthusiastic about visiting flocks here and attending the sales.
There was a noticeable increase in demand for Dorset rams from the commercial sector and this was evidenced by a more consistent price and a healthy increase in the average price for ram lambs. This year the average was £413, up by over fifty pounds from the previous year. Other top prices in this section went to Wm & K Carson, Ballymena (680 gns to W. Harkness,Moneymore); Raymond and Julie Hill,Ballyclare (650 gns to R. Currie and G & G Henderson); Sean Mccarry (640 gns to N. Wilson, Doagh); Samuel Caldwell (580 gns to Laura Weir, Ballymena); Samuel Caldwell (560 gns to A. Flanaghan, Armagh); W & K Carson( 520 gns to W. Lennox, Cookstown); G & M Wright, Ballymoney (500 gns to D. Kerr); R & J Hill, Ballyclare (500 gns to J. Mcfetridge, Glenarm); Thomas Wright (480 gns to George Robson, Doagh); W & K Carson (480 gns to P. Saunders, Glenavy); Amy Mconnell (480 gns to J. Mcfetridge, Glenarm); T. Wright (440 gns to J. Baird & Son, Claudy); Richard Currie, Ballymena (440 gns to Angus Fleming, Ballymena); T Wright (420 gns to Shanes Castle Estate, Antrim).
In the Senior Ram section, Richard Currie and Garry and Gareth Henderson sold a three-year-old ram for 520 gns to Bernard Moss, Castlederg.
There was a strong demand for ewe lambs, bidding was fast and furious, ensuring a steady trade and again the average price of £231 was higher than last year. W & K Carson from Ballymena earned the top price in this section with their third prize winning ewe lamb which was bought by Thomas Wright, Ballymoney for 540 gns, the same breeders also produced the first placed ewe lamb and this was sold to young breeders, Robert & Matthew Coulter from Browndod, Doagh for 430 gns. Other top prices in this section went to R & J Hill, Ballyclare (510 gns to James & Craig Robson, Doagh) ; T Wright (360 gns to J. Wilson, Bendooragh) and (330 gns to David Redhouse, Slane, Co. Meath); Richard Currie (330 gns to Samuel Caldwell); T Wright (300 gns to D. Redhouse); W & K Carson (300 gns to D Redhouse) and Richard Currie (300 gns to William Patterson, Doagh.)
There were forty-one shearling ewes sold to an average of £260 and again bidding was keen. Top price went to R & J Hill, Ballyclare, for their second prize winning exhibit which was bought by Graham Cubitt, Glarryford for 550 gns. Samuel Caldwell, Rasharkin showed the first prize shearling ewe, who went on to win the Opposite Sex Champion and was sold for 500 gns to Bernard Moss from Castlederg. Other notable prices in this section went to R & J Hill (410 gns to B. Moss); R & J Hill (400 gns to G & G Henderson, Bushmills); R & J Hill (400 gns ro W. Patterson, Doagh); Richard Currie (330 gns to N. Patterson, Tobermore); Laura Weir, Ballymena (300 gns to J & C Robson, Doagh) and R & J Hill (300 gns to J & C Robson, Doagh).
The N.I. Dorset Club is delighted with the success of this sale and are looking forward to the Autumn Sale which will be held in Ballymena Livestock Market on Wednesday 13th October 2010.
