Bumper entry at NI Dorset sale

On Monday, 25th July the NI Dorset Club held their 44th annual July show and sale in McClellands Livestock Mart, Ballymena.
The 2000gns ram lamb with handler Samuel Caldwell, Breeder Raymond Hill and new owner Alex SteffThe 2000gns ram lamb with handler Samuel Caldwell, Breeder Raymond Hill and new owner Alex Steff
The 2000gns ram lamb with handler Samuel Caldwell, Breeder Raymond Hill and new owner Alex Steff

Once again the premier sale was very kindly sponsored by Norbrook Pharmaceuticals, who were represented at the show by Jacqueline Hamilton.

With the largest entry for a number of years, 232 lots were catalogued for sale ensuring there were sheep available to suit everyone and every purpose.

Judge for the day was Welsh breeder and owner of the Pembroke flock David Lewis, who awarded the supreme champion of the sale to the first prize and superb triplet born ram lamb from the Galgorm flock of M&C Maybin, Ballymena. This tremendous lamb was sired by Pembroke Timebomb, who was imported by the Galgorm and Kildowney flocks jointly in 2012 from the Mayfair in Exeter, England. He later went onto achieve 550gns in the ring, sold to breeder B.Moss, Castlederg.

Champion Horn:-  Ben Lamb with Jacqelinei Hamilton (Norbrook Representative) and David Lewis (Judge).Champion Horn:-  Ben Lamb with Jacqelinei Hamilton (Norbrook Representative) and David Lewis (Judge).
Champion Horn:- Ben Lamb with Jacqelinei Hamilton (Norbrook Representative) and David Lewis (Judge).

The top price of the evening went to the second prize ram lamb entered by R&D Hill, Doagh of the Olivertree flock. This son of Polgreen Shumaker was out of an unbeaten homebred show ewe. A flurry of bids ensued and the lamb was eventually sold to A.Steff, of the Waggoners flock in Lancashire, who currently is the chairman of the North of England Dorset Sheep Breeders Association, for an impressive 2000gns, a figure only surpassed by Drumlin Legend, sold by A.Flemming Ballymoney in 2009 for 2200gns. The second highest price for the evening was achieved by a ram lamb entered by A.McConnell, of the Beechmount flock Templepatrick. This giant triplet born ram lamb was sired by Ballytaggart Puma and his sister was first prize ewe lamb and reserve overall champion at the Royal Ulster Agricultural Show 2016. The successful bidder was J.McFetridge, Glenarm. Whilst 780gns was realised by W&C Johnston, of the Islandview flock Glenavy, for their eye catching first prize horned ram lamb, which will be making his way home with A.Birch to Derbyshire. Other leading prices in the ram lamb section were 600gns A.McConnell to N.Dugan, Comber, 600gns R&D Hill to I.Davidson, Larne, 550gns A.McConnell to B.Moss.

Shearling rams were also offered for sale with the first prize winner of K&L Weir, Ballymena sold for 600gns to the Tannybrake and Tullybane flocks of J&W Smith, Kells and C&M Patton, Dervock.

Strong ewe lamb trade continued throughout the evening, with the fancy first place pair of ewe lambs and reserve overall champion from the pen of R.Currie, of the Hilltop flock in Ballymena selling to R.Fitton, Kearsley, for 900gns and 550gns each. 900gns is the second highest price for a ewe lamb sold at the NI Club sales, only bettered by the 1400gns ewe lamb from the Richhill flock last year. The Hilltop flock was also responsible for the third highest ewe lamb price of 380gns, with this selection making her way to Scotland to join J.Royan. 380gns was also realised for ewe lambs entered by S&S Lyons, Bencran and T&S Knox, Riverview, purchased by J&C Robson, Doagh and W. Magee, Derry respectively.

The champion horned exhibit from the Richhill flock of Ben Lamb was the first prize horned ewe lamb who was sold for 280gns to I.Magee, Larne. Shearling ewes sold to a top of 280 gns for a lot entered by T&S Knox and sold to B&V Campbell, Magherafelt. Aged ewes sold to 260gns for an entrant of C&M Patton to G.Farrell, Omagh.

Champion Horn:-  Ben Lamb with Jacqelinei Hamilton (Norbrook Representative) and David Lewis (Judge).Champion Horn:-  Ben Lamb with Jacqelinei Hamilton (Norbrook Representative) and David Lewis (Judge).
Champion Horn:- Ben Lamb with Jacqelinei Hamilton (Norbrook Representative) and David Lewis (Judge).

Ram lamb average - £436.57

Shearling ram average - £483.00

Ewe lamb average - £240.34

Shearling ewe average – £181.82

Senior ewe average - £220.50

Total sale clearance of 93%

Prize winners at the 44th Annual Premier Show and Sale

Judge Mr David Lewis

Horned ram lamb: 1st W&C Johnston, 2nd W&C Johnston

Poll ram lamb: 1st M&C Maybin, 2nd R&D Hill, 3rd J&C Robson

Pair of ram lambs: 1st W&K Carson

Shearling ram: 1st K&L Weir, 2nd A Johnston, 3rd K&L Weir

Horn ewe lamb: 1st Ben Lamb, 2nd C Carson, 3rd Ben Lamb

Poll ewe lamb: 1st M&C Maybin, 2nd M&C Maybin, 3rd G Cubitt

Pair of ewe lambs: 1st R Currie, 2nd Ken Thompson, 3rd S&S Lyons

Shearling ewe: 1st Sean Paul McCarry, 2nd T&S Knox 3rd A Johnston

Senior ewe: 1st SP McCarry

Novice breeder lamb class: 1st G&S Miller 2nd G&S Miller, 3rd C Chambers

Progeny group: 1st W&K Carson, 2nd M&C Maybin, 3rd R Currie

Supreme champion: M&C Maybin

Reserve overall champion: R Currie

Best opposite sex to champion: R Currie

Best horn exhibit: Ben Lamb

The NI Dorset Club would like to thank everyone who attended and supported the Premier sale and wish everyone all the best with their new purchases.

The next club sale is being held on Friday 12th August at Hilltown Farmers Market, Hilltown, Newry, sponsored by MSD animal health. Show 12 noon and sale 2pm.This sale is an EU export sale, enabling sheep to travel straight to the ROI on the day of purchase. For catalogues please contact the club secretary William Carson on 07841746705 or visit the website www.nidorsetclub.co.uk

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