Busy day at Ballymena for Bluefaced Leicester Ram & Female sale

Crossing type classes were kindly sponsored by James Delargy Farm Supplies & J A McClelland &Sons (Auctioneers) Ltd, with the traditional classes kindly sponsored by Glenkeen Livestock Supplies.

With an increased entry of sheep across all sections it was a busy day in Ballymena Market.

New for this year the classes for Judging & Sale were split in to traditional and crossing type.

Traditional Type

Overseeing the judging duties in the traditional section was Mr James McCaffery, Ominey Flock based in Co Donegal.

There was a small but select show of traditional rams out for the judge and he found his champion in the ram lamb pen of William Smyth, Foyle View with his homebred 4736/W056 lamb sired by Mossvale 1463/V015 out of a homebred ewe by Kirkstead 2625/R024 the Judge stood by his choice taking home the ram lamb for 1100 guineas.

Reserve Champion was awarded to enthusiastic young breeder Archie Henry with his homebred shearling ram Caherty 5279/V002 sired by Bonvilston 2906/N011 out of a Brague Dam 1244/P026 sired by Kirkstead 2625/M025 the ram was later cashed for 1000 guineas and has joined the Ballygorian More flock of Christopher Brown.

Top price of the day in the traditional section came from the Brague Flock of the late Robt Mulligan and Kim Coleman with their homebred ram lamb 1244/W008 sired by Malinhead 4557/V012 out of a homebred ewe Brague 1244/N026 sired by Kirkstead 2625/K002, Alistair Christie of The Fields Flock was the successful buyer taking him home for 2800 guineas.

Kim Coleman also cashed in Brague 1244/W006 sired by Malinhead 4557/V012 for 2600 guineas selling to the McKay’s at Rathkenny, Ballymena he was followed in to the ring by Brague 1244/W002 also by the Malinhead sire and he sold for 2300 guineas to James Carey, Martinstown.

In the traditional females Martin Harkin, Bellgray sold his home bred ewe lamb 3851/W010 sired by Cocklaw 119/T001 out of homebred dam Bellgray 3851/R008 and she has found a new home with W R Steen, Coleraine with a successful bid of 2250 guineas

Crossing Type

Overseeing the judging in the crossing type section was South West of England Regional Chairman Peter Heard, Yelland flock based in Devon who was making his first visit to Northern Ireland.

Peter did not have long to wait to see his eventual overall champion in the Judging ring as he was out in the first class of the show – it was the homebred shearling ram of Timothy Wray, Knockstacken which caught the Judge’s eye taking the red rosette in the class and going on to be male and overall champion.

Knockstacken 3790/V004 sired by 5274/S001 Overburns Farm Hitman out of a homebred ewe 3790/P023 sired by Temain Boss 4342/N002 was cashed for the top price on the day for a shearling ram of 6000 guineas making his way to the Mask View Flock of Tom Staunton based in County Mayo.

Reserve Overall Champion was a homebred ram lamb from A & D McKillop, Giants Causeway 4456/W003 sired by 2904/V001 Penhill Storm out of a hombred ewe 4456/V110 Giants Causeway by homebred sire Giants Causeway 4456/T013 he was cashed for 5000 guineas to Chris Lyons, Co Donegal.

With an early draw in the Shearling ring Graham & Julie Loughery, Temain turned out a great pen of home bred shearlings with 4342/V028 sired by 4456/S003 Giants Causeway Armani selling for their top price of 4900 guineas to Nigel Walsh, County Down. Temain 4342/V039 sired by 4244/S010 Blarnavaid sold for 4400 guineas.

There were a brace of shearling rams sold for 4000 guineas they were from Temain & Freehall. Graham & Julie Loughery sold 4342/V006 sired by Giants Causeway Armani to Hugh Duncan, Co Antrim, and Martin Kelly, Freehall sold 4612/V013 sired by 3790/T007 Knockstacken to Jonathan Loughery, Gortnarney.

Shearling Rmas – 192 sold, averaging £1,459.61

In the ram Lamb section came the top price of the day of 12,000 guineas with a striking homebred ram lamb from A & D McKillop, Giants Causeway 4456/W013 sired by Hewgill Titan 980/V001 out of a homebred ewe Giants Causeway 4456/R040 sired by Farden Popeye 1493/L001. He caught the eye of fellow breeder Lee McAllister and has joined the Elginny Flock.

The Giants Causeway flock also sold 4456/W002 sired by Hewgill Titan 980/V001 out of a homebred ewe and he has joined the Ballygorian More flock of Christopher Brown for 5200 guineas.

Alex Butler, Rowan Tree had a great pen of homebred ram lambs with his topper third in his run 4817/W008 sired by Glenrath Blackjack out of a homebred ewe Rowan Tree 4817/S015 sired by Mistyburn Phantom 4691/P002. Martin Kelly, Freehall was the successful buyer taking him home for 9000 guineas.

Graham & Julie Loughery, Temain were later through the sale and Robbie Hallam, High Birkwith had a while to wait before snapping up his choice 4342/W002 sired by Moneygran 4462/V001 out of homebred dam Temain 4342/S047 sired by Beeches Wingman 4358/R001. He sold for 7000 guineas.

William Adams, Holmview had a strong pen of homebred ram lambs and his topper was 1337/W003 sired by 4342/V001 Temain Topgun out of homebred ewe 1337/S035 sired by Starbog 4373/P001. He sold for 5000 guineas to Michael Smyth, Limavady.

Ian Montgomery, Mistyburn sold 4691/W010 sired by Moneygran 4462/V001 out of a Blarnavaid Ewe 4244/M036 sired by Midlock 1538/K020 for 5000 guineas joining the Ballyportery flock of Kieran McFadden.

Ram Lambs – 162 sold, averaging £1,431.44

In the crossing type female section there was the dispersal of the Deerfin Flock on behalf of Messrs S & J Wilson. Their sale topper was homebred ewe 5017/S007 sired by Temain 4342/R023 out of homebred ewe 5017/N009 sired by Asby Hall 3463/M002. She was traded for 3000 guineas and will be joining the Hillvale flock of Stephen & Trevor Duncan.

Deerfin 5017/R012 sired by Temain 4342/P024 out of the same dam 5017/N009 was successfully cashed for 2200 guineas with Michelle Wright taking her home to join the Mullaghwee flock.

Dominic McCrystal, Drummuck was reducing his females and was last man through the sale ring. His first offering, a homebred ewe lamb Drummuck 4367/W017 sired by Midlock 1538/V009 out of homebred ewe 4367/T040 sired by Cottage 3331/S002, sold for 1400 guineas to Adam Ramsay, Dalry.

Outwith the dispersal Alex Butler, Rowan Tree took the female championship with his homebred shearling gimmer 4817/V027 sired by Giants Causeway Armani 4456/S003 out of homebred ewe 4817/N020 sired by The Fields 3634/K002. She was sold for 1050 guineas and she is travelling across the water to David Morrison, Barr, Girvan.

Reserve female champion came from Ryan Loughran, Loughbracken Hill 4755/W009 sired by Mistyburn 4691/T007 out of a Ballyportery ewe 4945/R013.

Females – 76 solds, averaging £945.00