With standards continuing to rise each year, the judges, James and Craig Robson of Ballyhamage Flock, faced a challenging task in selecting this year’s winners. The breeders from Ballyclare have a keen eye having won the Flock Competition in 2025. The quality of stock was very promising in anticipation of the Club’s next events including their 54th Annual Premier Show & Sale, being held on Monday 27th July, at Ballymena Livestock Mart.
The title of overall champion flock was awarded to Ellen McClure of Mountdale Flock, which was the second time winning the accolade for the Dundrod breeder. Ellen had the best medium flock and her ram, Rivervalley Hunter, was the Robson’s top pick in the senior ram category. Bred by Ella and Harris Kennedy, Hunter is a son of Sherborne Falcon and out of Ashvale D0338. With impressive pedigree, he has progeny across the UK and Ireland and sired most of the ewe lambs in Ellen’s first place group of ewe lambs.
The remaining ewe lambs are out of homebred rams Mountdale Gladiator and Mountdale Geezer who have also bred very well. Continuing her success in the flock competition, Ellen’s group of rams were second and junior rams, Galgorm Icarus and Schoolhouse Ignitor, were third and fourth place. Ellen started her flock in 2012 and has grown it to 45 pedigree ewes, improving her bloodlines and making a name in the breed. She is putting forward a pen of ewe lambs, from her prize-winning group of ewe lambs, for the July sale, giving breeders an exciting chance to purchase from Mountdale Flock.
Steven and Stuart Lyons’ Bencran Flock was the winning large flock and reserve champion flock. The pair run 70 pedigree breeding ewes, lambing in September, as well as milking 240 cows. They have had Dorsets since 2004, when their Granda bought them 10 Dorset ewe lambs, and they haven’t looked back. Following on from their success in the regional competition, the brothers also secured reserve champion flock, best medium flock and second group of ewe lambs in the 2026 National Flock Competition, a brilliant accolade for the Tyrone breeders.
Claiming first place in the small flock section was Mark Hamilton, Cavandarragh Flock. He also impressed the judges with his third-place senior ram, Carnlea Grandslam, and his third-place group of rams.
This year the award for best new entrant went to W McCully, Closkelty Flock, who was also fourth in the small flock category. It was Rachel Moore’s Lisnafillan Iceman who was awarded best junior ram. While Samuel and Elaine Caldwell won best group of lambs and came second in the junior ram section with Downkillybegs Ice King, as well as placing second in the medium flock category.
The Club looks forward to a summer of showing as well as their much anticipated 54th Annual Premier Show & Sale, held at Ballymena Livestock Mart. The judge for the event is Mr Joe Redford of Pegasus Flock, Walkden, Manchester, who was the 2024 Overall Champion at the National Dorset Show, held at the Royal Lancashire Show.
Showing starts at 12.30pm with the sale scheduled for 5.30pm. Bidding is available online via Marteye. For more information including the catalogue visit the Northern Ireland Dorset Horn and Polled Dorset Sheep Breeders’ Club Facebook page or website.
Dorset Flock Competition Results 2026
Small Flock: 1st Mark Hamilton (Cavandarragh Flock); 2nd Adam Scullion (Dungorberry Flock); 3rd Nicole Love (Glebe Hill flock); 4th William McCully (Croskelty Flock)
Medium Flock: 1st Ellen McClure (Mountdale Flock); 2nd S&E Caldwell (Ballymaconnelly Flock); 3rd Kyle Bradshaw (Derryhennett Flock)
Large Flock: 1 S Lyons (Bencran Flock); 2 R Moore (Bannside Flock)
Senior Ram*: 1st Rivervalley Hunter ( Ellen McClure); 2nd Ballytaggart Glenfiddich (J&G Carson); 3rd Carnlea Grandslam (Mark Hamilton); 4th Whitehill Drink up (T Mcconaghie). *Ballyhamage stock rams not included
Junior Ram: 1st Lisnafillan Iceman (Rachel Moore); 2nd Downkillybegs Ice King (S&E Caldwell); 3rd Galgorm Icarus (Ellen McClure); 4th Schoolhouse Ignitor (Ellen McClure)
Group of Rams: 1st S & E Caldwell (Ballymaconnelly Flock); 2nd Ellen McClure (Mountdale Flock); 3rd Mark Hamilton (Cavandarragh Flock); 4th Rachel Moore (Bannside Flock)
Group of Ewe Lambs: 1st Ellen McClure ( Mountdale Flock); 2nd Kyle Bradshaw (Derryhennett Flock); 3rd Mark Hamilton (Cavandarragh Flock); 4th S& E Caldwell (Ballymaconnelly Flock)
Best New Entrant: W McCully (Closkelty Flock)
Overall Champion Flock: Ellen McClure (Mountdale Flock)
Reserve Champion Flock: S&S Lyons (Bencran Flock)
