Matt’s Flock Marvels in Irish Beltex Competition

The Irish Beltex Sheep Breeders Club gathered at the Royal Hotel, Cookstown on Saturday 22 October for their annual dinner.
By The Newsroom
Published 7th Nov 2022, 09:00 BST
Sean Daly with his shearling ram who was the Overall Champion at the second Omagh Show and Sale and sold to the top price of 1000gns.Sean Daly with his shearling ram who was the Overall Champion at the second Omagh Show and Sale and sold to the top price of 1000gns.
Sean Daly with his shearling ram who was the Overall Champion at the second Omagh Show and Sale and sold to the top price of 1000gns.

They celebrated the club members’ achievements across the year and announced the much anticipated results of the 2022 Flock Competition.

It was a successful night for Fermanagh-based Matthew Burleigh’s Matt’s Flock who won the coveted Overall Champion Flock, lifting the Ballycreely Trophy. Matt’s Flock had a string of successes in the competition including Champion Large Flock, Best Overall Flock of Ewes and Best Overall Stock Ram Lamb with his recent purchase Muirton High and Mighty.

Continuing his winning ways, Matthew Burleigh, along with Wade and Alison McCrabbe, shared the Smyths Daleside Trophy for jointly achieving the highest priced sheep sold at a Society Sale. Both breeders achieved 8,000gns at the Carlisle Premier Sale in August, Burleigh with Matt’s Hercules ET, and the McCrabbes with Ardstewart Gee Whiz ET and Ardstewart Grey Goose.

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Club Secretary Elizabeth Wilson and Chairman Eddie O’Neill presenting a token of thanks to the Flock Competition Judge John Harbinson.Club Secretary Elizabeth Wilson and Chairman Eddie O’Neill presenting a token of thanks to the Flock Competition Judge John Harbinson.
Club Secretary Elizabeth Wilson and Chairman Eddie O’Neill presenting a token of thanks to the Flock Competition Judge John Harbinson.

The Overall Reserve Champion Flock was Bessbrooke breeders David Brown and Mark Latimer from the Brownville Flock. They picked up several accolades including Champion Small Flock, Best Overall Flock of Ewe Lambs, and Reserve Champion Show Flock. Other notable successes included Claudy breeder Patrick Brolly winning Best Overall Stock Ram with Lambington Gladiator and Best Overall Homebred Ram Lamb with Munreary He’s The One.

The annual Flock Competition attracted a high number of entries and was judged by John Harbinson from the Glenkeen Flock, Limavady. Commenting on the task, John said: ‘I was honoured to be asked to judge and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I am a big fan of the Beltex breed so it was brilliant to get a ‘behind the scenes’ look at others' flocks."

He added:”‘I was very impressed by the quality and the warm welcome at every farm I went to. With such a high standard, judging was a difficult task and all the breeders who entered deserve credit for the calibre of sheep on show.”

Other commendations on the night included the Best Show Flocks and the Overall Champions from Beltex Show and Sales. Based on their performance at shows across the year, the Champion Show Flock was awarded to Elizabeth McAllister’s Artnagullion Flock, with Kile Diamond taking home Best Novice Show Flock for his Pointhouse Flock.

The next generation of Beltex breeders.The next generation of Beltex breeders.
The next generation of Beltex breeders.

The breeders who won Overall Champion titles at the four Beltex Show and Sales during the year were also recognised, with presentations to Kile Diamond, Matthew Burleigh, Eddie O’Neill and Sean Daly.

Irish Beltex Sheep Breeders Club Flock Competition Results 2022

Competition Judge: John Harbinson

Overall Champion Flock: Matthew Burleigh, Matt’s Flock, Kinawley

Jayden McCutcheon proudly displaying the Reserve Champion Large Flock rosette won by Bodoney Flock, Trillick.Jayden McCutcheon proudly displaying the Reserve Champion Large Flock rosette won by Bodoney Flock, Trillick.
Jayden McCutcheon proudly displaying the Reserve Champion Large Flock rosette won by Bodoney Flock, Trillick.

Overall Reserve Champion Flock: David Brown & Mark Latimer, Brownville Flock, Bessbroke.

Champion Large Flock: Matthew Burleigh, Matt’s Flock, Kinawley.

Reserve Champion Large Flock: Andrew & Jamie McCutcheon, Bodney Flock, Trillick.

Champion Small Flock: David Brown & Mark Latimer, Brownville Flock, Bessbroke.

Eddie O’Neill with his shearling ram who was Overall Champion at the Ballymena Show and Sale and sold to the top price at 640gns, pictured with Judge Norman Wallace and Kile Diamond who had Reserve Male.Eddie O’Neill with his shearling ram who was Overall Champion at the Ballymena Show and Sale and sold to the top price at 640gns, pictured with Judge Norman Wallace and Kile Diamond who had Reserve Male.
Eddie O’Neill with his shearling ram who was Overall Champion at the Ballymena Show and Sale and sold to the top price at 640gns, pictured with Judge Norman Wallace and Kile Diamond who had Reserve Male.

Reserve Champion Small Flock: G & J Scott, Bessybell Flock, Omagh.

Flock of Ewes Large: 1st Matthew Burleigh, Matt’s Flock, Kinawley; 2nd Andrew & Jamie McCutcheon, Bodney Flock, Trillick; 3rd William Porter, Major’s Bridge Flock, Maghera

Flock of Ewes Small: 1st Daniel Patton, Greenhill Flock, Newtownards; 2nd David Brown & Mark Latimer, Brownville Flock, Bessbroke: 3rd G & J Scott, Bessybell Flock, Omagh.

Best Overall Flock of Ewes: Matthew Burleigh, Matt’s Flock, Kinawley.

Flock of Ewe Lambs Large: 1st Matthew Burleigh, Matt’s Flock, Kinawley; 2nd Patrick Brolly, Munreary Flock, Claudy: 3rd H & E O’Neill, Lagyveagh, Glenarm.

Flock of Ewe Lambs Small: 1st David Brown & Mark Latimer, Brownville Flock, Bessbroke; 2nd G & J Scott, Bessybell Flock, Omagh; 3rd Daniel Patton, Greenhill Flock, Newtownards.

Matthew Burleigh and his partner Rachel Almond proudly displaying some of their many accolades for Matt’s Flock, Kinawley, in the annual Irish Beltex Flock Competition.Matthew Burleigh and his partner Rachel Almond proudly displaying some of their many accolades for Matt’s Flock, Kinawley, in the annual Irish Beltex Flock Competition.
Matthew Burleigh and his partner Rachel Almond proudly displaying some of their many accolades for Matt’s Flock, Kinawley, in the annual Irish Beltex Flock Competition.

Best Overall Flock of Ewe Lambs: David Brown & Mark Latimer, Brownville Flock, Bessbroke.

Stock Ram Large: 1st Patrick Brolly, Munreary Flock, Claudy; 2nd Andrew & Jamie McCutcheon, Bodney Flock, Trillick; 3rd Matthew Burleigh, Matt’s Flock, Kinawley.

Stock Ram Small:1st G & J Scott, Bessybell Flock, Omagh; 2nd David Brown & Mark Latimer, Brownville Flock, Bessbroke; 3rd Stuart Graham, Riverview Flock, Omagh.

Best Overall Stock Ram: Patrick Brolly, Munreary Flock, Claudy.

Stock Ram Lamb Large: 1st Matthew Burleigh, Matt’s Flock, Kinawley; 2nd Andrew & Jamie McCutcheon, Bodney Flock, Trillick; 3rd Patrick Brolly, Munreary Flock, Claudy.

Stock Ram Lamb Small: 1st David Brown & Mark Latimer, Brownville Flock, Bessbroke; 2nd G & J Scott, Bessybell Flock, Omagh; 3rd Stuart Graham, Riverview Flock, Omagh.

Best Overall Stock Ram Lamb: Matthew Burleigh, Matt’s Flock, Kinawley with Muirton High and Mighty.

Homebred Ram Lamb Large: 1st Patrick Brolly, Munreary Flock, Claudy; 2nd Matthew Burleigh, Matt’s Flock, Kinawley; 3rd Andrew & Jamie McCutcheon, Bodney Flock, Trillick.

Homebred Ram Lamb Small: 1st David Brown & Mark Latimer, Brownville Flock, Bessbroke; 2nd Daniel Patton, Greenhill Flock, Newtownards; 3rd Edward & Shirlee Nicholson, Derryogue Flock, Kilkeel.

Best Homebred Ram Lamb: Patrick Brolly, Munreary Flock, Claudy.

Top priced Beltex sheep at a Society Sale: Matthew Burleigh, Matt’s Flock, Kinawley and Wade & Alison McCrabbe, Ardstewart Flock, Donegal.

Champion Show Flock Cup: Elizabeth McAllister, Artnagullion Flock, Kells.

Reserve Champion Show Flock: David Brown & Mark Latimer, Brownville Flock, Bessbroke.

Best Novice Show Flock: Kile Diamond, Pointhouse Flock, Garvagh.

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