Standing room only at Ballymena for the NI Premier Export Show and Sale

The championship line-up featured Overall Champion Lot 32 from Patrick Grant, Reserve Overall Champion Lot 208 from Dennis Taylor, and Female Champion Lot 1 from Campbell and Jason Watson.

The 2026 NI Premier Export Show and Sale at Ballymena Livestock Market attracted a standing-room-only crowd, with breeders, commercial producers and buyers from across the UK and overseas gathering to take advantage of the sale’s export status.

The strong attendance reflected the upsurge of the Suffolk breed in both the pedigree and commercial sheep sectors.

Mike Black of the Collessie flock, Fife, Scotland, was entrusted with judging the 2026 pre-sale show at Ballymena Livestock Market. He approached the task with diligence, working methodically through a series of exceptionally strong classes to identify this year’s winners.

Female Champion – Bannview

The first class of the day saw Campbell and Jason Watson claim top honours in the Ewe Lamb Class with Lot 1, Bannview 8B:26:03246.

The twin ewe lamb was sired naturally by Ballynacannon Captain Morgan, purchased at the Ballymena Premier Sale in 2025 for 3,600gns, and was bred from the home-bred ewe 8B:22:02436.

Following her class victory, she went on to secure the title of Female Champion 2026.

Selling as the first sheep through the ring, she realised 1,000gns before being exported to the Republic of Ireland, where she joins Edward Buckley’s flock in Kilbarry, County Cork.

Shearling Ram Champion

With only two entries in the Shearling Ram Class, first prize was awarded to Martin and Eoin Butler for Lot 11, Castlewood LSB:25:00452.

The ram is a son of Cairnton Chaos, one of a triplet born by AI, and had enjoyed an outstanding show season, winning five red rosettes from five appearances. As a ram lamb, he also stood fourth in his class at the Balmoral Show in 2025.

He sold for 1,500gns to Andrew Keys of Fintona, County Tyrone.

Commercial Gigot Lamb Class

An impressive entry of 30 Commercial Gigot Lambs made this one of the strongest classes of the day and presented judge Mike Black with a challenging task.

Taking first place was Lot 181 from John Trimble’s Cherrylea flock.

The single ET lamb, ZXA:26:01711, was sired by Ballynacannon Coldplay from the Forkins ewe AOR:22:03351. He is a full brother to the 12,000gns ‘Dark Destroyer’ sold at the 2025 Premier Sale, while his granddam, Forkins AOR:15:01430, also bred the 26,000gns Forkins McCoy and produced a ewe lamb which sold for 17,000gns.

The winning lamb sold for 1,500gns to DS and Darren McKay’s Rowandale flock, Rathkenny, Ballymena.

Novice Ram Lamb Class Produces the Overall Champion

The Novice Ram Lamb Class is reserved for breeders who have never previously won the class, making it one of the most eagerly anticipated competitions of the day. Victory also earns qualification to compete in the Open Ram Lamb Class the following year.

This year’s winner was Patrick Grant of the Craigdoo flock with Lot 32.

The outstanding single ET lamb was sired by Limestone Juggernaut from the home-bred ewe PNZ:22:00826, a daughter of Blackbrae Humdinger. The ewe has already produced Craigdoo Crusader, sire of the Novice Champion at Blessington.

After winning the Novice Ram Lamb Class, Lot 32 progressed to become Male Champion before being crowned Overall Champion 2026.

This champion later topped the sale at 55,000gns, selling to J Innes, Strathbogie flock in Scotland.

Ram Lamb Class

Winning the Ram Lamb Class at the NI Premier Export Sale remains one of the greatest accolades for any Suffolk breeder.

This year’s winner was Lot 208 from Dennis Taylor’s Ballynacannon flock, Coleraine.

Ballynacannon KKW:26:02844 is a single ET lamb by the Northern Ireland-bred Islandmoyle Sparticus, out of the Convoy dam PWW:21:00223, which also produced Ballynacannon Rolls Royce, sold previously for 6,000gns.

Earlier in the season, the lamb had stood Reserve Male Champion at the Northern Ireland National Show in Armagh.

Following victory in the Ram Lamb Class, he progressed to become Reserve Male Champion and ultimately Reserve Overall Champion.

Selling late in the day, he realised 14,000gns, joining Robin McAdoo’s Threeways Flock in Cookstown.

AgriImages Ram Lamb Masterclass

New for 2026 was the AgriImages Masterclass, open to flocks established for more than 25 years, giving experienced breeders the opportunity to revisit their showing skills.

The winner was one of the best in the show ring, Mark Priestley of the Limestone flock, with Lot 57.

The single ET lamb, KPC:26:03314, was sired by the renowned Limestone King of Diamonds, in which a share was retained when he sold privately for 40,000gns. It is shared with James Wallace, Claycrop Flock and Stewart Lathangie, Pyeston Flock.

King of Diamonds has already made a significant impact, siring both the Champion and Reserve Champion at Lanark, along with leading price lambs. The dam was Interbreed Champion at Balmoral in 2024 and has bred sons to 5,500gns, while her daughters include the 2026 Balmoral Reserve Champion Suffolk.

Lot 57 went on to become the second-highest priced sheep of the day, selling for 50,000gns to the Howgillfoot, Maidenstone and Cloudside Flocks.

The victory also qualifies Mark Priestley for the AgriImages People’s Choice Final alongside John Gibb, winner at Lanark and the class winner at National Show and Sale.

Groups of Three

The Groups of Three competition allows consignors to demonstrate consistency throughout their breeding.

Patrick Grant once again impressed the judge, taking first place with Lots 33, 35 and 36, an exceptionally well-matched trio.

All three Lots were embryo brothers by Limestone Juggernaut.

Lot 33 is an embryo brother to the National Champion Ram Lamb, while Lot 35 is an embryo brother to the Balmoral lamb that sold to Cannonhallbrown for £12,500.

Limestone Juggernaut was jointly purchased for 24,000gns and was crowned Northern Ireland National Champion in 2025. Shannagh Boss Man was Reserve Overall Champion at the Ballymena Sale in 2024.

Top Prices at the 2026 NI Premier Export Sale

The sale produced an outstanding run of five-figure prices:

Lot Vendor / Flock Price Purchaser

32 P Grant (Craigdoo) 55,000gns J Innes (Strathbogie)

57 M Priestley (Limestone) 50,000gns R Hutchinson (Howgillfoot), F Christie (Maidenstone) and H Lyons (Cloudside)

58 M Priestley (Limestone) 26,000gns A Barkley (Blackbrae)

59 M Priestley (Limestone) 26,000gns D Taylor (Ballynacannon)

93 J Smyth (Bessiebell) 22,000gns A Short (Derg)

95 J Smyth (Bessiebell) 18,000gns J Elliott (Rawburn)

53 D Duncan (Duncans) 15,000gns M Priestley (Limestone)

208 DTaylor (Ballynacannon) 14,000gns R McAdoo (Threeways)

122 J&A Moses (Blackstown) 11,000gns J McKay (Kirkview) and M & E Butler (Castlewood)

62 M Priestley (Limestone) 10,000gns L & M Liggett (Carony)

94 J Smyth (Bessiebell) 10,000gns S & O Quigg (Gortmore)

Highest-Priced Pen of Three

Mark Priestley of the Limestone flock secured the highest-priced pen of three with Lots 57, 58 and 59.

The trio realised a combined 102,000gns, averaging 34,000gns per head, with all three lambs sired by Limestone King of Diamonds.

Sale Average

The 2026 NI Premier Export Show and Sale concluded with strong trade throughout.

A total of 147 sheep were sold, achieving an average price of £3,803.39 per head, with a 77% clearance rate.

Championship Results

Female Champion: Lot 1 – RC & JC Watson 8B:26:03246

Female Reserve Champion: Lot 4 – Neville Rickey XTL:26:02180

Male Champion: Lot 32 – Patrick Grant PNZ:26:01717

Male Reserve Champion: Lot 208 – Dennis Taylor KKW:26:02844

Supreme Champion: Lot 32 – Patrick Grant PNZ:26:01717

Supreme Reserve Champion: Lot 208 – Dennis Taylor KKW:26:02844

NextGen Young Handlers Competition

The annual NI Premier Show & Sale began on Friday evening with the popular NextGen Young Handlers Competition, where young exhibitors demonstrated their stockmanship, ringcraft and sheep-handling skills before judge Mike Black of the Collessie flock in Scotland.

The competition was followed by the traditional social evening and hog roast, attended by around 150 breeders and supporters, providing an excellent opportunity for Suffolk enthusiasts to catch up ahead of the Premier Sale.

The standard of presentation from Northern Ireland’s young breeders was exceptional, with plenty of wee boots and white coats entering the ring. The NextGen competition continues to showcase the future of the Suffolk breed, ensuring traditional skills and showmanship are passed from one generation to the next.