Priestley clinches supreme champion title at Balmoral for fourth consecutive year

Judge Richard Hutchinson of the Howgillfoot flock from Cumbria was impressed with the stock presented to him at the opening day of Balmoral Show and certainly had tough decisions to make in each of the classes.

The aged ram class was first up with Campbell and Jason Watson taking the first placed rosette with Noan Commodore.

The shearling ram class saw Martin and Eoin Butler take first with their Cairnton Chaos sired shearling ram.

With a powerful line up of over 20 ram lambs, the Limestone flock of Mark Priestley took the first prize rosette with a son of Benedyglen Masterpiece with David Ford’s Rhaeadr Northern Champ taking second and a Birness Gladiator son of Dennis Taylor’s taking third.

In the aged ewe line up it was Dennis Taylor’s eye catching Limestone Springbok bred female who was handed the first place rosette. Martin and Eoin Butler’s Shannagh Lonestar bred ewe took second and Campbell and Jason Watson’s Garvan Cracker bred ewe taking third.

The onlookers then got their first glimpse of the impressive Cairnton Chaos sired shearling ewe presented by Mark Priestley who took the winning rosette whilst also going on to claim the second and third placed rosettes with his Benedyglen Masterpiece and Cairnton Chaos sired shearling ewes respectively – a remarkable achievement for the Limestone flock.

The Craigdoo flock of Patrick Grant, shone in the ewe lamb category with their Limestone Juggernaut sired ewe lamb taking first spot, Glenquilly Suffolks took second also with a Limestone Juggernaut sired ewe lamb and the Limestone flock taking third with a Salopian Solid Gold sired ewe lamb.

Campbell and Jason Watson came out on top winning the group of three just ahead of Keith and Sharon Johnston and the Carony flock of Lesley Liggett whilst Patrick Grant took the winning rosette with a pair of lambs followed closely by Glen Caldwell and Lesley Liggett.

In the final deliberations the Limestone flock of Mark Priestley claimed the Champion and Reserve Female titles along with the Male Champion, the overall coveted RUAS Supreme title and Reserve Champion of the show. David Ford of the Mullaghboy flock took Reserve Male Champion.

The Young Handlers did exceptionally well in the Young Handlers Competition. It’s hoped you all enjoyed the experience.

8-13 years

1st Lara Taylor, 2nd Millie Donald, 3rd Lewis Kennedy

14-18 years

1st Callum Griffin, 2nd Tommy McMonagle, 3rd Gareth Wilson

All in all it was a fantastic few days for the Suffolk breed to showcase Northern Irelands premier livestock.

Commenting on the show, judge Richard Hutchinson said: “It was a great honour to judge at the Balmoral show. The quality and number of the sheep was very impressive and a credit to all the exhibitors.

“There were a lot of sheep that didn’t get placed that could have won at other shows.

“The limestone gimmers where very impressive with the champion having a great head beautifully hair with some serious power and bone and great top and back end. I thoroughly enjoyed my day having such great stock to judge.”

RESULTS

Aged Ram

1st Campbell and Jason Watson

Shearling Ram

1st Martin and Eoin Butler

Ram Lamb

1st Mark Priestley

2nd David Ford

3rd Dennis Taylor

4th Patrick Grant

5th Lesley Liggett

6th Lesley Liggett

Aged Ewe

1st Dennis Taylor

2nd Martin and Eoin Butler

3rd Campbell and Jason Watson

4th Daniel Bryan

Shearling Ewe

1st Mark Priestley

2nd Mark Priestley

3rd Mark Priestley

4th Dennis Taylor

5th Dennis Taylor

6th Keith and Sharon Johnston

Ewe Lamb

1st Patrick Grant

2nd Glen Caldwell

3rd Mark Priestley

4th Campbell and Jason Watson

5th Lesley Liggett

6th Dennis Taylor

Group of 3

1st Campbell and Jason Watson

2nd Keith Johnston

3rd Lesley Liggett

Pair of Lambs

1st Patrick Grant

2nd Glen Caldwell

3rd Lesley Liggett

Male Champion

Mark Priestley

Reserve Male Champion

David Ford

Female Champion

Mark Priestley

Reserve Female Champion

Mark Priestley

RUAS Supreme Overall Champion

Mark Priestley

RUAS Reserve Champion

Mark Priestley