Blackface breeders are Ballymena bound

John and George Conway's 5500gns ram lamb from 2018 Blackface sale

The show will be held on 6th October at 4pm with sales 7th October, Lanark ring 1 at 10am (ram lambs being sold first followed by shearlings) and Perth Ring 2 at 11am (shearlings sold first followed by ram lambs).

Two breeders looking forward to selling at the sale are Charlie Phillips and Conway Brothers.

Charlie along with his daughter Christine and shepherd Darren Kelly farm a 900 strong flock of Lanark type ewes at Finglen farm which rises to 2000 feet which he says is well exposed to the elements with snow being the biggest threat to the sheep on the hill.

Charlie Phillips 9000gns shearling from 2018 Blackface sale

He believes the Lanark type is versatile and adaptable to his conditions and he’s had good success with the breed over the years selling his top priced Lanark shearling ram at last years’ sale for 9,000gns.

Outside Plumbridge, on the west of the Sperrins brothers George and John Conway farm a flock of 420 Perth type and 80 Lanark type ewes along with help from their sons Leo and Eammon.

They graze their sheep over 360 acres of hill with other conacre and winter grazing ground.

The brothers have had many a top price at the URBA show and sale receiving 5500gns last year for a ram lamb.

Sponsors for Blackface show and sale, Martin Clarke, United Feeds, Sonya Smyth URBA secretary, Seamus McCormick, Danske Bank, Richard McCaughern, Moores Animal Feeds, missing is Fane Valley, Natural Stock and J Thompson and Sons

They like to breed a tip which catches your eye, nice coat, good muzzle, good hair, strong on his legs and be of a good size.

John and George like to support their local Plumbridge and Omagh shows and had a very successful day at the National Show in August when they received the reserve overall with a tip lamb, and reserve champion female.

Over 300 north and south type Blackfaces were judged at the National Show with the Grants from Cloughfin winning the north type overall champion and the reserve male champion and in the south type section Graham Wallace took the  overall champion with John  and Patrick Harkin receiving the reserve overall champion, reserve male and female champions.

Thanks once again to sponsors Danske Bank, United Feeds, Fane Valley Stores, J Thompson and Sons, Moores Animal Feeds and Natural Stock Care at Alan Carson.