Ram lamb leads NITBC Balmoral Sale at 1500gns

Saturday 31^stAugust saw the NI Texel Breeders Club host their annual Show and Sale at the Balmoral Park, Maze site, Lisburn.  The sale was led by Auctioneer, Richard Beattie, Richard Beattie Livestock Sales and the event was kindly sponsored by Bank of Ireland.

It was a ram lamb from John McPolin’s Ballei Flock, Hilltown, which caught the eyes of the buyers in the sale to make the top price of the day, selling at 1500gns. This lamb’s granddam was purchased at January Gems in 2015 for 1600gns. This Midcombe Axel son sold to Wallace Rodgers, Bohard.

Also catching the eyes of the buyers and creating a flurry of bids was John Watson’s fifth place shearling ram.  This Duvarren exhibit, a Springhill Wrangler son out of a homebred ewe by Duvarren Ultra changed hands for the second top price of the day of 1400gns to Thomas Hynes, Rathfriland.

Judge for the pre-sale show was Neveille Myles who choose his overall champion and his first place ram lamb from Mark Patterson’s Alderview pen, a Plasucha Brooklyn son out of a Hartside Volt daughter.

This ram lamb is maternal brother to this year’s Balmoral RUAS champion was purchased for Mark Truedale’s flock in Dundrum, Newcastle, for 1300gns.

Also, successful to be chosen for Mr Myles pre-sale line-up was Brian Hanthorn’s Mullan exhibit. Making 1250gns this second place ram lamb joins John Youngs Kilrail Flock, Co Tyrone. He is a Mullan BFG son out of a Mullan ewe by Eglur Viscount and is maternal brother to Mullan Amigo who sold for 32,000gns.

Also making it into the top prices was a ram lamb from Patrick Blee’s Dunelm Flock.  His Tophill Wall St son out of a dam by Teiglum Wiseguy sold for 1020gns to take up residence in John Watson’s Duvarren Flock, Downpatrick.

Gary Rankins Garvetagh Hill exhibit which stood seventh in Mr Myles ram lamb line-up also featured in the top prices, changing hands for 900gns.  This Forkins Baz son out of a Drumderg Won and Only dam heads to join David Mulholland’s flock in Bellaghy.

Adrian Liggetts first place Corbo shearling ram exhibit, a son of Deveronvale Alonso changed hands for 850gns to L Venney, Downpatrick.  Featuring in the top prices for shearling rams was Owen Donohue’s Derryvore pen.  A Cornmore Yukka son out of a Cherryvale Nijinskey dam, this ram sold for 850gns to Norman Mullan Dungiven.

FEMALES

Pocketing the cash for females was Andrew Fyffe’s Fairywater pen.  The judge’s reserve champion and Mr Fyffe’s favourite sold to join A R Dickson and Sons’ flock in Drumquinn for 1250gns.  This smart gimmer is a Milnbank Avicii daughter out of a ewe by Glenside Razzle Dazzle.

From the same pen Mr Fyffe sold another Avicii daughter for 700gns and a Midcombe Axel daughter for 670gns. Mr Fyffe enjoyed a good days trading for females averaging £796 for five.

Taking 500gns for his Drumderg second place exhibit was Alistair Breen. This ewe’s dam comes from one of the Drumderg’s best breeding lines having bred rams to 2400gns and ewes to 2100gns. This Garngour Aristotle daughter sold to Robert Walmsley, Kilkeel. The judge’s third place gimmer in his line-up was a Blackstown Andy daughter from John Watson Duverren pen. She sold for 450gns, also to Robert Walmsley, Kilkeel.

Results of the Bank of Ireland Championship

Champion: Mark Patterson Alderview with ram lamb

Reserve Champion: A Fyffe Fairywater with Shearling Ewe

Shearling Ram Class

1st Adrian Liggett Corbo                               4th Michael Tumelty Castlecor

2^ndGareth Tumelty, Aideshill                         5th John Watson Duvarren

3^rdJack Tumelty Corbally                               6th Owen Donohue Derryvore

Open Ram Lamb Class

1^st  Mark Patterson Alderview                          4^thShaune Duggan Drumard Hill

2^ndBrian Hanthorn Mullan                               5^thAndrew Fyffe Fairywater

3^rdEllen and Harry Breen Lough Erne             6^thJohn Currie Tullagh

Shearling Ewe

1^stAndrew Fyffe Fairywater                            4^thJohn Watson Duvarren

2^ndAlistair Breen Drumderg                            5^thJames Herdman Templepark

3^rdAndrew Kennedy Maineview                     6^thM & J Watson Hillhead

Other Leading prices

A Fyffe 780gns; 650gns; 520gns

J Watson 760gns

E Conway 750gns

K McAfee 720gns

M Clarke 700gns; 600gns; 580gns; 500gns

J Wilson 620gns

P Blee 620gns

J Currie 600gns; 520gns

J Wilkinson 600gns

B Hanthorn 600gns

G Tumelty 530gns

A Breen 520gns; 500gns

J Tumelty 500gns