Beltex Champions

Category	Breed	Breeder Name
Champion Ram Lamb	1st Place Ram Lamb (1/1/25 - 28/2/25)	G. Beacom
Reserve Champion Ram Lamb	2nd Place Ram Lamb (1/1/25 - 28/2/25)	Brownville Beltex
Champion Ewe Lamb	1st Place Ewe Lamb (1/1/25 - 28/2/25)	J.Keys
Reserve Champion Ewe Lamb	1st Place Ewe Lamb (Born after 1/3/25)	G. Beacom
Champion Lamb	1st Place Ram Lamb (1/1/25 - 28/2/25)	G. Beacom
Reserve Champion Lamb	2nd Place Ram Lamb (1/1/25 - 28/2/25)	Brownville Beltex
Male Champion	1st Place Ram Lamb (1/1/25 - 28/2/25)	G. Beacom
Reserve Male Champion	2nd Place Ram Lamb (1/1/25 - 28/2/25)	Brownville Beltex
Female Champion	1st Place Ewe, having reared lambs in 2025	G. Beacom
Reserve Female Champion	1st Place Shearling Ewe	E. McAllister
Overall Champion	1st Place Ewe, having reared lambs in 2025	G. Beacom
Reserve Overall Champion	1st Place Shearling Ewe	E. McAllister

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Belter Beltex National Show for Beacom

Lakeview Jungle Princess from Gary Beacom’s Lakeview Flock won the Irish Beltex Sheep Breeders Club’s National Show, held at Omagh Show, on Saturday, 5 July. The ewe caught judge Alfie Taylor’s eye in her class, before being chosen as Female Champion and Overall Champion. Jungle Princess is sired by 45k Lurg Grand Slam, a purchase for the Fivemiletown flock in 2022, and is out of Aviemore Curie. She is full ET sister to Lakeview Jackaroo, who broke the breed record at Kelso last September selling for £18,000, and a maternal sister to 7000gns gimmer Lakeview Earn Your Keep.

It was a family affair with the Champion’s son, Lakeview Legend, also triumphing at the National Show. He is sired by Logie Durno Jack Daniels, who was Carlisle Premier Sale Champion when purchased for 20,000gns. The ram lamb impressed in a strong class before winning Champion Ram Lamb, Champion Lamb and Male Champion. Lakeview Flock also won Reserve Champion Ewe Lamb and came second in the Group of Three. As well as taking first in the Shearling Ram class with a son of Lurg Grand Slam, who is heading to the Dungannon Beltex Premier Show and Sale at the end of August.

Artnagullion Flock also had great success on the day. Elizabeth McAllister’s first place shearling ewe, Artnagullion Kitty, was Reserve Female Champion and Overall Reserve Champion. She is out of Artnagullion Hitty and is sired by Edendiack Hitman, a 14,000gns purchase for the flock in 2022. The Reserve Champion is no stranger to success having won Reserve Beltex Champion and Sheep Interbreed Pairs at Balmoral Show in May, as well as winning her Ewe Lamb (born after 1 March) class at the Irish Beltex National Show last year. The Kells flock had other wins including coming first in the Group of Three, second in the Pair of Lambs, and winning both the Aged Ram and Ram Lamb (born after 1 March) classes.

Mark Latimer and David Brown’s early ram lamb came second in its class before going on to win Reserve Champion Ram Lamb, Reserve Champion Lamb and Reserve Male Champion. Brownville Lordship is homebred out of Brownville Harper and sired by Matt’s HGV. His maternal brother, Brownville Kingsman, sold for £5k in a private sale to Joshua Keys last year. The Brownville flock from Bessbrook also came first with their Pair of Lambs and took second in the ram lamb (born after 1/3/25) class.

Joshua Keys’ ewe lamb Bolies Lucy stood out, winning her class and taking Champion Beltex Ewe Lamb. She is by Matt’s Hellboy and out of Bolies Jump Start, who was the Reserve Female Beltex Champion at Balmoral Show in 2024.

In the Young Handlers classes, competition was also high. Sisters Jessica and Hollie Burleigh impressed the judge with their sheep handling and answers, coming first in the Pre-School and Primary School categories respectively. While seasoned exhibitor Jaden McCutcheon also caught the judge’s eye, coming first in the Secondary School competition.

The National Show had a great entry of sheep and large, strong classes, showcasing the best of the Beltex breed. Judge Alfie Taylor of Heatheryhall Flock was impressed, commenting, “the standard of sheep was tremendous in general, especially the top end of the females. The Champion was everything a Beltex should be, tremendous carcass, solid muscle and well balanced throughout with proper breed character. She showed herself off very well.”

At a presentation after showing, Club Chairman, Eddie O’Neill commented on the success of the day, he said “we have seen brilliant class sizes today with the very best of Beltex sheep on show. Thank you to our judge who did a fantastic job and a special mention to the young handlers. They came out in force and were a credit to themselves and the Club”.

The Irish Beltex Sheep Breeders Club would like to extend their gratitude to Omagh Show, as well as sponsors John Sisk & Son (Holdings), Eco Eggshell Soil Conditions, Galloway Macleod and Shortts Feeds.