Interbreed Champion breeder from Royal Highland Show to judge Irish Beltex National Championships at Omagh Show

Leading Scottish Beltex breeder, Stuart Wood, is to judge this year’s Irish Beltex Sheep Breeders Club’s National Championships which are being held at the Omagh Show on Saturday, 7 July.

Stuart, fresh from his wins at this year’s Royal Highland Show where his Shearling Ewe, Woodies City Girl, was named Overall Champion in the Beltex classes before going on to lift the Individual Interbreed Championship title is looking forward to selecting ‘the best of Irish’.

“What I look for in my ideal sheep is correctness, with a good mouth, shoulder, loin and especially gigot, which should be deep and full of muscle,” explained Stuart. “I like a show sheep to be flashy and classy and I also like them to be true to type.”

Stuart Wood, who farms in Aberdeenshire, has been breeding Beltex Sheep for almost 20 years now.

He made the decision to go MV Accredited in August 2006 when he went to the Carlisle Premier Sale and purchased four gimmers which formed the basis of his very successful Woodies Flock.

Since turning MV Accredited his initial ‘hobby’ has gone from strength to strength.

Previous show successes include winning the Scottish National Show Reserve Female title at the Royal Highland Show and Overall Interbreed Champion twice at the Turiff and Echt Show.

Stuart currently holds the breed record price for a Beltex Ewe Lamb standing at £7,500.

“My top price achieved at a sale to date was in 2017 at Carlisle when Woodies Baldy went under the hammer for 16,000gns,” continued Stuart.

The Flock also held the former record price for a Ram Lamb, Woodies Snoop Dog, when it  sold to Kells-based William and Elizabeth McAllister for 12,500gns.

The Woodies Flock now consists of 28 pedigree Beltex ewes of which 12 are flushed giving 100-150 embryo lambs each year.

“We also have a small flock of 10 Dutch Texels, six Badgerface and my partner, Stasa runs 15 pure Blue Texels,” he added.

Stuart has previously judged numerous shows throughout the UK including “having the honour of judging the Carlisle Premier Sale where no fewer than 1200 Sheep were put forward”.

This year’s Champion and Reserve Champion titles at the Irish Nationals are being sponsored by Dungannon Farmers Mart with all other classes sponsored by the Mellon Country Inn, Omagh.

Judging will commence at 10.00am sharp and a big turn-out is expected in all classes.