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Beltex Success in Ballymena for O’Connor

 Cathaoir O’Connor, Toberhill Flock was triumphant in the Beltex championship at the Irish Beltex Sheep Breeders Club’s Ballymena Show and Sale on Monday, 15 September, with his shearling ewe, Toberhill Kayla. Lot 14 caught judge Christopher McCrea’s eye, winning her class and Female Champion before being chosen as Overall Champion. Kayla is sired by Todhall Hurricane and is out of Matt’s Halo, a private purchase for the flock from Matthew Burleigh in 2024. Having only established his Beltex flock in 2022, it was a thrilling first win for O’Connor, securing the title with the first Beltex female he had brought to a sale. The Champion also impressed in the sale ring, making a notable 1,900 guineas and going to Cahir McAuley, Larkhill Farm, Antrim.

Reserve and Male Champion was Glenview Kai, a shearling ram from Sean Daly, Gortin. Lot 3 is out of Glenview Eimear and was sired by Ardstewart Galileo, making him a half-brother to Daly’s two Champions from Dungannon and Ballymena last year. Kai topped the sale at an impressive 2,000 guineas, selling to S & A Conway, Newtownstewart.

Reserve Female Champion was a shearling ewe from Hugh and Eddie O’Neill’s Glenarm Flock. Lot 16, Lagyveagh Kettle, was sold for 700 guineas to Lee Bowden, who also purchased Lot 15 from the O’Neills. Seamus Kelly’s Lot 11, Finlough Kid, was Reserve Male Champion. The shearling ram was sold to C Dunn, Donemana, for 1,350 guineas.

There was a 100% sell through rate at the sale in Ballymena Livestock Mart, with great interest and strong prices from bidders ringside and online. The shearling rams sold for an average of 818 guineas, with the shearling ewes achieving an average of 1,050 guineas. Douglas Nisbit from Loughbrickland was among the top prices with his two shearling rams, Lot 7 Rockford Kelso and Lot 8 Rockford Kyle. They reached 1,300 and 1,100 guineas selling to Peter McFarland and B McCurdy respectively.