Top prices followed the top prizes at the Irish Beltex Sheep Breeders Club’s show and sale at Dungannon Farmers’ Mart on Monday, 29 August, when the Supreme Champion from the pre-sale show led the entry at 2600gns with the Reserve Supreme at 2300gns.

Setting a new Northern Irish record for a shearling ewe was Matthew Burleigh’s Matt’s Giro ET, a daughter of the 14,000gns Murrays Expert from the flock at Kinawley Road, Shanra, Enniskillen. Bred from the Kingledores Apollo-sired Matt’s Cracker, Giro sold to Joshua Keys for his Bolies Flock on Bolies Road near Fivemiletown.

Females also reached 1050gns for William Porter’s Ainstable Foctotum-sired Major’s Bridge Gabbie ET, which was knocked down to the judge, Declan Robinson, of the Sheephaven Flock, Downings, Letterkenny. Her dam from the flock at Carricknakielt Road, Maghera, is Tiptop Chelsea, a Hackney Bobby Dazzler daughter.

Sticking with the female entry and Edward and Shirlee Nicholson’s Derryogue Grace from Greencastle Road, Kilkeel, sold to J and M O’Connor, Tulnacross Road, Cookstown, for 950gns. Sired by Kingledores Emperor, she is out of Derryogue Darling, a Clary Canyon daughter.

Carrying on a good sale season for Michael and Kile Diamond was their Reserve Supreme, a ram lamb named Pointhouse Hellraiser ET which sold in a three-way split to Matthew Burleigh, Declan Robinson, and Andrew and Jamie McCutcheon, Bodoney Flock, Bodoney Road, Trillick. This Murrays Expert son is out of Artnagullion Enghantress, herself by Belvoir View Cadillac.

A few lots later, Hellraiser’s full brother, Pointhouse Hyper ET, sold to Patrick Brolly for his Munreary Flock on Forglen Road, Claudy, for 1400gns.

Further full brothers reached 820gns when Pointhouse Hard Head ET sold to Hugh and Eddie O’Neill, Lagyveagh Flock, Dickeystown Road, Glenarm, Ballymena, and 800gns when Pointhouse Henry ET sold to the Nicholsons’ Derryogue Flock.

The Nicholsons welcomed a further 1550gns for Derryogue Gentry, a Kingledores Emperor son that caught the eye of Colin Hamilton, Strabane Road, Castlederg. Gentry is bred from the Artnagullion Brass Balls daughter, Derryogue Cutie.

Andrew McCutcheon saw his two dearest, Bodoney GiGi and Bodoney Grenade realise 625gns and 620gns, both of which offered different breeding. GiGi, which sold to Stephen Reilly, Creevy, Roscommon, is out of the Hackney Wonderboy-sired Bodoney Daisy and by Edendiack Dancer.

The Ryder DIY-sired Bodoney Grenade is out of Lurg Elspeth, a Bailey Brook CR7 daughter, and sold to T Lyons, Carriganima, Macroom.

Three shearling rams realised 600gns apiece including two unnamed Munreary entries from Patrick Brolly. First and selling to Paul Fegan, Drinn Road, Dromara, was by Burnside Winner Takes All, while the second was by Faughhill Detroit and knocked down to M Stewart, Craigmore Road, Blackhill, Coleraine.

The third at 600gns was John Harbinson’s Glenkeen Glacier ET, a Callacrag Wise Crack son from the flock on Ringsend Road, Limavady. The buyer was Seamus Corcoran, Creevy Quinn, Roscommon.

 

Averages: 35 shearling rams, £520 (20 x £598 in 2021); eight ram lambs, £971 (10 x £530); 17 shearling ewes, £651 (14 x £608); one ewe lamb, £420 (5 x £374).

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