It was the Champion from Elizabeth McAllister’s Artnagullion Flock that attracted the top price of 1800gns at the Irish Beltex Sheep Breeders Club’s offering at Dungannon Farmers Mart on Friday, 16 December.

That was her Artnagullion Gee-Gee which first headed up the shearling ewe classes before going on to take the Champion ticket and sell to Douglas Nisbet, Cassidys Road, Loughbrickland. Sired by Airyolland Eejit and bred from the Woodies Snoop Dog daughter, Artnagyllion Whizzy, Gee-Gee sold carrying a single to Glenview Goldie.

It was a good day’s trading for Libby, from near Kels, Ballymena, as she achieved the top four prices with her pen of four gimmers. Next best at 850gns when sold to J and M O’Connor, Tulnacross Road, Cookstown, was Artnagullion Goody-2-Shoes which offers some different breeding being by Rathbone Eagle Has Landed and out of Artnagullion Dera, this time by Artnagullion Billy Ray. She was scanned with a pair to Smart Ass Fair and Square.

Hitting 800gns when knocked down to James Mills, Starbog Road, Kilwaughter, Larne, was another by the Rathbone sire in the shape of Artnagullion Gara, which was this time out of the Ardstewart Worzel Gumidge daughter, Artnagullion Erin. She changed hands carrying a single to Smart Ass Fair and Square.

The Airyolland Eejit-sired Artnagullion G-String ET also sold to Douglas Nisbet, this time for 680gns and carrying a single to the Rathbone ram. Her dam is Artnagullion Water Lily, a Shogun daughter.

Matching that 680gns was Bodoney Gemini ET from Andrew and Jamie McCutcheon, Bodoney Road, Trillick. This Culsh Elvis daughter, which sold in lamb to Lurg Glaze, is out of Bodoney Echo, herself by Woodies Dominator. Forking out the cash was PJ Kerr, Killycooley, Emyvale, Monaghan

Michael Oliver, Tullinacurra, Swinford, paid 550gns for the Reserve Champion, a ewe lamb named Pointhouse Hope ET from Michael and Kile Diamond, Carhill Road, Garvagh. Her pedigree features Murrays Expert on to the Belvoir View Cadillac Jack-sired Artnagullion Enghantress.

Averages: One aged ewe, £252; 14 shearling ewes, £628; five ewe lambs, £460.