Beltex Champions

Category	Breed	Breeder Name
Pairs - Champion		John Ferguson
Pairs - Reserve		Micheal & Kile Diamond
Group of Three - Champion		Bodoney Farms Ltd
Group of Three - Reserve		John Ferguson
Male Champion	SDG. J723	Elizabeth McAllister
Reserve Male Champion	VIC. L039	John Ferguson
Female Champion	LIZ. K021	Elizabeth McAllister
Reserve Female Champion	VIC. L043	John Ferguson
Overall Champion	SDG. J723	Elizabeth McAllister
Reserve Overall Champion	LIZ. K021	Elizabeth McAllister

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Artnagullion Flock Does the Double in Balmoral Beltex Championship

The Beltex competition at Balmoral Show 2025 was a smashing success for Elizabeth McAllister, Artnagullion Flock, Kells, as she won both the Overall Champion and Overall Reserve Champion titles with her Aged Ram and Shearling Ewe respectively. The difficult task of judging fell to Yorkshire breeder Sue Wilkinson, Langlands Flock. The Overall Champion, Glenview Jeff, was a three-way 2,800 gns purchase between Elizabeth, Gary Beacom and Russell Smyton from Dungannon Show and Export Sale in August 2024. He came from Sean Daly’s Glenview Flock and was the standout half-brother to the Dungannon Champion, Glenview Jaguar. Glenview Jeff won his class and was Sue’s Male Champion before taking the overall Championship. He is sired by Ardstewart Galileo and is out of Glenview Eimear.

As well as winning Overall Beltex Champion at Balmoral for an impressive ninth time, the McAllister’s were also Reserve Champion this year. Artnagullion Kitty, a fine shearling lamb out of Artnagullion Hitty, is sired by Edendiack Hitman, an 14,000 gns purchase for the flock in 2022. The Reserve Champion is no stranger to rosettes having won her Ewe Lamb (born after 1 March) class at the Irish Beltex National Show, held at Omagh Show last July. Artnagullion’s Champion and Reserve had another chance to shine on the Friday of Balmoral, winning the Sheep Interbreed Pairs Championship.

John and Vicky Ferguson also had a great day at Balmoral, racking up multiple wins with their show team. The father and daughter duo of Vicky’s Flock took both the Reserve Male Champion and Reserve Female Champion with their class-winning Ram Lamb and Ewe Lamb respectively. The Ram Lamb, Vickys Limited Edition, is by Murrays Crackajack and out of Vickys Fawn, a homebred ewe out of Orkney Eurostar. The Ewe Lamb, Vickys Little Lady, is by Swyffred Express and out of Vickys Jezzabelle, their show gimmer last year. The Comber pair also won the Best Pair of Lambs and were Reserve in the Best Group of Three. As well as winning the Shearling Ram class and coming second in their winning Ram Lamb class, as well as taking second and third in the Ewe class. They also had success in the Sheep Interbreed Group of Three Championship, taking Reserve position on Friday.

Other notable wins include Andrew and Jamie McCutcheon, Bodoney Flock, picking up Champion Best of Group of Three and placing first in the Aged Ewe class. As well as Michale and Kile Diamond, Pointhouse Flock, taking Reserve Best Pair of Lambs, second in the Ewe Lamb class and third in the Ram Lamb class.

Speaking on Balmoral Show, Chairman Eddie O’Neill said, “As usual, Balmoral was a brilliant start to the showing season for our club members, who all brought quality, well turned-out sheep and did the breed proud. There were many conversations over the four days with friends and customers old and new, and show goers interested in getting started with Beltex, which is great to see. Thank you to Sue Wilkinson for diligently judging as well ABP for sponsoring the Beltex classes”.

Watch as Stephanie Ryder speaks to Libby Wilson.