Beltex Champions

Category	Breed	Breeder Name
Male Champion	1st Place Ram Lamb	G Beacom
Reserve Male Champion	2nd Place Ram Lamb	G Beacom
Female Champion	1st Place Shearling Ewe	C Johnston Farms Ltd
Reserve Female Champion	1st Place Aged Ewe	J Keys
Overall Champion	1st Place Ram Lamb	G Beacom
Reserve Champion	1st Place Shearling Ewe	C Johnston Farms Ltd

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Lakeview Leads the Way in Balmoral Beltex Championship

Claiming the Beltex Sheep Championship at Balmoral Show this year was a ram lamb, Lakeview Maximus, from Gary Beacom, Fivemiletown. Cumbrian breeder Brian Hall of Ainstable Flock was tasked with judging the Beltex classes. He was impressed by the ram lamb in a strong class before tapping him out as Male Champion and Overall Champion. Maximus is sired by LogieDurno Jack Daniel, a 20,000gns joint purchase for the flock and Show Champion at the 2023Beltex Premier Sale in Carlisle. The homebred lamb is out of a 45,000gns Lurg Grand Slam ewe. Showing Beltex at Balmoral for the first time, Gary Beacom also picked up Champion Best Pair of Beltex lambs, Reserve Male Champion and second in the Ram Lamb class, as well as second placed Ewe Lamb. An impressive first outing for the Fermanagh breeder.

Hall’s Reserve Champion was the class-winning Shearling Ewe and Female Champion, Vicky’s Little Lady. As a ewe lamb, Little Lady was Reserve Female Champion at last year’s Balmoral Show and caught the eye of Chris Johnston who purchased her from John and Vicky Ferguson in the Carlisle Summer Sizzlers online sale. At £6,000 she was the top priced sheep across the five-breed sale last June. The Reserve Champion is by Swyffred Express and out of Vicky’s Jezzabelle. A newcomer to the breed, Chris, in partnership with Aly Shortt, also had a very memorable first Balmoral showing Beltex with his Johnstown Flock.

John and Vicky Ferguson from Comber won the first class of the day with their shearling ram. Vicky’s Little Dude is out of Vicky’s Jezzabell and sired by Woodies Hallmark. They were also Champion Best Group of Three, Reserve Champion Best Pair of Lambs and came second and third in the Shearling Ewe and Ram Lamb classes respectively. The Aged Ewe class was won by Bolies Khloe, who went on to win Reserve Female Champion. From Joshua Keys’ Bolies Flock she is sired by Cybi Glyndwr and out of Matt’s Gemstone. Elizabeth McAllister’s ewe lamb was top pick in her class.

Chairman Eddie O’Neill praised the show saying, “Once again, Balmoral Show proved to be an excellent start to the showing season for our club members. Everyone presented high-quality, well-prepared sheep that showcased the breed exceptionally well. Over the four days, it was wonderful to catch up with long standing friends and customers, and meet new faces interested in starting out with Beltex sheep, which is very encouraging for the future of the breed. We would like to thank Brian Hall for his judging and ABP for kindly sponsoring the Beltex classes.”