Beltex Champions

Category	Breed	Breeder Name
Pair of Lambs		M Burleigh
Group of Three		E McAllister
Male Champion	Shearling Ram	E McAllister
Female Champion	Aged Ewe	E McAllister
Ewe Lamb Champion		A McCutcheon
Ram Lamb Champion		K Preston
Supreme Champion	Aged Ewe	E McAllister
Reserve Supreme	Shearling Ewe	K Preston

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Artnagullion Bellefire ET, a ewe having reared lambs in 2019 from the Kells-based Artnagullion flock of Elizabeth McAllister, won the Irish Beltex Sheep Breeders Club’s National Show, held at the Omagh Show.

The Supreme Champion ewe, sired by Ardstewart Armani and out of Artnagullion Willa, a home-bred ewe, went on to lift the Inter-breed Championship title at Omagh Show and was one of Elizabeth McAllister’s Group of Three that also took Inter-breed honours.

Elizabeth had further success with her shearling ram, Artnagullion Domino, which won its class and went on to be named Male Champion. Sired by Tercrosset Blaze, his dam is Artnagullion Winner ET, an Irish National winner back in 2015.

The Reserve Champion title went to Kenny and Janice Preston’s shearling wwe, Glenpark Dream Girl, and they also won the ram lamb class born before the 1^st March, 2019 with Glenpark El Dorado ET.

Meanwhile, the ram lamb class born on or after 1^st March 2019 was won by Matthew Burleigh from Kinawley who also won the ewe lamb class born before 1^st March 2019. Matthew also won the Pair of Lambs class. Kenny Preston’s ram lamb, Glenpark El Dorado ET, was tapped out as Champion Ram Lamb.

The ewe lamb class born on or after 1^st March 2019 was won by Andrew McCutcheon from Trillick. His Bodoney El Dorado ET went on to be named Champion Ewe Lamb.

In the Young Handlers classes, Hayley Mackey from Lisburn won the Pre-School class, Anna Grace Loughery from Limavady was the Primary School class winner and Eoghan O’Neill from Glenarm was the Intermediate School class winner.

Judging was carried out by Andrew Dunlop of the Broughton Flock, Biggar, Lanarkshire, who was very impressed with the overall standard right across the board.

Commenting on his choice of Supreme Champion, Andrew said: “The ewe was a fantastic example of a Beltex, she was very correct, with terrific carcase conformation and adding that to her lovely presence in the ring made her a stand-out winner for me.

“Then for her to go on and win the Inter-breed, as well as being part of the winning Inter-breed group, was a fantastic result for our Beltex breed.

“The Reserve Champion was the winning gimmer in a very strong class. She was a real deep bodied, great handling girl, again with a lovely show presence.

“It was a real pleasure to judge the Irish National Show and I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Tyrone Farming Society for their first class hospitality.”