Beltex Champions

Champion Ram Lamb	1st Place Ram Lamb, born between Jan 1 and Feb	Andrew McCutcheon
Overall Male Champion	1st Place Ram Lamb, born between Jan 1 and Feb	Andrew McCutcheon
Reserve Male Champion	1st Place Ram, Two years old and upwards	Elizabeth McAllister
Champion Ewe Lamb	1st Place Ewe Lamb, born between Jan 1 and Feb 29	Elizabeth McAllister
Overall Female Champion	1st Place Ewe Shearling	Matthew Burleigh
Reserve Female Champion	1st Place Ewe Lamb, born between Jan 1 and Feb 29	Elizabeth McAllister
Overall Champion Lamb	1st Place Ewe Shearling	Matthew Burleigh
Overall Beltex Champion	1st Place Ewe Shearling	Matthew Burleigh
Reserve Beltex Champion	1st Place Ram Lamb, born between Jan 1 and Feb	ndrew McCutcheon

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Matt’s Jellybean Hits the Sweet Spot at Irish Beltex National Show

Matt’s Jellybean from Matthew Burleigh’s Kinawley-based Matt’s Flock won the Irish Beltex Sheep Breeders Club’s National Show, held at Omagh Show on Saturday, 6 July. The Shearling Ewe hit the spot for Lancaster judge Nick Brown, coming first in large class of sixteen and taking Female Champion, before being tapped out as Overall Champion. Sired by the 16,000 gns Muirton High and Mighty, she is homebred out of Matt’s Glassware. From a winning family, her great-grandmother, Matt’s Curious, picked up the same title in 2018. Matthew has had a brilliant run, claiming his sixth National Show Championship win with Matt’s Jellybean, at his only show of the season. The Champion Shearling Ewe will be heading to Carlisle for the Beltex Beauties Sale at the end of August.

In Reserve Champion spot was Andrew McCutcheon’s Ram Lamb, born between 1 January and 29 February. Bodoney King was sired by Matt’s Hellboy, a private purchase for the flock as a lamb in 2022, and he is out of Ardstewart Arrogento. There were multiple titles amassed on the day for Bodoney Flock’s Reserve Champion including Champion Ram Lamb, Champion Lamb and Male Champion. The McCutcheons also got first place rosettes for their Ram Lamb (born after 1 March) and Pair of Lambs, as well as coming second in the Group of Three, Shearling Ram and Aged Ewe classes.

Elizabeth McAllister also had a successful outing, winning both Reserve Male and Reserve Female Champion with her Aged Ram and Ewe Lamb (born between 1 Jan and 29 Feb) respectively. The Reserve Champion Female already had picked up Champion Ewe Lamb and Reserve Champion Lamb. The Arnagullion Flock also came first in the Ewe Lamb (born after 1 March) class and Group of Three, as well as second in the Shearling Ewe class.

Other notable wins included John and Victoria Ferguson, Vicky’s Flock, taking home Reserve Champion Ram Lamb, first place in the Aged Ewe class, and second in the Ewe Lamb (born after 1 March) and Pair of Lambs classes. As well as Bobby Porter, Major’s Bridge Flock, winning the Shearling Ram class and placing second in the Ram Lamb (born after 1 March) class.

The National Show was very well supported with a brilliant entry of Beltex sheep competing and showcasing the breed. Judge Nick Brown was impressed, commenting, “The size and quality of classes made judging difficult, especially the shearling ewe class. I thoroughly enjoyed the show, there were super sheep, a warm welcome and great hospitality.” His wife, Charlotte, also entered the showring and aptly judged the young handlers, saying, “It was brilliant to see the enthusiasm and skill of the young handlers, the older ones were evidently experienced stockmen and women. They were all a credit to the Irish Beltex Club.”

The Irish Beltex Sheep Breeders Club would like to extend their gratitude to Omagh Show, as well as sponsors Abbey Autoline, P&M McKenna, Shortts Feeds and Eco Eggshell.