Priestley wins Premier Export Show and Sale supreme title

LEADING County Down breeder Mark Priestley, Limestone Flock, took the Supreme Champion title at the recent Northern Ireland Premier Ex-port Sale, selling to 10,000gns with a son of Howgillfoot Batman in a two-way split to County Down breeders Patrick Grant, Craigdoo flock, and Brian Dickson, Islandmoyle flock.

The Premier Show & Sale was held over two consecutive days with Gerry Killilea of the Carragh flock, County Galway, being the judge on the day.

There was a large entry of females this year with Sean and Jane McCloskey taking the red rosette in the ewe lamb class and Reserve Female Champion selling for 2000gns

to Martin and Eoin Butler, of the Castlewood flock, Ballymena.

Campbell and Jason Watson went on to take second, selling to D Dijhuizzen, Netherlands, for 800gns, Ian Donald third, selling to Martin Brown, County Fermanagh, for 700gns.

The shearling ewe class saw Jason and Campbell Watson come out with the winning rosette and going on to take the Female Champion award, selling to 3000gns to J Dijhuizzen, Netherlands. Patrick McVerry took second, selling to 1200gns to John McConaghie, Ballymena, and Philip Kennedy third, selling to G Silva, Portugal, for 850gns.

The shearling ram class saw Andrew Moses take first, selling to Fergal Rooney, Rostrevor, for 1700gns with Mark Priestley taking second, selling to Tiago Graca, Portgual, for 900gns, and AJ & NAJ Robinson third, also selling to Tiago Graca, Portugal, for 700gns.

Next up, the Gigot ram lamb class saw County Fermanagh breeder Keith Johnston, of the Rossbrook flock, paying 1700gns for the first prize Crewelands Red Bull sired lamb from the Ballyncannon flock of Dennis Taylor.

Stephanie and William Tait took second with their Bridgeview Boots sired ram being knocked down to D McLean, County Antrim, for 1000gns, and Patrick McVerry took third, selling to Robin McAdoo, Threeways flock, Cookstown, for 2000gns.

Meanwhile, Susan O’Keeffe, Clyda flock, took first in the coveted Novice class, selling to fellow County Louth breeder Philip Lynch of the Glyde flock for 10,000gns. Second was Richard Thompson and third Andrew Wilson, selling to 800gns to William Smyth, Limavady, for 800gns.

With an impressive line-up of ram lambs, Killilea had a difficult task ahead to select his winner but Limestone flock owner Mark Priestley came out on top to secure the winning rosette, going on to take Overall Supreme Champion with his Howgillfoot Bat Man sired lamb selling to Patrick Grant and Brian Dickson for 10,000gns.

Alastair Barkley, of the Blackbrae flock, went on to take second and Reserve Overall Champion with his Blackbrae Black Label sired lamb changing hands for 10,000gns to Annakisha flock owners Arthur and Patrick O’Keeffe, County Cork. Third was Ian Donald with a Strathbogie Joel sired lamb, sold to Brian Doyle, County Wickow, for 5,000gns.

The pen of three honours went to the Burnview flock of Stephanie and William Tait, with Campbell and Jason Watson and Mark Priestley runners up.

In the Young Handler classes Noah Taylor took the winning rosette in the U14 class, 2nd Isabella Taylor, 3rd Caoimhe Dickson. U18 saw Joseph Trimble take the red rosette, Beth Cousins 2nd and Neale Fleming 3rd. Congratulations to everyone who took part.

Marteye online bidding was very prevalent at the sale with over 50 lots sold to the Republic of Ireland, Great Britain and mainland Europe.

Thanks go to lead sponsors Danske Bank. Also Strabane Mills, County Tyrone, which sponsored meal for first prize winners in each of the classes. Advertisers were Agrikit, NFU Mutual, Jayne Tannahill Livestock Care, Donbraid Livestock Services, AB Europe, United Feeds, Liggett Electronic Solutions, Wil-

sons of Rathkenny and Natural Stockcare.

A word of thanks also to all the staff of Ballymena Livestock Mart, Fraser Tweed, the Veterinary Inspector, John Hegarty, steward, and Alfie Shaw, Agriimages, and everyone who made the show and sale a success.

Leading Prices on the day:

n M Priestley 10,000gns to Grant Patrick Grant, Craigdoo Flock, and Brian Dickson, Islandmoyle flock, Co Down;

n A Barkley 10,000gns to Arthur & Patrick O’Keeffe, Annakisha Flock, Co. Cork;

n S O’Keeffe 10,000gns to Philip Lynch, Glyde Flock, Co. Louth;

n J Smyth 9,500gns to John Elliott, Kelso;

n S&W Tait 9,000gns to D&S McKay, Rowandale Flock, Ballymena;

n S O’Keeffe 6,800gns to John Molloy, Co. Donegal;

n M Priestley 5,500gns to Stephen Lowry, Fourscore Flock, Co. Antrim;

n I Donald 5,000gns to Brian Doyle, Co. Wicklow;

n B Dickson 4,600gns to John McKay, Kirkview Flock, Co. Antrim;

n I Donald 3,300gns to Brian McVicker, Causeway Flock, Co. Antrim;

n K Johnston 3,000gns to Stephen Sufferin, Crewelands Flock, Maghera

n RC&JC Watson 3,000gns to J Dijkuizen, Netherlands (shearling ewe);

n J Smyth 2,800gns to Dwayne Hopkins, Co. Carlow;

n S Sufferin 2,800gns to Charlotte Storder, Belgium;

n I Donald 2,100gns to S Roels, Belgium;

n D Taylor 2,000gns to Jan De Roock, Belgium;

n P McVerry 2,000gns to R McAdoo, Threeways Flock, Cookstown;

n J&M Maginnes 2,000gns to Charlotte Storder, Belgium;

n S&& McCloskey 2,000gns to Martin & Eoin Butler, Castlewood Flock, Co. Antrim (ewe lamb);

n A Wilson 1,850gns to George Powell, Myddle Flock, Shropshire;

n B Dickson 1,700gns to Mark Grealy, Co. Galway;

n B Dickson 1,700gns to Ian Donald, Donbraid flock, Co. Tyrone;

n D Taylor 1,700gns to Keith Johnston, Rossbrook flock, Co. Fermanagh;

n P McVerry 1,700gns to Jonathan McKelvey, Munie Flock, Co. Tyrone;

n A Moses 1,700gns to Fergal Rooney, Rostrevor (Shearling ram);

n P Gurney 1,600gns to D McKeeman, Co. Antrim;

n S&J McCloskey 1600gns to J Brilly, Mooretown flock, Co. Kildare.

The sale saw a 76% clearance with 152 sheep sold in total.

Ram Lambs: 122 sold, average £1,458, 72% clearance

Shearling Ewes: 13 sold, average £1,025, 100% clearance

Ewe Lambs: 12 sold, average £849, 92% clearance

Shearling Rams: 5 sold, average £1,040 100% Clearance

SHOW RESULTS

Ewe lamb – 1st S&J McCloskey; 2nd RC&JC Watson; 3rd I Donald.

Shearling Ewe – 1st RC&JC Watson; 2nd P McVerry; 3rd P Kennedy.

Shearling Ram – 1st A Moses; 2nd M Priestley; 3rd AJ&NAJ Robinson.

Commercial Gigot Ram Lamb – 1st D Taylor; 2nd S&W Tait; 3rd P McVerry.

Novice Cup – 1st S O’Keeffe; 2nd R Thompson; 3rd A Wilson.

Ram Lamb – 1st M Priestley; 2nd A Barkley; 3rd I Donald.

Group of three – 1st S&W Tait; 2nd RC&JC Watson;3rd M Priestley.

Female Champion – RC&JC Watson; reserve – S&J McCloskey.

Male Champion – M Priestley; reserve – A Barkley.

Supreme Champion – Mark Priestley; Reserve – Alastair Barkley.

Young Handlers

U14 – 1st Noah Taylor; 2nd Isabella Taylor; 3rd Caoimhe Dickson; 4th Lara Taylor; 5th Reuben McNeilly.

U18 – 1st Joseph Trimble; 2nd Beth Cousins; 3rd Neale Fleming.