THE Northern Ireland Dorset Horn and Poll Breeders Club held its 6th Omagh Show and Sale on Friday, August 12, in Beattie’s Livestock Centre.
The event, kindly sponsored by Top Flock, attracted a particularly strong entry of sheep. With over 100 lots brought forward, there was an impressive selection of both males and females for purchasers to capitalise on.
Once again, show classes were well supported with a large turnout of quality sheep, giving judge Ellen McClure, Mountdale flock, plenty to decipher between. Coming out on top was winner of the ram class from Ben Lamb, Richhill, with his Ballytaggart Deluxe son Richhill Elite. This lamb exhibited power from front to back with character and correctness, making him a worthy winner. He later went on to fetch 1000gns, joining William McCracken in Loughgall.
Reserve champion and best opposite sex to champion was awarded to winner of the ewe lamb class, Richhill E1617, from Ben Lamb, making it a double success. This Richhill Bashful dau-ghter out of a homebred ewe showed fantastic presence, power, and style, deservingly receiving the top price of the day of 1400gns selling to James and Craig Robson, Doagh.
Demand remained strong across the board with the next highest price being 960gns for the second prize ewe lamb, again from Ben Lamb. Sired by Donard Bullet out of a Bencran ewe, this striking ewe lamb found its new home with William McCracken, Loughall.
Not far behind was Brian and Judith Moorhead for their
shearling ewe Briglands D134 who stood first place in the shearling ewe class. This eye-catching ewe sold scanned in-Iamb for 850gns to Ellen McClure, Dundrod.
Hot on her heels and both from the same home was a shearling ewe and ewe lamb, both smart Greenhill Calypso daughters. Briglands D167 fetched 650gns, selling to Matthew Kehoe, whilst another lot achieved 600gns, finding her new home across the water with Alec Steff, Manchester.
An excellent turnout of sheep resulted in a high clearance with strong aver-ages and other leading pr-
ices of the day were as follows: B Lamb 580gns to W McCracken, C McKeown 540gns to A&G Sloane, B&J Moorhead 520gns to A&G Sloane, B Lamb 500gns to W McCracken, B Lamb 500gns to L Crowther, B&J Moorhead 480gns to M Kehoe, S Lyons 420gns to W McCracken, M Hall 420gns to R McCaughern.
The Dorset breed continues to grow in strength, reflected by the success of club sales that are attracting buyers from far and wide, keen to avail of the tremendous opportunity that is Northern Irish Dorset genetics.
The club wishes to express its thanks to continued spon-
sor ‘Top Flock’ and represent-ative Mark Crawford, as well as Beattie’s Livestock Centre for its efficient running of the sale.
The next sale in the club calendar will be the 33rd Autumn Show and Sale to be held in Ballymena Livestock Mart on Monday, October 10.
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