Northern Ireland Branch Premier Export Show and Sale – Ballymena 2021

Breed Record Smashed at Suffolk Sale

Date: 16th & 17th July 2021

Sponsor: Danske Bank

Auctioneer: JA McClelland and Sons Ltd.

The Suffolk breed record in NI was smashed three times and equalled twice such was the demand
for Suffolks throughout Ireland, UK & Europe at the recent Suffolk Sheep Society Northern Ireland
Branch Premier Export Show & Sale at Ballymena.

Leading Co. Antrim breeder, Alastair Gault, Forkins flock took the new breed record of 18,000gns with
a son of Birness Freedom out of a Forkins ewe by Forkins Fandango, sold in a three way split to Robin McAdoo, Threeways flock, Gary McAdoo, Knockadoo flock and Philip Lynch, Glyde flock.

The Premier Show and Sale was held over two consecutive days with Jason & Campbell Watson, Bannview flock clinching the Supreme Champion & Male Champion title with a son of Middlemuir Commander out of a Bannview ewe by Malinhead Jumping Jack before being knocked down to Judge Paul Delves for 6,000gns as a new addition to his Bridgeview flock.

With the inclusion of females this year Donbraid Flock owner Ian Donald took the red rosette in the
ewe lamb class and Overall Female Champion selling to 1,550gns to Tiago Graca, Portugal. Philip
Kennedy went on to take 2nd selling to 950gns to Steve Nee, Belgium, Rodney Blair 3rd also selling to
Steve Nee for 900gns.

The shearing ewe class saw Jason & Campbell Watson come out with the winning rosette and going
on to take the Reserve Female Champion award selling to 1,100gns to S Wasson, Co. Donegal. Patrick
McVerry took 2nd& 3rd selling to 1,600gns & 1,300gns respectively.

Next up the Gigot ram lamb class saw Co. Antrim breeder Brian McVicker of the Causeway flock paying
4,000gns for the 1st prize Salopian Scuderia sired lamb from the Burnview flock of Stephanie & William
Tait. Alastair Gault took 2nd with his Birness Freedom sired ram being knocked down to Robin & Gary McAdoo, and Philip Lynch for the breed record of 18,000gns. Jack Smyth took 3rd selling to E&J Gould, Coleraine for 4,400gns.
Meanwhile Philip Kennedy, Cavanagrove flock took 1st in the coveted Novice class selling to fellow Co.
Tyrone breeder Colm McAleer for 2,000gns. 2nd Andrew Wilson selling to 1,500gns to C Storder,
France & 3rd Michael Smyth, TheVews selling to 15,000gns to Seamus Browne of the Errigal flock Co.
Donegal.

In soaring temperatures and with an impressive line up of ram lambs Delves had a difficult task ahead
to select his winner but Bannview flock owners Jason & Campbell Watson came out on top to secure
the winning rosette going on to take Overall Supreme Champion with their Middlemuir Commander
sired lamb and selling to Judge Paul Delves for 6,000gns. Stephen Sufferin of the Crewelands flock
went on to take 2nd and Reserve Overall Champion with his Solwaybank Champion sired lamb changing
hands for 12,000gns to Birness flock owner G Stuart & Craig Patterson, Cranorskie flock,
Aberdeenshire & 3rd S&W Tait a Strathbogie Joel sired lamb sold to C Storder, France for 14,000gns.
The pen of three honours went to the Oakbridge flock of Philip Gurney with Lesley & Mervyn Liggett
& Alastair Gault runners up.

This year also seen the introduction of two Young Handler classes. Lara Taylor took the winning
rosette in the U14 class, 2nd Jack Moses, 3rd Neale Fleming. U18 saw Sam Lucas take the red rosette,
Anna Taylor 2nd and Christopher McClurig 3rd. Congratulations to everyone who took part, great to
see such enthusiasm with upcoming Suffolk Young breeders. As mentioned earlier in the report the breed record was smashed three times and equalled twice.

Leading Prices on the day:

A Gault 18,000gns sold in a three way split to Robin McAdoo, Threeways flock, Co. Tyrone, Gary McAdoo, Knockadoo flock, Co. Tyrone & Philip Lynch, Glyde Flock, Co. Louth
W Smyth 15,000gns sold to Seamus Browne, Errigal flock, Co. Donegal
S&W Tait 14,000gns sold to C Storder, France
S&W Tait 13,000gns sold in a three way split to Martin & Eoin Butler, Castlewood flock, Co. Antrim,
Danny McKay, Rowandale flock, Co. Antrim & Michael McNally, Benedyglen flock, Co. Derry
PDW Taylor 13,000gns sold to Norman Robinson, Benrafton flock, Co. Down & Tommy Feeney,
Drumbarron flock, Co. Monaghan

S Sufferin 12,000gns sold to G Stuart, Birness flock, Aberdeenshire & Craig Patterson, Cranorskie flock,
Aberdeenshire.
PDW Taylor 11,000gns sold to Stev Nee, Belgium
M Priestley 9,000gs sold in a four way split to A Barkley, Blackbrae flock, Co. Antrim, Andrew Wilson,
Castleisle flock, Co. Donegal, David Duncan, Duncan’s flock, Co. Antrim & David Ford, Mullaghboy
flock, Co. Antrim
S Sufferin 7,500gs sold to Grant Brothers, Craigdoo flock, Co. Down & Dickson Brothers, Islandmoyle
Suffolks, Co. Down
A Barkley 7,500gns sold to RC&JC Watson, Bannview flock, Co. Antrim
A Gault 6,000gns sold to John McKay, Kirkview flock, Co. Antrim
RC&JC Watson 6,000gns sold to Paul Delves, Bridgeview Flock, Wales
A Gault 5,400gns sold to Stev Nee, Belgium
D Duncan 5,000gns sold to Patrick McVerry, Tullywinney flock, Co. Down & Anthony Patton,
Carrowmoney flock, Co. Down.
J Smyth 4,400gns sold to Elizabeth & James Gould, Ringsend flock, Co. Londonderry
P Kennedy 4,400gns sold to John Foster, Caslederg
S&W Tait 4,000gns sold to B McVicker, Causeway flock, Co. Antrim
Andrew Moses 3,800gns sold to P Murphy, Co. Kildare
M Smyth 3,600gns sold to J Dorran, Co. Sligo
M Priestley 2,700gns, sold to J Dufrane, France
P Donnelly 2,600gns sold to M Goldie, Harpercroft flock, Kilmarnock
Grant Bros 2,500gns sold to J Hanly, Co. Tipperary
A Wilson 2,300gns sold to J Moon, Carclinty flock, Co. Antrim
A Barkley 2,300gns sold to P Grant, Craigdoo flock, Co. Down
S Sufferin 2,400gns sold to S Toye, Boveedy flock, Kilrea
PDW Taylor 2,100gns, sold to B Roth, Tolgus flock, Cornwall
P Kennedy 2,000gns, sold to C McAleer, Kerrib flock, Co. Tyrone
S Sufferin 1,900gns sold to A Moses, Blackstown flock, Co. Antrim
M McNally 1,700gns sold to E Jeffery, Kilbeg flock, Co. Cork
N Daly 1,700gns sold to T Kavanagh, Co. Donegal
A Gault 1,700gns sold to G Powell, Shropshire
P Gurney 1,700gns sold to W Campbell, Co. Londonderry
A Wilson 1,700gns sold to S Nee, Belgium
D Ford 1,600gns sold to J Foster, Castlederg
S&R Turkington 1,600gns sold to J Lucas, Finnvale Flock, Co. Donegal
P McVerry 1,600gns sold to M Herron, Ballyward flock, Co. Down(shearling ewe) S&W Tait 1,600gns sold to R McWilliams, Co. Londonderry
I Donald 1,550gns sold to T Graca, Portugal (ewe lamb)
L&M Liggett 1,500gns sold to J Howard, North Yorkshire
S&M Maginnes 1,500gns sold to R Martins, Portugal
A Gault 1,500gns sold to Luis Rodrigues, Portugal
A Wilson 1,500gns sold to C Storder, France
D&A McNeilly 1,400gns sold to J Hegarty, Benhead Flock, Co. Antrim
R Gurney 1,400gns sold to A Diaz, Spain
PDW Taylor 1,400gns sold to P Coakley, Co. Cork
L Liggett 1,300gns sold to P Gallagher, Co. Donegal
P McVerry 1,300gns sold to A Hume, Cork (shearling ewe)
M Butler 1,300gns sold to S O’Connor, Islandmore flock, Co. Kerry
D Ford 1,300gns sold to J Cuffe, Co. Mayo
S&W Tait 1,300gns sold to A Simpson, Co. Tyrone
P Donnelly 1,300gns sold to B O’Donnell, Co. Donegal
N Daly 1,200gns sold to R McAdoo, Co. Tyrone
S Sufferin 1,200gns sold to M Murray, Aberdeenshire
R Gurney 1,200gns sold to G Douglas, Co. Londonderry
P Gurney 1,200gns sold to J Jennings, Co. Mayo
RC&JC Watson 1,100gns sold to S Wasson, Co. Donegal (shearling ewe)
S Sufferin 1,100gns sold to T Sousa, Portugal
S Sufferin 1,100gns sold to R Harron, Co. Donegal

The sale saw an 82% clearance with an average of £1,976 and 157 sheep sold.
This year also saw the introduction of Marteye with online biding very prevalent with over 60 lots sold
to SOI, UK & Europe.

Thank you to lead sponsors Danske Bank. Strabane Mills, Co. Tyrone who sponsored meal for 1st prize
winners in each of our classes.

Advertisers – Steele Farm Supplies, James Delargy Farm Supplies, Liggett Electronic Solutions, NFU Mutual, Donbraid Livestock Services, Smyths Daleside, United Feeds, Wilsons of Rathkenny & Natural Stockcare we appreciate your continued support.

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

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NI SUFFOLK BRANCH PREMIER SHOW RESULTS

Supreme Champion: RC&JC Watson

Reserve Champion: S Sufferin

Male Champion: RC&JC Watson

Reserve: S Sufferin

Female Champion: I Donald

Reserve: RC&JC Watson

Ewe lamb

1st Donald , 2nd P Kennedy, 3rd R Blair

Shearling ewe

1st RC&JCWatson, 2nd P McVerry, 3rd P McVerry

Gigot Ram Lamb

1st S&W Tait, 2nd A Gault, 3rd J Smyth

Novice Cup

1st P Kennedy, 2nd A Wilson, 3rd M Smyth

Ram Lamb

1st RC&JC Watson, 2nd S Sufferin, 3rd S&W Tait

Group of 3

1st P Gurney, 2nd L&M Liggett, 3rd A Gault

Female Champion: I Donald Reserve: RC&JC Watson


Young Handlers
U14
1st Lara Taylor 2nd Jack Moses 3rd Neale Fleming
U18
1st Sam Lucas 2nd Anna Taylor 3rd Christopher McClurig

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