Page 85 - Yearbook 2020

Branch reports

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland

> Ewe Sale Champion from William
By Orla Butler, Secretary Montgomery sold for 3,200gns to
Stephen Sufferin, Crewelands Flock.
Pictured with Judge Mark Priestley and > First prize shearling ewe and supreme champion from Dennis Taylor
Ian Donald > 2020 NI Branch committee members at the Northern Ireland Branch Championships

he Northern Ireland Branch saw many highs and successful Limestone flock owner Mark Priestley took the Supreme Champion Ballynacannon flock of Dennis Taylor as his Champion on the day. selling to Rodney Blair for 1,500gns.
achievements in 2019. Members led the way with numerous coveted title at the Royal Ulster Agricultural Show with his William and Stephanie Tait’s prizewinning aged ram scooped the Suffolks were in high demand at our September sale. Co. Antrim
Tsuccesses at home and across the UK. outstanding Limestone Aston Martin sired ram lamb. Mark’s ram reserve champion prize. flock owners David and Andrew McNeilly took the champion title
Evidence of this were the fantastic achievements at Shrewsbury lamb also took Reserve Supreme Interbreed Champion and also Isabella Taylor and Neale Fleming both took 1st prize rosettes in with their Solwaybank Titan bred lamb realising 550gns. They also
& Stirling. NI members dominated at both these shows and sales. Reserve Interbreed Shortwool champion of the show. the Young Handler competition in their relevant age sections. Stock sold lambs to 1,000gns & 520gns respectively. Sale prices peaked at
Stephanie and William Tait took Reserve Champion at Shrewsbury Alastair Barkley, NI Branch Vice Chairman judged the annual Flock Judging was also highly successful with Isabella Taylor taking the 1,600gns when Bessiebell flock owners Jack and Emma Smyth topped
with their Strathbogie I’m Invincible sired ram lamb selling to Competition and the results were announced at the NI Branch’s David Duncan Perpetual Shield. the sale with their Pennan Prelude bred ram. The Bessiebell flock also
6,600gns. Crewelands flock owner Stephen Sufferin took Male Annual Hog Roast Event where Patrick Donnelly claimed the Next up was the Premier Show and Export Sale where Mark went on to sell two more top priced lambs at 1,300gns and 1,100gns.
Champion and overall champion at Stirling with his Birness Playboy Champion flock and Alastair Gault took the Reserve Champion title. Priestley took top honours when his Strathbogie Stradivarius sired Our annual dinner dance and presentation of trophies was held in
sired ram going on to sell for 26,000gns. Whilst Mark Priestley’s Congratulations must also go to Dennis Taylor, Ballynacannon flock lamb clinched the Supreme Champion title going on to sell for Dunsilly Hotel, Antrim in October. An added feature was the draw
Limestone Aston Martin sired lamb was declared Reserve Champion. who won the Bristol Gold Cup for Champion flock in the National 7,800gns to Gary Owen of the Morris Flock. Philip Gurney took for our Quad Trailer raffle. Stephen Toye was the envied winner.
The novice class was also dominated by NI Branch members with Flock Competition judged by Iain Barbour. Reserve Champion with his Lomondview Legacy sired ram selling Congratulations to Stephen and thank you to all who supported the
Jack and Alfie Moses placed first. The Northern Ireland Branch were represented at the NSA Event in for 1,000gns to John Oakman, Co. Westmeath. Other top prices raffle. The Branch made a donation to MacMillan Cancer Support
The young breeders of the future also led the way at Stirling early July which was held at Ballymena Market. Thank you to all who included a Limestone Aston Martin sired lamb from Mark Priestley from the proceeds of the raffle at our AGM in December.
with Young Deon Fleming clinching first in the Young Handlers helped in any way at this event where the focus was on the appeal selling for 2,700gns to joint purchasers Judge Martin Doherty and The year ended on a real high with our ewe sale achieving a 94%
Competition. of the Suffolk to the commercial farmer. Sean & Jane McCloskey of the Glenroe flock. A Birness Buckshot clearance. Congratulations to William Montgomery, who had earlier
First up in the Suffolk calendar earlier in the year was the Spring The NI Branch Championships were held at Armagh Show bred ram from the Braeburn flock of Adam Porter selling to in the year celebrated his 90th birthday, on receiving the champion
Lamb competition when Ian Dodds was presented the winning where Iain Barbour of the Solwaybank flock chose an impressive 1,700gns to John Oakman, Co. Westmeath and a Ballynacannon rosette from Judge Mark Priestley with his shearling ewe going on to
rosette in the Suffolk cross class, going on to take Champion. Ballynacannon Discovery sired shearling ewe belonging to the Taylor Made ram from the Crewelands flock of Stephen Sufferin sell for 3,200gns to Stephen Sufferin.

> Mark Priestley First Prize Ram Lamb and Supreme Champion
selling to 7,800gns to Gary Owen, Anglesea at the NI Branch
Premier Export Show & Sale

> U9 Young Handler Winners at the Northern Ireland Branch Championships

84 Suffolk Sheep Society Yearbook 2020 Suffolk Sheep Society Yearbook 2020 85