Pedigree and commercial breeders competed for the best of the stock on offer at Monday’s Irish Beltex Sheep Breeders Club Premier show and sale at Hilltown Farmers Mart where trade topped at £1260.
Following him at £850 was a shearling ram from Cynthia Aiken’s Carnew flock, Dromara. Mrs Aiken’s pen leader was Carnew Rocket, by Artnagullion Prince Charming II and out of Carnew Penny, a Headlind Lackey daughter. He was bought by Messrs Blair, Dungannon. This was closely followed by his pen mate, Carnew Rodeo, another shearling by the same sire and out of Carnew Pam, also by Headlind Lackey. He sold for £819 to Mark King, Castlewellan, leaving the Aiken’s with a pen average of £834.
Elizabeth McAllister’s Artnagullion flock then sold another shearling at £787. Taking this money was Artnagullion Ringleader an Artnagullion Playboy son out of Artnagullion Goody-2-Shoes by 34,000gns Tullygarley Elite. This one was knocked down to Mark King, Castlewellan.
Next best of the sale at £735 was a shearling from Matthew Burleigh’s Matt’s flock at Kinawley, Enniskillen. Matt’s Rebound is by Eskdale Lionheart and is out of Vestry Look at Her, a ewe by Airyolland Jester. He sold to David McLoughlin, Donegal.
Following that was Munreary R&D from the Munreary flock of Patrick Brolly, Claudy, at £714 to Messrs Jardine, Aughnacloy. This April-born shearling is by Ardstewart Messr sire and is out of Munreary Lascivious, a Bishopton Jake daughter. Another from the Burleigh pen sold for the same price, to Mr Gallinagh, Donegal. This time it was Matt’s Rocket, the second prize shearling ram also by Eskdale Lionheart and out of Burnside Kelly.
The show’s supreme champion, the first prize ram lamb from Matthew Burleigh, then traded at £630. Matt’s Stardust is another by Eskdale Lionheart and is out of Rocksolid Molly, a daughter of Rocksolid Knuckleduster and sold to Messrs Kearns, Southern Ireland.
Topping the female sales was a smart shearling ewe from the McAllister’s. Again by the 2012 Balmoral champion Clary Platform, Artnagullion Rita stood second in the shearling ewe class and is out of Artnagullion Janita, a Ulysses daughter and sold for £525 to J Ferguson, Newtownards.
Averages; aged rams £352, shearling rams £506.42, ram lambs £552, shearling ewes £318 (Hilltown Farmers Mart).
by 
