logo

2nd Annual Omagh Show and Sale

Omagh 2nd Annual Dorset Show and Sale

 omaghSale2017 champ
Mark Crawford (Sponsor Farmcare Products) with Allister Moore and 
Daughter Rachel and the Judge Seamus Mullan with the Champion

omaghSale2017 resCh
Mark Crawford (Sponsor Farmcare Products) with Thomas Wright and the
Judge Seamus Mullan with the Reserve Champion

The 2nd Annual Show & Sale of NI Horn & Poll Dorset Sheep Breeders Club, kindly sponsored by Top Flock, represented by Mr Mark Crawford, was held in Omagh Livestock Mart on Friday 18th August.

This Show & Sale, still relatively new to Omagh, attracted an entry of 88 pedigree sheep, and the continuing popularity of the Breed was reflected in the interest shown by the large turnout of people interested in establishing a Dorset Flock or indeed adding to their existing Pedigree Flock. It can be said at the outset that the N I Dorset Club Committee was very pleased with the interest that this event has attracted and it is anticipated that its importance in the Dorset Sales Calendar will grow and develop year on year.

The earlier part of the day was given over to the judging of the five different Classes and this was ably accomplished by Judge Mr Seamus Mullan of the Islaharnan Flock, Armoy. There was keen competition amongst the exhibitors in the various Classes which saw strong entries in both the Ram Lamb and Ewe Lamb Classes. Following careful consideration the Judge found his Supreme Champion in a strong Shearling Ram from the Bannside flock of Rachel Moore. This well formed ram was sired by Sandleford Thunder off a Bendorragh dam and he later went on to sell for 450 guineas, being purchased by Mr Grey, Ballinamallard.

The top price of the sale was achieved by the Reserve Champion, an outstanding ram lamb bred by Thomas Wright of the noted Ballytaggart Flock. This superbly bred lamb, sired by Ballytaggart Tonka, went on to sell for 720 gns having been purchased by A Reid, Fintona.

Top priced female of the Sale went to an eye catching ewe lamb from the pen of J & C Robson of the Ballyhamage Flock. This fine Manor Croft Utopia offering selling for 320 gns was knocked down to M Keys of the Rathwarren Flock, Fintona.

Other leading prices : T Wright 340 Gns ( Ram lamb to A Dodd, Saintfield ); M Keys 340 gns ( Ram lamb to A Sloane, Dromore. Co Tyrone ); T Wright 320 gns ( Ram lamb to A Dodd, Saintfield ); K Thompson 300 gns ( Ewe lamb to A Sloane, Dromore. Co Tyrone ); K Thompson 300 gns ( Senior ewe to A Doherty, Drumquin).

There was a high clearance of Sales in all Classes, with females in particular being in strong demand, and Sale Averages were:
Class One Ram Lambs : £ 362
Class Two Shearling Rams: £ 472
Class Four Ewe Lambs: £ 212
Class Five Shearling Ewes: £ 214
Class Six Senior Ewes: £ 315

The Judge Mr Mullan, in addition to selecting the Champions in each Class, had the task of selecting the prizewinners in each Section and these were as follows:

Ram Lamb – 1st T Wright, 2nd S & S Lyons, 3rd T Wright, 4th A Knox, 5th J & C Robson, 6th M Keys
Shearling Ram- 1st R Moore, 2nd C Johnston, C, D & J Knox
Ewe Lamb- 1st J & C Robson, 2nd A Dodd, 3rd A Dodd, 4th J & C Robson, 5th R & F McKeown, 6th A Dodd
Shearling Ewe- 1st A & K Johnston, 2nd A Dodd, 3rd A & K Johnston, 4th A Dodd, 5th A Dodd
Senior Ewe- 1st K Thompson, 2nd K Thompson
Supreme Champion- R Moore
Reserve Overall Champion- T Wright

The Club would wish to record its’ appreciation to Top Flock for sponsoring this event and many thanks to Mr Mark Crawford who represented the firm and awarded the Top Flock prizes to the Class winners. Many thanks to Mr Seamus Mullan for his judging of the Classes and many thanks also to Omagh Mart Livestock Centre for facilitating the event.

The NI Dorset Club would wish to commend the Breed for its qualities, both in the pedigree sector and its ease of lambing, fast growth rates and ease of finishing, achieving consistently top grades in the commercial sector. The next sale organised by NI Dorset Club members will be held in J A McClelland & Sons Livestock Mart, Ballymena on Monday 2nd October, with the Show at 5.00pm and Sale commencing at 6.30pm. This Sale will be the final opportunity in 2017 for new and established Breeders to purchase top quality stock.

omaghSale2017 champAndRes
Mark Crawford (Sponsor Farmcare Products) with
the Champion and Reserve Champion