2019 was an unusual for all us breeders with the breakaway group setting up their own championships and sales. As always our club members could be counted upon to help out at society events wherever required. Society Championships at Kilkenny saw several club members showing successfully with Colin Watchorn coming 2nd and 3rd in the novice ram lamb class and John Gahan coming 2nd with his ewe lamb in novice class.
Once again we gave a voucher to the Tullow Ewebreeders for €100 towards as ram at our club sales. This voucher was won by Peter Behan, Tinnahely Wicklow at the Ewe lamb pairs competition.
The Premier Sale in its new venue in Blessington saw several of our members both showing and selling well with Sean Durkin, John & Esther Gahan and J & J Corcoran all picking up Rosettes.
Our Premier Sale in Tullow was judged by Edward Jeffery from the Kilbeg Flock. He award Champion sheep to Brain and Gus Doyle for a stylish rams by Cairness Liam. This lamb had earlier won the Recorded Class. Reserve Champion went to John & Esther Gahan ram lamb by Glyde Rodeo .
Our Second Show and Sale was judged by Rodney Deacon. Alan Stanley’s ram lamb by Clyde Daredevil first won the Recorded class and then went on to become Champion .Oliver Deane had the Reserve Champion with a lamb by Rookery Apollo who had earlier won the Open Class. The bidding was brisk for this sheep with the hammer coming down at €750 which was the highest price on the day.
There was considerable interest in our promotion for €50.00 Vouchers sponsored by Quinns of Baltinglass and farmers happily filled in their own selection of which sheep would be champion.
Club Members were delighted with our Chairman Colin Watchorn winning the South of Ireland section of the Flock Competition. A wonderful day was enjoyed by all who attended Colin’s open day.
Prize Winners from our club sales: Brian Doyle, and Alan Stanley with club chairman Colin Watchorn
Champion sheep at Eastern Suffolk Club Premier Ram Sale 2019 from Brian and Gus Doyle’s Kilmacoo Flock
September Show & Sale Champion Alan Stanley Judge Rodney Deacon Reserve Champion Oliver Deane
Thanks to the very generous sponsorship of Suffolk Sheep Society we were once again able to sponsor vouchers towards purchase of Suffolk ram at any of our sales for Suffolk/ Cheviot Ewe Lamb Class at Tullow Ewe Breeders Club Competition. This proves a good opportunity to meet commercial farmers who will be our customers at our Club ram sales. We were pleased this year to welcome Brian & Gus Doyle as new Club Members.
The National Championships were held this year in the Hub in Cillian Hill, Kilkenny. Congratulations to the Club Members who exhibited at this event and especially to all who won Rosettes. Congratulations to John Stacey coming 1st in the Novice Ram Lamb class and 3rd in the Open Ram Lamb class, to Aeron Kealy for coming 1st in Novice Ewe Lamb Class and to Colin Watchorn on taking 2nd prize in this class also and also 5th prize in Novice Ram Lamb Class.
At Premier Show & Sale Roscrea 2018, Club members picked up some rosettes in the show and were active at the sale both selling and buying. Congratulation to John & Esther Gahan winning 2nd and 4th prize for their Shearling Ewes, Colin Watchorn winning 3rd prize in Ewe lamb Class, 3rd in Novice Ram lamb class and 5th in Open Ram Lamb Class and J & J Corcoran winning 4th prize in Novice Ram Lamb .We may be only a small club but we had 8 members showing and selling at Premier Sale.
At our club Premier Show & Sale in Tullow Judge Padraig Murphy from the Murbro Flock awarded Champion Sheep to a very strong shearling ram exhibited by Colin Watchorn. This ram sired by Cairness Temptation had earlier won the Shearling Class. Reserve Champion went to Alan Stanley for his ram lamb by Glyda Dare Devil winner of the Recorded Ram Lamb Class. Highest price of the day €800 went to John & Esther Gahan’s ram lamb by Ballynacanon Bale. Prices were up on average from 2017 prices.
Our 2nd Show & Sale was judged by Arthur O’Keeffe from Annakisha Flock. Champion Sheep went to Alan Stanley for his ram lamb by Glyda Dare Devil winner of the Recorded Class. Reserve Champion was awarded to John Stacey for his Open Class winner sired by Strathbogie Dynamite. Highest price of the sale went to Alan Stanley’s Champion selling to Pedigree Breeder Gabriel Conroy
Thanks very much to our two judges Padraig Murphy and Arthur O’Keeffe who took time out to judge our shows.
Having secured sponsorship from Quinns of Baltinglass it was agreed to spend some of the sponsorship money and banners and flyers. The banners were very impressive and made our presence known around the mart Premises on sales days.
A big thanks to our Chairman Jonathan who has put in a big effort promoting the club and to everyone who helped out at the sales.
Congratulation to the Club Members who entered Society Flock Competition 2018 which was judged by Andrew Wilson. Well done to all the winners:
Flock up to 30 Ewes – Reserve Flock – John & Esther Gahan – Barronstown Flock
Flock over 30 Ewes – Reserve Flock – S & S Gahan – Barrowlands Flock
Ewe lamb Class – Reserve – Colin Watchorn – Beechbrook Flock
Best Stud Rams – Winner of the Howard Peel Cup – S & S Gahan for Carragh Captivate
Many thanks to our customers for their continued support and congratulations to all our exhibitors for excellent standard of sheep presented at all our sales. Also a big thank you to Manager and Staff of Tullow Mart.
It was a great honour for our club to have Vera Roche one of the founder members of our Club recognised at Suffolk Hall of Fame Award in 2018. Vera along with her late husband Tom established the Roundwood Flock in 1962. Vera travelled all over Ireland to Shows with her Suffolk’s and was quite successful in the show ring.
