The 10th Annual Production Sale of Suffolk Sheep for Annakisha/Blackwater/Clyda, Barrowlands and Castleisle/Shannagh with guest consignments from Glyde, Malinhead and Finnvale flocks met with a very lively trade at Blessington Mart when they went under the hammer of John Doyle on Saturday, 9th of November 2019.
The quality of females on offer was testament to the high standard of sheep expected from these top flocks where the best of bloodlines in the breed were on offer and proved that, despite the uncertainity in farming due to Brexit, there is strong demand amongst Suffolk breeders for quality Suffolks.
The sale topper was a strong gimmer, the property of Andrew Wilson, of the Castleisle flock and out of a top female line. The dam is sister to the 16,000 gns. ram lamb sold earlier this year to Birness and Strathbogie flocks in Scotland. By Lakeview Armani and scanned in lamb to the 20,000gns. Castleisle Kilteskin Prince she was knocked down to Darragh McMenamin of the Mullinvale flock for 4,200gns. Andrew also received 3,200gns. for another ET sister in lamb to Castleisle Kilteskin Prince. This one was knocked down to Philip Lynch of the Glyde flock in Co. Louth, who earlier in the sale sold a strong pen of gimmers.
Richard Wilson received 2,200 gns. for his top shearling ewe in lamb to the 40,000gns. Limestone Aston Martin. Richard also received 2,000gns. for another Armani daughter in lamb to Ballynacannon Royal Flush. The Wilsons had an average of 1,400 euro for their 21 gimmers forward.
The O’Keeffe’s also made a worthwhile journey to Blessington selling their top two gimmers for 2,000gns each. Arthur’s Annakisha flock received 2,000gns. for a Birness Coulter daughter,in lamb to Castleisle Kilteskin Prince which was purchased for 20,000gns. at Stirling earlier in the year. The Clyda flock of Susan O’Keeffe received 2,000 gns. for a Clyda Impeccable daughter also in lamb to Castleisle Kilteskin Prince. This one caught the eye of Richard Wilson of the Shannagh flock.
While European and Northern Ireland buyers were amongst the purchasers it was breeders from Southern Ireland who dominated resulting in a buoyant trade with nearly 100% clearance with a sale average of 990 euro. Over 20 lots sold for 1,000gns.or over which was testament to the quality of sheep on offer.
The 11th Annual Sale will be held at Blessington Mart on Saturday 14th of November,2020 where all sheep are eligible for export.
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.
This year’s flock competition was judged by the highly respected Suffolk breeder, Mr Andrew Wilson , of the Castleisle Flock, Donegal. The South of Ireland competition was held in conjunction with the Suffolk Society Flock competition this year. Eamonn Duffy had a very successful year, winning the overall trophy for best flock in Ireland. This is the second year in a row that Eamonn has lifted the South of Ireland branch trophy, and the Kells Flock also featured strongly in the 2018 Society competition lifting the Brook Perpetual Challenge Cup for the best flock of over 100 ewes, competing against flocks from Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales.
2018 was a challenging year in every way with weather conditions not very favourable for the breeder. Lambing time proved difficult with stock having to be housed for longer than normal and with delay’s getting stock out to grass.
The first outing for the Suffolk Sheep Society was the National Sheep Championships which was this year in Kilkenny as part of the NSA on June 9th. I would like to congratulate our members Coote Geelan, Kennith Bailey and Garth Graham who were among the prize winners.
The calendar for the club opened this year on 7th July with the Club Championships being held at the “ Sheep 2018 Farm to Fork “run by Teagasc of Athenry . This event was a great shop window to show case Suffolk’s and the high standard of Suffolk’s that are available from our members here in the West of Ireland. Kennith Baileys aged ewe was champion with Mattie & Kevin Kelly’s ram lamb as reserve. Congratulations both.
The south of Ireland premier was held once again in Roscrea and once again the west was well represented in the line-up for rosettes. I would like to congratulate all members who took part.
The 2018 sales opened with the West’s premier show and sale in Roscommon in early August. Johnathan Lucas from Killygorden, Donegal was the appointed judge .His choice on the day for champion was the winner of the ram lamb open class which came from the Benwiskin flock with the 1st prize winner in the Reordered class taking reserve champion from Priorview flock.
Our final show and sale for 2018 was also in Roscommon and with a large entry. John Doherty from Malinhead Donegal choose the 1st place open ram class winner from Benwiskin Suffolk’s as champion with Mattie & Kevin Kelly Summerhill Suffolk’s Galway taking reserve champion with their 1st prize winner in the recordered class.
Congratulations to all who took part in our shows this year and look forward to seeing you all back in 2019.
