2023 NATIONAL SUFFOLK CHAMPIONSHIPS TO TAKE PLACE ON JUNE 17TH

2023 NATIONAL SUFFOLK CHAMPIONSHIPS TO TAKE PLACE ON JUNE 17TH

The 2023 National Suffolk Championships will take place this year in conjunction with the SHEEP 2023 Event in Gurteen Agricultural College on June 17th.

This one day event will be the largest dedicated sheep event in Ireland in 2023 and follows on the successes of past events held at Teagasc, Athenry and UCD. It is being organised by five major stakeholders within the Sheep Industry – Bord Bia, Department of Agriculture, Food 7 the Marine, Irish farmers Journal, Sheep Ireland and Teagasc.

Suffolk Sheep Society – South of Ireland is delighted to be hosting our National Suffolk Sheep Championships at such a prestigious event. Top breeders from all around the country are already preparing their sheep to take part in one of the top events in the annual Suffolk calander. Competition is always fierce at the Championships and classes include Young Handler, Shearling Ewe, Aged Ewe, Shearling Ram and upwards, Ewe Lamb – trimmed and untrimmed, Ram Lamb and Novice Ewe and Ram Lamb classes.

Judge for the event is Mr. Martin Butler of the well known and respected Castlewood Flock in Northern Ireland.

2022 NSC Supreme Champion – Susan O’Keeffe, Shearling Ewe

Anticipation is building for this dedicated sheep event in the wake of a five-year Covid-19 enforced absence. The multi-faceted event has something to cater for all interests, as well as being an enjoyable family day out.

Upwards of 10 technical areas are planned, each with their own extensive programme incorporating workshops/practical demonstrations/short presentations, an opportunity for one-to-one dialogue and visual displays.

Technical topics at Sheep 2023 will include breeding and genetics, environment, flock health, forestry, grassland, health and safety, hill sheep, nutrition and organic farming.

There will also be a Wool Village, A Young Shepherd Competition, Sheep Breed Stands, A Sheep Dog training demonstration, cookery demonstrations by celebrity chef Mr Nevin Maguire, trade stands and much, much more.

So save the date and come along to what promises to be one of the best Agricultural events of the year!

Presentation of Prizes at Society AGM

Presentation of Prizes at Society AGM

Suffolk Sheep Society AGM

The Suffolk Sheep Society recently held its AGM in Tullamore.

The meeting was Chaired by outgoing Chairman Mr Dan O’Mahony who welcomed all the attendees. Mr O’Mahony thanked the Committee for all their hard work during the year. He re-iterated that much had been achieved in 2022 and he mentioned the fact that the Society is attracting many new breeders. He also stated that in the post Brexit era, the future is looking bright for the Society and the Suffolk breed and that there are many opportunities to be availed of by breeders.

The committee were delighted to have Mr Robin McIlrath, outgoing CEO of the Suffolk Sheep Society UK, along with his wife Roberta  in attendance at the meeting. A presentation was made by the Society to Robin as a token of appreciation for his all his hard work and guidance in the South of Ireland throughout his tenure as CEO and the Committee and attendees wished him well in his retirement.

Robin McIlrath (outgoing CEO Suffolk Sheep Society UK), Roberta McIlrath and Dan O’Mahony (Chairman Suffolk Sheep Society – South of Ireland)

Mr O’Mahony thanked attendees for coming and wished everyone well with their 2023 lambing season.

At the end of the meeting the presentation of prizes to the winners at the Premier Show took place. Winners of each class detailed below:

SHEARLING EWEANDY SMITH
EWE LAMBCOLIN WATCHORN
SHEARLING RAMJOHN HANLY
RAM SIRED BY SOI BRED RAMPATRICK O’KEEFFE
RECORDED CLASSCOLIN WATCHORN
NOVICE RAM LAMBDOHERTY BROS
OPEN RAM LAMBAJ & JA LUCAS
GIGOT RAM LAMBSUSAN O’KEEFFE
GROUP OF THREE RAM LAMBSAJ & JA LUCAS
FEMALE CHAMPIONCOLIN WATCHORN
MALE CHAMPIONAJ & JA LUCAS (OPEN RAM WINNER)
SUPREME CHAMPIONAJ & JA LUCAS
SHEPHERD OF THE SHOWAJ & JA LUCAS
SIRE OF THE YEARSEAMUS BROWNE -LIMESTONE GOLD RUSH
HOMEBRED SIRE OF THE YEARANDREW WILSON/EAMONN DUFFY   KELLS T-REX
PREMIER SHOW & SALE 2022 REPORT

PREMIER SHOW & SALE 2022 REPORT

25th July 2022, Blessington Mart

The Suffolk Sheep Society South of Ireland held their Premier Show & Sale on Monday July 25th at Blessington Mart.

A large selection of top quality sheep were placed before the judge, Mr John Gibb, of the renowned Cairnton Flock in Scotland while commercial breeder, Mr.Jim Corrigan, was on hand to judge the Gigot Class.

Taking Supreme Champion of the Show was the Finnvale Flock, of Andrew & Jonathan Lucas, Co.Donegal. This stylish son of Salopian Pure Gold (brother to the record breaking 200K gns Solid Gold) and a Shannagh Ewe, had been previously tapped out by John Gibb as winner of the Open Class before lining up in the Championship. While the champion was unsold, Lucas went on to sell his first prize Pen of Three ram lambs for €2800, €2600 and €2600 respectively. Taking Reserve Champion in the pre-sale show was a Rookery Rebel sired ram lamb from Darragh McMenamin’s Mullinvale Flock. Darragh sold another Rookery Rebel sired ram lamb for €2500 to Italy.

Topping the sale was local breeder, Colin Watchorn’s Beechbrook Flock, when his Limestone Gold Rush sired ram lamb was snapped up by Alistair Barkley for €5200. This ram will join his Blackbrae Flock in Northern Ireland. He had been placed second in the Novice Class behind the Donegal based Doherty Bros who had claimed the red rosette with their Malinhead Rossi sired lamb.

Other top prices on the day included Richard Wilson’s Shannagh lamb who was second in the Ram Sired by a South of Ireland Bred Ram class. Sired by Kells T-Rex (the 2020 Premier Champion) this ram was purchased by Richard Thompson at €3700 while another ET brother sold to Mark Priestley for €2700. First in this class was a Ballinatone BT Buddy sired ram from Patrick O Keeffe’s Blackwater Flock who was knocked down at €2000 to the Walker Family. In the Errigal pen, a January born The Views Unknown Legend sired lamb topped the prices at €2000. Westport based Michael Hastings flock, Western Suffolks, had his Strathbogie Joel sired lamb knocked down in the ring at €2100 after he had placed 4th in the Novice Class. In the Shearling Class John Hanly’s Oakbridge Oscar sired ram took the top spot going on to sell for €900

In the female classes it was Andrew Smith’s stylish Cloontagh Chieftan sired ewe which took the red rosette in the Shearling Class. She went on to sell in the ring for €1200. Top honours in the Ewe Lamb Class went to Colin Watchorn’s Beechbrook Flock. This breedy Limestone Gold Rush Ewe Lamb went on to take Female Champion of the show with Andrew Smith’s Shearling claiming the reserve spot.

Topping the Shearling prices at €1400, was the Co Leitrim based Loughrynn Flock of Coote and Trevor Geelan with their January born Crewelands Drifter sired gimmer who was placed third in her class. Andrew Smith’s second prize ewe lamb by Kells Wingman, topped the females selling for €2000 to Northern Ireland breeder Dennis Taylor.

A number of sheep were exported to Northern Ireland and Europe from the sale but the export trade was down significantly on the record breaking 2021 figures and this was put down to a number of factors, with increased transportation costs topping the list playing a major part in the decreased trade.

Commercial trade accounted for 50% of all ram sales and these animals recorded an average of €706, marginally down on last years prices. Although the amount of rams sold into the commercial sector was down slightly on 2021, which was due in part to the early date of the sale, a number of buyers were filling their orders early to avail of the large selection on offer.  The overall average for the sale was €1030.

The Society feel that Zootechnical Certification and approval of their Pedigree Breeding Program is playing a large part in its growing membership. Many new breeders took part in this year’s sale and it is encouraging to see so many younger breeders getting involved in pedigree breeding.

The remaining Society Sales will be held in Cahir on Friday 2nd September, Carnew on Wednesday 7th September, Ballyjamesduff on Friday 16th September and Ballina on Tuesday October 4th.

Premier Show & Sale 2022

Premier Show & Sale 2022

Monday 25th July

Blessington Mart

Export Sale

For Further Information please contact 083 0907313

National Suffolk Championships 2022

National Suffolk Championships 2022

We are delighted to announce that after a three year absence due to the Pandemic, our National Suffolk Championships will take place at Charleville Agricultural Show, Co Cork on Sunday June 26th.

Classes on the day will include Young Handlers, Shearling Ram & Upwards, Aged Ewe, Shearling Ewe, Novice Lamb – Male or Female, Ram Lamb, Ewe Lamb Trimmed & Ewe Lamb Untrimmed. We are very much looking forward to this prestigious event from our Suffolk Calender and we hope to see you there.

South of Ireland Branch Premier Show & Sale – Blessington 2021

South of Ireland Branch Premier Show & Sale – Blessington 2021

Ballinatone Flock Suffolk Ram sets New Irish Record at Blessington

Date: 2nd August 2021

Auctioneer: JP & M Doyle

Judge: William Tait, Burnview Flock

Blessington Mart was the place to be on August Bank Holiday Monday. A packed mart saw the highest price paid for a sheep in Ireland when the hammer fell on Richard Thompson’s (Donegal) ram lamb at €44,000. But this wasn’t just a breeder’s sale, an excellent clearance of 81% in the ram lamb class had the lot, breeders lambs at record prices, forty-one sheep exported and a strong commercial turnout with over 60% of sheep sold meeting the needs of the Irish commercial farmer. Although the  overall sale average was €1.884 with a clearance of over 83%, the average price for commercial sheep was €660 to €670.

The record breaking top priced Lot 70 from Richard’s Ballinatone Flock is a son of the 2017 born Solwaybank Sapphire 2 out of a Mountford Mustang sired Ballynacannon ewe. Coming second in the Novice class, he was bought by Northern Ireland breeders Dennis Taylor, for his Ballynacannon flock based near Coleraine, County Antrim’s Alaistair Gault (Forkins flock), Ronan McLaughlin from Donegal (Ballyboe flock) and Portuguese breeder Joao Guilherme with Richard Thompson retaining a share. The Ballinatone pen also had the highest average at €15,625 for three sheep sold.

Darragh McMenamin’s (Mullinvale Flock, Donegal) Breed Champion, and winner of both the Novice and Open Ram Lamb classes, was next in the money list with Judge William Tait (S & W Tait, Burnview Flock) paying €34,000 for this Salopian Scuderia sired ram lamb out of a Balquhain dam for his Co Tyrone based flock. The Mullinvale pen had the second highest average after Ballinatone at €6,575 for 6 ram lambs sold.

Maghera breeder, Stephen Sufferin (Crewelands Flock, N Ireland) paid €7,500 and €6,500 for Philip Byrne’s (Kilkenny) lot 119 and Richard Wilson’s (Donegal) lot 194 respectively. Byrne’s Limepark flock  bred Muirton One Direction sired lamb is out of a Limepark ewe. Richard Wilson’s February born Shannagh ram lamb is by last years Champion, Kells T-Rex, out of a Birness Murray sired Shannagh dam.

 Two sheep then sold for €5,000. Brian and Gus Doyle’s (Kilmacoo Flock) lot 129 was the top price ram going to mainland Europe and was bought by French breeder, Sebastian Delval. This Kilmacoo ram lamb is the son of Errigal Grim Reaper out of a Birness dam. The other €5,000 priced sheep was lot 173 from J & M Doherty’s Malinhead Flock. P J Howard (Co Clare) bought this Limestone Red Rum sired ram lamb out of a homebred dam.

The females got the sale off to an excellent start with James O’Connell’s lot 7 Knockogan Shearling Ewe topping the female money list at €1,600 for his Female Champion purchased by F & S Brigdale for their Co Clare based Atomic Flock. The Reserve Female Champion, Kenneth Bailey’s winner of the Ewe Lamb Class got €1,400 from Michael McHugh of Co Wicklow.

Averages:

Overall:

Top: €44,000

Clearance: 83% (160 sold)

Average: €1,884

Shearling Ewes:

Top: €1,600

Clearance: 89% (16 sold)

Average: €909

Ewe Lambs:

Top: €1,400

Clearance: 95% (20 sold)

Average: €732

Ram Lambs:

Top: €44,000

Clearance: 81% (124 sold)

Average: €1,851

LOT NO.FLOCKPRICE IN EUROSBUYER
70BALLINATONE44,000PDW Taylor, A Gault, R McLaughlin, R Thompson & J Guilherme
158MULLINVALE34,000S & W Tait
119LIMEPARK7,500S Sufferin
194SHANNAGH6,500S Sufferin
129KILMACOO5,000S Delval
173MALINHEAD5,000PJ Howard

Show Results

Male and Supreme Champion

1st Lot 158 Darragh McMenamin

UJU:21:02676 by Salopian Scuderia

Reserve Male and Overall Reserve Champion

1st Lot 133 Arthur O’Keeffe

R15:21:06302 by Castleisle Kilteskin Prince

Female Champion

Lot 7 James O’Connell

DBJ:20:02212 by Shannagh Synergy

Reserve Female Champion

Lot 31 Kenneth Bailey

HDC:21:00172 by Cairness Cobra

Class 1- Shearling Ewe

1stLot 7 James O’Connell

DBJ:20:02212 by Shannagh Synergy

2nd Lot 11 Kenneth Bailey

HDC:20:00125 by Cairness Corker

3rd Lot 5 John Hanly

G4:20:02645 by Limestone Lowry

Class 2- Ewe Lamb

1st Lot 31 Kenneth Bailey

HDC:21:00172 by Cairness Cobra

2nd Lot 35 Robert Tait

18W:21:02433 by Glenagh Gideon

3rd Lot 32 Philip Lynch

CZK:21:01017 by Benedyglen Big Jack

Class 3- Shearling Ram

1st Lot 47 James O’Connell

DBJ:20:02276 by Shannagh Synergy

Class 4- Ram Lamb Sired by a SOI Bred Ram

1st Lot 133 Arthur O’Keeffe

R15:21:06302 by Castleisle Kilteskin Prince

2nd Lot 211 Brian & Gus Doyle

UTX:21:00174 by Errigal Grim Reaper

3rd Lot 77 John A Doherty

CFN:21:03102 by Shannagh Top Gun II

Class 5- Recorded Ram Lamb Class

1st Lot 128 Susan O’Keeffe

BYD:21:02580 by Burnview One For Arthur

2nd Lot 121 Philip Lynch

CZK:21:01024 by Strathbogie Kind Of Magic

3rd Lot 78 John A Doherty

CFN:21:03103 by Shannagh Top Gun II

Class 6- Novice Ram Lamb

1st Lot 158 Darragh McMenamin

UJU:21:02676 by Salopian Scuderia

2nd Lot 70 Richard Thompson

TDL:21:03062 by Solwaybank Sapphire 2

3rd Lot 129 Brian & Gus Doyle

UTX:21:00179 by Errigal Grim Reaper

Class 7 – Open Ram Lamb

1st Lot 158 Darragh McMenamin

UJU:21:02676 by Salopian Scuderia

2nd Lot 122 Philip Lynch

CZK:21:01024 by Strathbogie A Kind Of Magic

3rd Lot 119 Philip Byrne

TJW:21:00048 by Muirton One Direction

Class 8 – Gigot Class

1st Lot 81 Robert Tait

18W:21:02446 by Errigal Masterpiece

2nd Lot 85 John Stacey

JYO:21:01152 by Benrafton Panther

3rd Lot 161 John & Esther Gahan

SKW:21:00558 by Forkins Franko

Group of Three

1st Lots 156, 58, 60 Darragh McMenamin

UJU:21:02650, UJU:21:02624, UJU:21:02643

2nd Lots 108, 109, 110 Eamon Duffy

C46:21:03216, C46:21:02176, C46:21:03158

3rd Lots 70, 71, 165 Richard Thompson

TDL:21:03062, TDL:21:03064, TDL:21:03065