The West of Ireland Registered Pedigree Suffolk Sheep Breeder’s Club continued to grow from strength to strength in 2019, with an increased membership and some great successes throughout the season.
NSBA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
The Club was well represented at the NSBA National Championships in Kilkenny where Gerry Killilea, Carragh Flock built on his success from 2018 achieving 3rd place in the Trimmed ewe Lamb class.
FLOCK COMPETITIONS
The Club enjoyed great success in the National Flock Competition with Garth Graham, Kirriemuir Flock receiving Certificates of Merit in The W E Lloyd Cup for his flock of 31 – 60 Ewes. He also received Certificates of Merit in Ewe Lamb Class, Flock of over 30 Ewes, and Stock Ram with Errigal Jack the Lad, in the South of Ireland Flock Competition. Congratulations also to Gerry Killilea, Carragh Flock who took Reserve in the Ewe Lamb Class and who also received a Certificate of Merit in the Flock of over 30 Ewes.
SHOWS & SALES
The Sales season kicked off for the club in Blessington at the SOI Premier Show & Sale where the Club was well represented by many of its members .Congratulations to Kenneth Bailey, Lismurtagh Flock who won the Ewe Lamb Class and then went on to achieve Reserve Champion Female with his Ewe Lamb
The Big Boy Ram Sale in Carrick-on-Shannon was a great success, with a strong representation of the Suffolk Breed by Club members where the Suffolk breed achieved the second highest price on the night.
This was followed by the clubs own Premier Sale in Roscommon with a large entry of superbly turned out sheep, ably judged by Seamas Browne, Errigal Flock. He was very impressed with the standard of sheep produced by the Club with Supreme Champion going to Canon Joe Delaney, Roscree Flock and Reserve Champion going to Kevin and Mattie Kelly, Summerhill Flock. Female Champion went to Garth Graham, Kirriemuir Flock with his Ewe Lamb.
Our Second sale took place in Athenry with another large entry and very successful sale. The Supreme Champion went to Michael & Marie Jennings, Ballygarris Flock and Reserve to James Cuffe, Inbhear Flock.
At our 3rd Club Show & Sale in Roscommon, Supreme Champion went to Michael & Marie Jannings, Ballygarris Flock with their Open Ram Lamb Winner. Reserve went to James Cuffe, Inbhear with his winner in the Novice Class.
The Club ended its Year with Club Flocks DeBurca, Carragh and Kirriemuir presenting superbly well turned out females at the All Star Female Sale in Blessington in November .
PREMIER SHOW & SALE, ROSCOMMON MART – 31st August 2019
FULL RESULTS
CHAMPION : Canon Joe Delaney
RESERVE : Mattie & Kevin Kelly
EWE LAMB: 1. G. Graham, 2. G Killilea, 3. L. Higgins & D. Airlie
SHEARLING RAM: 1. P.Hillary
NOVICE RAM: 1. Canon J. Delaney, 2. G. Graham, 3. K. Bailey
RECORDED RAM: 1. G.Killilea, 2. T. Burke, 3. M&M Jennings
OPEN RAM: 1. Canon J. Delaney, 2. M&K Kelly, 3. M&M Jennings
ATHENRY SHOW & SALE (Evening) – 20th Sept 2019
CHAMPION : Michael & Marie Jennings
RESERVE: James Cuffe
EWE LAMB: 1. G. Killilea, 2. G. Graham, 3. L. Higgins & D. Airlie, 4. P. Colleran
SHEARLING RAM: 1. G. Graham, 2. G. Graham
NOVICE RAM: 1. J. Cuffe, 2. M. McDonagh, 3. C. Hughes, 4. G. Graham
OPEN RAM: 1. M&M Jennings, 2. J. Cuffe, 3. M. McDonagh, 4. C. Hughes
ROSCOMMON 2ND SHOW & SALE – 28TH SEPT 2019
CHAMPION: Michael & Marie Jennings
Reserve : James Cuffe
SHEARLING RAM : 1. E. Campbell, 2. G. Graham, 3. T. Burke
NOVICE RAM: 1. J. Cuffe, 2. G. Graham, 3. E&T McKeever
OPEN RAM: 1. M&M Jennings, 2. J. Cuffe, 3. G. Graham
As a Club, we are delighted with what has turned out to be one of our most successful years ever. We took part in the very successful Big Boys Ram sale for the first time ever. Clearance rates at our sales were some of the highest recorded within the club. Many of our members enjoyed successes at the many Agricultural Shows throughout the summer season, showcasing the Suffolk breed to an incredibly high standard. Many of our members were present on the Suffolk stand at the National Ploughing Championships, which played host to the largest ever recorded attendance.
The standard of breeding lines within the club continue to improve and the quality of stock being produced is a testament to the investment our breeders are putting into their bloodlines.
We would like to extend a huge Thankyou to anyone who supported the Club this year, including the Suffolk Sheep Society, Suffolk Council, all our buyers, sponsors and marts and last but not least, our Club members themselves whose hard work and dedication continues to improve the breed standard within the club and showcase the Suffolk Breed to its full potential.
Overall Champion Colin Watchorn celebrates his Beechbrook Flock
Judge: Mr Iain Barbour, Solwaybank Flock
This year’s flock competition was judged by the highly respected Suffolk breeder, Mr Iain Barbour of the Solwaybank Flock, Scotland. As with recent years, the South of Ireland competition was held in conjunction with the Suffolk Sheep Society Flock competition and our Irish members performed well against flocks from N Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales.
In the Society competition, S & P O’Connor (Kerry) was awarded the John Long Cup for the best flock of 16-30 ewes and Ronan McLoughlin (Donegal) was presented with the Best Stud Ram trophy for ‘Limestone Aston Martin’. Both Sean and Ronan, along with Garth Graham (Sligo), Gerry Killilea (Galway) and Colin Watchorn (Wicklow) picked up a total of 7 Certificates of Merit for different classes in the Society Competition. In the South of Ireland Competition, Colin Watchorn lifted the overall trophy for best flock in Ireland. Colin (ably supported by the family) hosted an excellent viewing day and presentation on Saturday 10th August.
Overall Champion
Winner: C Watchorn, Co Wicklow (Beechbrook Flock)
Reserve: S&P O’Connor, Co Kerry (Islandmore Flock)
Flock up to 30 Ewes
Winner: S&P O’Connor, Co Kerry (Islandmore Flock)
Reserve: R McLoughlin, Co Donegal (Ballyboe Flock)
Certificate of Merit: P Byrne
Flock Over 30 Ewes
Winner: C Watchorn Co Wicklow (Beechbrook Flock)
Reserve: G Killilea, Co Galway (Carragh Flock)
Certificates of Merit: G Graham, Co Sligo (Kirriemuir Flock)
Ewe Lamb Class
Winner: C Watchorn, Co Wicklow (Beechbrook Flock)
Reserve: G Killilea, Co Galway (Carragh Flock)
Certificates of Merit: S&P O’Connor, G Graham
Flock Ewes Class
Winner: C Watchorn, Co Wicklow (Beechbrook Flock)
Reserve: S&P O’Connor, Co Kerry (Islandmore Flock)
Stock Rams
Winner: “Limestone Aston Martin” (Owner R McLaughin)
THE 3rd Annual All Star Sale held at Blessington Mart on Saturday 30th November was a tremendous success with almost 100% clearance. A number of sheep were exported to the UK and Northern Ireland with the remainder sold to breeders all over Ireland.
The gimmers, ewes and ewe lambs on offer where of a very high standard and excellent value for money.
Name
Highest Price
No. of sheep sold
Average
Gerry Killilea – Carragh
1,400 gns
6
937 gns
Seamus Browne – Errigal
1,400 gns
13
887 gns
Alan Kilpatrick – Convoy
1,200 gns
12
818 gns
Trevor Burke – DeBurca
1,400 gns
6
783 gns
Oliver Deane – Mountford
950gns
22
477 gns
Garth Graham – Kirriemuir
720 gns
5
464 gns
We would like to thank anyone who helped in any way. We would also like to thank John Doyle and his staff for a job well done. Ian Donald for his professional grooming service to many of the flocks and to Alfie Shaw for the first class photos. Next All Star Sale, Saturday 28th November 2020.
Finally the best of luck to all the purchasers from Seamus Browne, Trevor Burke, Gerry Killilea and guest consigners Oliver Deane, Garth Graham and Alan Kilpatrick.
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.
