The Northern Ireland National Show of Blackface Sheep at Ballymena Mart proved a resounding success with more than 320 sheep on show from the north and south-types.

Both judges were more impressed by the quality on show, with Matthew Hamilton, Woolfords, West Calder having the task of placing the north-type entries while David Morrison, Dalwyne, Barr, selected the winners in the south-type section.

Mr Hamilton said: “There was a great show of sheep, well presented, and a tremendous class of ewes. It was both a pleasure and a privilege to judge.”

He found his supreme in a ewe from Billy, Joseph and Seamus Grant, Cloughfin. She is sired by £4000 Woolfords ram out of a 2000gns Cloughfin-sired dam.

The Grants also took the reserve with a tup lamb also by £4000 Woolfords, out of a £18,000 Woolfords

Reserve male was a 5000gns Mark Smyth aged ram, from Sam and Stuart Adams. He is sired by £1500 Hillhead of Morinsh and bred from a Mayfair ewe.

Taking the equivalent amongst the females was a gimmer from George Conway. A daughter of a £9000 Hillhead of Morinsh, her dam is by a £9000 Woolfords.

Mr Morrison found his supreme in the south-type section in a ewe from Gordon, Ben and Jack Crawford’s Aghanlane flock. She is sired by £12,000 High Staward and out of £2800 Crossflatt dam.

North-type champion was the first prize ewe from Billy Grant North-type champion was the first prize ewe from Billy Grant

“It wasn’t an easy job judging as the class of stock was very good. I saw a big improvement from the last national show, which is great to see. The ewe was a very deserving winner, with a great look and power in her muzzle with a body to match,” said Mr Morrison.

His reserve winner was a shearling ram from John and Partick Harkin, Loughash. Sired by a home-bred son of £20,000 Auldhouseburn that was sold for £10,000 as a lamb to Damian McSwiggan, Veronica Fullerton, Charlie Gallacher with a share was retained by the Harkins, he is out of a ewe by a £24,000 Loughash.

The same home also won the reserve male with a ram lamb by a £55,000 Auldhouseburn, out of a £100,000 Loughash-sired dam.

Colm McAteer bagged the reserve female honours with a gimmer by a £160,000 Dyke out of a £160,000 Elmscleugh ewe.

Leading Awards

North-type – Aged ram, shearling ram – S and S Adams. Tup lamb, ewe, ewe lamb – B Grant. Gimmer – G Conway.

South-type – Aged ram – C and C Philips. Shearling ram, tup lamb – P and J Harkin. Ewe – G Crawford. Gimmer – C McAteer. Ewe lamb – C McHenry.