The 2021 Charollais Sheep Premier proved a great success with averages up in both ram sections and the breed record broken by an impressive shearling ram from the Artnagullion flock of William McAllister sold to 4400gns. 

The pre-sale show was judged by Emyr Hughes of the Bronwydd flock, Pembrokeshire. He chose his champion from the Iskeymeadow pen of Richard and Harry Powell, lot 58, an Arbyn Viper son and out of a Loanhead dam.   

Taking the reserve championship was lot 64 presented by Graham Foster, in the form of a Springhill Viper son and out of a Rhaeadr dam.  The female championship went the way of lot 185 presented by McConnell Brothers in the form of a Hollylodge Voldemort daughter, while the Group of Three was won by Graham Foster.

Kicking off the trade to an impressive start was a tremendous shearling ram, lot 18 Artnagullion Viceroy, from the pen of William McAllister. This Knockin Shop son is out of a Riverdale Preacher dam and went on to top the sale with a record-breaking price of 4400gns, sold to a County Down commercial breeder. 

Shearling rams from Graham Foster’s Springhill pen were in demand with his fourth prize winner, lot 16 Springhill Viper, a Rhaeadr son sold to Glenmore Estate, County Donegal, for 2200gns. The same buyer also purchased Graham’s second prize winner, lot 17, sired by Logie Durno Untouchable and out of a Rhaeadr dam, at 1500gns. 

It was certainly a day to remember for the Iskeymeadow flock of Richard Powell and son Harry. On their first time showing at the Premier Sale they came away with champion and two of the top prices in the ram lambs. The champion lamb was lot 58 in his pen, an Arbryn Viper son out of a Loanhead dam. He stood first in the early December-born class and sold to the Artnagullion and Ballynoe House flocks of William McAllister and Ian Craig for 3400gns.  

His pen mate, lot 55, another strong Arbryn Viper son, and this time out of a Logie Durno dam sold to David Argue, County Cavan, for 3400gns.  

Lot 54, another Viper son and the first of the Iskeymeadow run, sold to County Wicklow Breeder John O Toole, for 2100gns. The Iskeymeadow flock averaged 1825gns for six.

Graham Foster’s Springhill pen featured well in the prizes and the prices and his top price was achieved by a Springhill Viper son and out of a Robleston Superman sired dam. County Mayo-based breeder Aiden Loftus went to 2750gns to purchase lot 69.

Meanwhile, lot 64, another smart Springhill Viper son, who stood first in the late December-born class and went on to be placed reserve champion before selling for 2300gns to Paul Brophy, County Carlow.  

Also, lot 66 stood third in the January-born ram class and was the first ram lamb to be offered for sale out of Tullyear Uptown Lady and sired by Logie Durno Van the Man. This one sold to County Donegal breeder, Daniel McLaughlin, for 2100gns.

Finbar O’Connor from County Roscommon went to 1350gns to purchase his Springhill ram, lot 67 a fourth prize winner in the late December-born class. This one is by Springhill Vodka and out of a Boyo dam. The Springhill pen averaged 1440gns for eight.

The Tullyear pen of Drew and Stephen Cowan saw their first ram in, lot 81, a Tullyear Untouchable son out of an Oakchurch Royal Ryan sired dam sell for 3000gns to Albert Ferguson, County Cork. 

Their next, lot 82, was an eye-catching ram who stood second in the late December-born class. A Logie Durno Van the Man son and out of a dam purchased at the Parkgate dispersal sale, this one sold for 2700gns to Ian Macbeth, County Donegal.  

Lot 83 from the Tullyear pen, a Topgun son out of Oakchurch Royal Ryan dam sold for 1050gns to Alan Crockett, County Tyrone. The Tullyear pen averaged 1173gns for eight.

The Artnagullion pen of William McAllister’s ram lambs sold to a top of 1800gns for lot 121, a Loanhead Upperclass son out of a Knockin Shop sired dam sold to James Walsh, County Cork. 

Scottish breeder Ben Radley went to 1500gns for lot 117, a Rockdale Vespasian son who stood first in the January-born class. Lot 119, another Loanhead Upper Class son sold for 1000gns to F Muldoon, Co Donegal. The Artnagullion pen averaged 1300gns for four.

Sale leader from Alistair Moore’s Hillside pen was lot 38, a Padrig Upperclass son out of a Kirkhouse Remo sired dam, sold for 1620gns to County Donegal breeder, Stephen Devlin. Meanwhile, lot 40 from this pen, another Padrig Upper Class son and out of a Tullyear dam sold for 1500gns to Stephen Mulvey, County Meath. 

Rams from the Ballynoe pen of Ian Craig were also in demand with his two first lots in, selling for 1400gns apiece. Lot 73 stood third in the early December-born class and is a Loanhead Upper Class son out of a Knockin Shop sired dam. Taking this one home was local breeder Sam Watson, Ballymena. Meanwhile lot 74, another Upper Class son this time out of a Wedderburn dam sold to another County Antrim Breeder, David Anderson.

Top lot in the Lornbrook pen of Jim Bell and Diane Christie was lot 105 which sold for 1800gns. Jonathan Wales, Cumbria purchased this Loanhead Ur The Boy son which is out of a Logie Durno Officer sired dam for his Thackwood flock in Cumbria.

McConnell Brothers sold their best at 1100gns to Tommy Fenton, County Antrim. Lot 48 stood second in the January-born class and is by Loanhead Ur The Boy out of an Edstaston San Miguel sired dam. Meanwhile, lot 46, by Hollylodge Voldermort and out of a Ballynoe House Felix sired dam sold for 1050gns to Sam Wasson, County Donegal. 

Topping the trade in the females was the female champion, lot 185, shown by McConnell Brothers. Sired by Hollylodge Voldemort and out of Rhaeadr Prospect sired dam, this one sold for 1200gns to Paul Barnes, Ballymote. 

Standing first in the shearling ewe class was lot 145 presented by Glenn Baird’s Aghavilly flock. By Artnagullion Tornado and out of a Tullyear dam, this one sold for 680gns to Albert Ferguson, County Cork. The Aghavilly pen sold seven shearling ewes to average 485gns. 

Alistair Moore sold his four ewe lambs to average 600gns, of which three of them sold to Tom Newth, Somerset. Meanwhile, the Iskeymeadow pen of Richard and Harry Powell sold seven ewe lambs to average 557gns.

Averages: 

Shearling rams: 10 shearling rams £1270.50; 81 ram lambs £883.05; 7 shearling ewes; £509.25; 31 ewe lambs £511.35 

Show Results:

Shearling rams: 1^st William McAllister, 2^nd Graham Foster, 3^rd William McAllister, 4^th Graham Foster

Early December class: 1^st Richard Powell, 2^nd McConnell Brothers, 3^rd Ian Craig, 4^th McConnell Brothers

Late December class: 1^st Graham Foster, 2^nd Drew and Stephen Cowan, 3^rd Ian Goudy, 4^th Graham Foster

January class: 1^st William McAllister, 2^nd McConnell Brothers, 3^rd Graham Foster, 4^th Trevor Bell

Group of Three: 1^st Graham Foster, 2^nd William McAllister, 3^rd Richard Powell

Shearling ewe: 1^st Glenn Baird, 2^nd Glenn Baird

Ewe lambs: 1^st McConnell Brothers, 2^nd David Anderson, 3^rd Jonathan Aiken, 4^th David Anderson

Female champion: McConnell Brothers

Male champion: Richard and Harry Powell

Reserve Champion: Graham Foster

Supreme Champion: Richard and Harry Powell