The Charollais ram sales got off to a great start with their premier show and sale in Dungannon market proving very successful. A packed ringside of enthusiastic buyers ensured a steady trade and a high clearance rate with buyers having to dig deep to secure their lots.

Topping the trade at 4500gns and winning the supreme championship was a ram lamb out of the Hollylodge pen from the McConnell Brothers, Parkgate, County Antrim. Coming from one of their top maternal lines this tremendous lamb sired by Loanhead Ur The Boy and out of a Glyn Coch Toy Boy sired Dam caught the eye of Judge Charles Sercombe. Selling in the ring to the Davidson’s, Banffshire, for the top price of the day.

The McConnell Brothers had a great day’s trading with several of their lots making over 1000gns. Donegal Breeder Patrick Carr went to 1600gns to purchase his pick of the pen, a smart Loanhead Ur The Boy sired lamb out of a Edstaston San Miguel sired Dam. Another Loanhead Ur The Boy sired ram selling to Ben Radley, Dumfries for 1400gns. Pen Average 1573gns

Reserve Champion cam from the Springhill pen of Graham Foster.  Winning the late December born ram lamb class, this smart lamb out of a Rhaeadr dam sold to McCall’s, County Armagh for 1000gns. David Anderson brought his pick of the pen for his Ballyhunsley Flock selling at 1300gns.

The red rosette in the Shearling Ram Class went to the Lornbrook Pen of Trevor Bell with this super strong lamb sired by Hollylodge Torpedo selling for 1350gns to Wexford Breeder Turlough McDonald. Another strong Shearling from this pen selling to County Donegal Breeder, Ian Macbeth for 1040. Jim Jeffery from County Cork brought his choice of the ram lambs in the Lornbrook Pen

The January ram lamb Class was won by the Ballynoe Pen of Ian Craig, sired by Iskeymeadow Wagamama, last year’s Premier Champion. This smart lamb was brought by David Dolan, County Roscommon for 2100gns

The new class for young members was well supported with Ellie Moore from the Hillside flock taking the first prize with Padrig Upperclass sired ram.

Standing first and second in the Female Classes and winning the female championship was William McAllister. These two powerful ewe lambs were both sired by Rockdale Vespasian. Female Champion sold to Dave Lewis, Pembrokeshire for 1600gns. Their second prize winner sold for 1000gns to Michael Power, Limerick.

The group of three sponsored by Thompson’s was won by McConnell Brothers.

New Breeder Christopher Kennedy of the Round Tower Flock had a brilliant first sale selling the second top priced ram on the day at 4000gns to Michael Power, Limerick for his Ballyhibbon Flock. A great muscled ram sired by Loanhead Upper Class. Pen Averaged 2350gns

Next in the prices was the Tullyear Pen of Drew and Stephen Cowan, their smart, upstanding January born ram sired by Duiske V Man and out of a Kilmacshane Skyfall Dam selling to Robert Gregory, Shropshire and Charles Sercombe, Leicestershire for 3800gns.

Wexford Breeders Michael and Sarah O’Neil had to go to 2600gns for another great muscled V Man son, this one February born from an Oakchurch Royal Ryan Dam. Pen Average 1672gns.

New to the Premier Sale was the Owenskerry Pen of Brian and Linda Cowan and were very pleased to achieve 2200gns for their January born lamb sired by Springhill Willie and out of a Kilmacshane Skyfall sired dam. Pen Average 1460

The Crawford family, also new breeders had a good days trading with their top selling to 1400gns,this ram sired by Gwyndy Whizz Kid and a Logie Durno Untouchable sired dam from the Springhill Flock, The Dunroe pen averaging 936gns

David Anderson’s Ballyhunsley pen attracted a lot of interest with David selling his two tops to County Westmeath Breeder Martin Manning for 1150gns and 1100gns, both rams sired by Springhill Vodka. Another ram from this pen selling to Aberdeen Breeder,R Davidson for 1100gns,this lot. The Ballyhunsley Pen averaging 898gns.

The Hillside pen of Alistair Moore sold their top at 1020gns to Pinehill Farms Carryduff, a Padrig Upperclass Sired lamb from a Foulrice Supreme Sired Dam.

William Sherrard sold his Senior ram, Dalby Valencia at 1600gns to County Galway breeder, Sean Naughton, a high figures ram lamb from this pen selling to Derek Bell for 1300gns, this lot sired by Dalby Willard and from a Riverdale Rainman sired dam.

Standing second in the January born Class was Jonathan Aiken, this great muscled ram selling to County Cavan Breeder for 1000gns.

The Club would like to express their thanks to Judge Charles Sercombe for giving of his time and doing such a thorough job. Sponsors, Danske Bank, Provita Animal Health, Thompson’s Animal feeds, Strabane Mills also Trevor Wylie and Dungannon Saleyard for ensuring everything ran smoothly.

Averages: 10 Shearlings 813gns, 89 Ram lambs 867gns, 10 Ewe Lambs 671gns

Show Results:

Shearling Ram Class

1^st Trevor Bell, 2^nd Drew & Stephen Cowan, 3^rd William McAllister

Early December Ram lamb:

1^st McConnell Brothers 2^nd David Anderson 3^rd William McAllister

Late December Ram lamb:

1^st Graham Foster2^nd Ian Craig3^rd Ian Goudy

January Ram lamb

1^st Ian Craig 2^nd Jonathan Aiken 3^rd Drew & Stephen Cowan

Young Breeders Class

1^st Ellie Moore 2^nd Sophie McAllister 3^rd Beth Cousins

Ewe Lamb

1^st William McAllister 2^nd William McAllister 3^rd McConnell Brothers

Group of Three

1^st McConnell Brothers, 2^nd Graham Foster 3^rd Alistair Moore

Female Champion

William McAllister

Male Champion

McConnell Brothers

Supreme Champion:

 McConnell Brothers

Reserve Champion:

 Graham Foster