Show season kicked in to gear with judge Arwyn Thomas taking to the ring to judge an exceptional entry of Charollais sheep at Balmoral Show on Wednesday 10th May.
The female classes were particularly strong, with some 17 entries forward in the shearling ewe class. On the day the overall champion was a Hillside bred two-shear ewe from Alistair Moore. By Gorteen Vagas, a Knockin Shockin son, which the Hillside flock purchased from Gareth Beacon and is out a home bred ewe by Wolston Magnum.
Arwyn commented on her presence in the show ring along with a great carcass attributes and feminine head.
Securing the reserve championship was a homebred shearling ewe from the Artnagullion flock of William McAllister. This one is by Rockdale Vespasian out of a Loanhead Upperclass bred dam. The judge complemented the ewe for her powerful, yet feminine character with great hind quarters and turned out perfectly on the day.
The first prize ewe lamb came through in a strong class of excellent quality lambs and again came from the Artnagullion team. Her sire is Ballyhibbon Kickstart and the ewe lamb is true to type for Kickstart progeny with great style and superb conformation.
Clinching the male championship on the day was a homebred shearling from the Lornbrook flock out of a Loanhead ewe and by a Logie Durno bred sire. Meanwhile, the reserve male champion was the second price shearling ram, this time from the Springhill flock of Graham Foster. By Gwyndy Whizz Kid, he is out of a homebred daughter of the Rhaeadr bred ewe which has produced so many top quality females over the years for the flock.
The aged ram class winner was Hollylodge Viscount owned by the Lornbrook flock. This tup is by Loanhead Ur The Boy who has bred well for The McConnell’s over the past number of years.
The Tullyear flock of Drew and Stephen Cowan won a strong ram lamb class with a Duiske V Man son out of a hombred Dalby Tarquin bred ewe.
The Northern Ireland Charollais club wish to thank Arwyn for doing a fantastic job of judging a great turnout of sheep on an afternoon interspersed with a couple of heavy showers and thanks to the breeders who turned their sheep out to perfection.
