The 2009 Society stand show season kicked off with Balmoral Show in Belfast from 13th – 15th May. The weather was changeable, to say the least, but it didn’t deter the crowds!

We had many visitors to the stand, all admiring the pure Lleyn ewe with pure lambs that had been kindly loaned by Robert and Eileen Edwards (Flock 1513). Gawn and John Newell (Flock 1279) received a lot of keen interest, from both commercial and pedigree breeders alike, in their pair of Southdown cross lambs and pure Lleyn ewe. They were a fine example of how well the Lleyn performs when crossed with any terminal sire, a topic that was often discussed by interested farmers on the stand.

Once again we had many visitors that had bought a small number of ewes at the Ballymena Society sale, who were very pleased with their performance, and were looking for more this year. We collected quite a few names for the Ballymena sale catalogue and handed out lots of literature, so I am hopeful for another successful sale this year!

I would like to say a big thank you to Robert and Eileen, Gawn and John and Roly and Fiona Cunningham, for making me feel most welcome and for all of their help with the running of the stand.

I look forward to seeing you all at the NSA Sheep NI event on Monday 6th July 2009

Victoria Elwess