Lleyn Sheep Society :: Ballymena Sale Report 2022

Ballymena Sale 2022

A good crowd with old faces returning to the ring but also noticeably new faces in attendance. As well as a firm breeder’s sale there was a strong commercial feel especially on the rams.

The shearling ewes kicked off with the 2^nd prize pen from B & E Latimer, Trillick selling for £265/head to S McAllister, Ballymena. C & A Kennedy, Ballyclare sold the 1^st prize pen and first into the ring at £240/head to the judge David Oliver, Dundalk. A Bothwell, Magurebridge sold his top pen at £230/head to Sean O’Donoghue, Co. Kerry. AF Cunninham , Hillbrough and J Coulter, Newtownard both had pens away at £220/head.

There was a new trophy this year, The Killen Perpetual Cup for the best individual shearling ewe. This was won by D Mullen, Coleraine which went on to sell for the top of £550 to judge David Oliver. B & E Latimer’s 2^nd prize ewe sold for £300 to D Neill, Downpatrick. The same buyer bought the 3^rd prize ewe from C & A Kennedy at £380. A Bothwell presented the 4^th prize ewe selling at £250 to WM & R Boyle, Larne.

With only three pens returning home there was a very good clearance and the average is up £2.50 on the year. There were 14 pens hit the £200 plus mark. Pens were regularly selling at £165-190 with odd pens of smaller sheep seeing £140-150.

R Millen, Coleraine topped the ewe lamb section when selling at £178/head to D Beattie, Co. Cavan. He sold another pen at £165/head to C Richardson also from Co. Cavan. B & E Latimer sold the 1^st prize pen at £165/head to D Beattie. J Coulter saw £160/head for his 4^th prize pen.

The average is £5 ahead of last year shown in the 100% clearance. With a show of strong lambs many pens were changing hands at £110 plus. There were some lighter lambs selling at £88-100.

The rams saw a much-improved trade on previous years with a commercial bottom in the bids. The 2^nd prize ram from J & C Kennedy, Mileview Knightsbridge (01618/2103249) sired by a Sackville Hamilton ram sold for 2300gns to John McKavangh, Lurgan. The 1^st prize ram from B & E Latimer, Girgadis Kite (01694/2104670) sired by a Wraycastle ram sold for 1700gns to G Calwell, Ballymena. Declan Mullen, sold his 4^th prize ram, Mullamore King (02022/2103110) sired by a Lluest ram for 1600gns to D Beattie. C & A Kennedy sold two in their pen for 1350gns including the 3^rd prize ram.

With only five not sold there was a great clearance again with an average up £67 on the year. Only odd rams sold under 400gns with a many changing hand 500-800gns.

Averages

Shearling ewes to £265 (£550) av. £186.50 (+2.50)

Ewe Lambs to £178 av. £120 (+5)

Rams to 2300gns av. £871 (+67)

Top Prices

Shearling Ewes (pens)

B & E Latimer £265

C & A Kennedy £240

A Bothwell £230

AF Cunningham £220

J Coulter £220

D Mullen £215