Ewe with respected maternal traits
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 2nd prize pen from B & E Latimer, Trillick selling for £265/head to S McAllister, Ballymena. C & A Kennedy, Ballyclare sold the 1st 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 2nd prize ewe sold for £300 to D Neill, Downpatrick. The same buyer bought the 3rd prize ewe from C & A Kennedy at £380. A Bothwell presented the 4th 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 1st prize pen at £165/head to D Beattie. J Coulter saw £160/head for his 4th 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 2nd prize ram from J & C Kennedy, Mileview Knightsbridge (01618/2103249) sired by a Sackville Hamilton ram sold for 2300gns to John McKavangh, Lurgan. The 1st 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 4th 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 3rd 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
J Coulter £215
C & A Kennedy £210
A Bothwell £210
AF Cunningham £205
Shearling Ewes (Individual)
D Mullen £550
C & A Kennedy £380
B & E Latimer £300
A Bothwell £250
Ewe Lambs
R Millen £178
R Millen £165
B & E Latimer £165
J Coulter £160
A Bothwell £155
J & C Kennedy £145
A Bothwell £145
B & E Latimer £145
B & E Latimer £138
A Bothwell £135 (x2)
B & E Latimer £135
A McConville £132
CB Quigley £130
R Manson £125
Rams
J & C Kennedy (119) 2300gns
B & E Latimer (107) 1700gns
D Mullen (98) 1600gns
C & A Kennedy (127) 1350gns
C & A Kennedy (128) 1350gns
D Mullen (99) 1300gns
B & E Latimer (108) 950gns
R Millen (116) 950gns
J & C Kennedy (118) 850gns
C & A Kennedy (129) 850gns
B & E Latimer (109) 800gns
D Mullen (100) 700gns
A McConvile (111) 650gns
CB Quigley (101) 550gns
G Calwell (105) 550gns
R Millen (117) 550gns
Pre-Sale Show
Judge: David Oliver, Co. Louth
Shearling Ram (Crytalyx Cup)
1. B & E Latimer (107)
2. Mrs. J. & Miss. C. Kennedy (119)
3. C & A Kennedy (128)
4. D. Mullan (98)
Pen of 5 Shearling Ewes (NI Lleyn Breeders Cup)
1. C & A Kennedy
2. B & E Latimer
3. A.F. Cunningham
4. D. Mullan
Pen of 5 Lambs
1. B & E Latimer
2. R. Millen
3. G. Calwell
4. J. Coulter
Individual Shearling Ewe (The Killen Perpetual Cup)
1. D. Mullan
2. B & E Latimer
3. C & A Kennedy
4. A. Bothwell
PHOTOS: Kindly supplied by Jayne Kennedy