BY TOMMY NETHERY
t.nethery@ulsterherald.com
A SUPREMELY muscled ram lamb presented by Robin McAdoo, Cookstown, captured the overall championship at the Suffolk Sheep Society Northern Ireland Branch show and sale at Omagh Mart on Wednesday evening. The Birness Limited Edition son certainly caught the eye of judge A. Barkley and the selection of this outstanding exhibit met with unanimous approval in the sale ring before auctioneer Noel Erskine allowed the hammer to fall at 600 guineas.
Earlier, another exceptional ram lamb displaying supreme length and conformation presented by Martin Conway from Plumbridge attracted widespread interest before being knocked down at the same price. This Kings High and Mighty son was one of four similarly bred and consistent rams lambs offered by the Craigatoke flock, all of which turned a more than a few heads at ringside.
In the sale arena, Robin McAdoo enjoyed a successful evening, selling ram lambs for 600, 400, 360 and 350 guineas while the Burnview flock of S. and W. Tait attracted prices of 380 and 300, also paid to Gary McAdoo for a Pennan Performer son.
Quality shearlings were in strong demand with the first prize-winning offering by Gordon McAdoo and Sons engaging a plethora of bidders before being sold for 450 gns, while fellow Cookstown breeder, Samuel Burrows was paid 440 gns for an equally impressive 18-month-old specimen.
Elsewhere, Ardstraw breeder, William Moore, and S and W Tait, both achieved the 400gns mark, while the second-placed shearling offered by Tullyard flock owner, James Winters exchanged hands for 350 gns.
In the show ring, the McAdoo connection was very much to the fore with Gordon and Sons getting the verdict in the shearling class, ahead of James Winters and S and W Tait.
Local breeders, S and M Liggett clinched the honours in the ram lamb class, followed by S and W Tait and Gary McAdoo respectively.
However, the evening belonged to Robin McAdoo, who got the nod in the best pair category, closely followed by Hunter Stewart of Castlederg and S and W Tait, before one of his dynamic duo was selected as the supreme overall champion.
Judge Barkley handed the reserve champion rosette to the first prize-winning ram lamb brought forward by the Liggett brothers, with second reserve going to S and W Tait.
All the prizes on the night were presented and sponsored by Dessie Ferguson, regional representative for Fort Dodge Animal Health.
The next sale will take place in Ballymena on September 17.
SHOW RESULTS
Shearling ram: 1, Gordon McAdoo and Sons; 2, James Winters; 3, S and W Tait.
Ram lamb: 1, S and M Liggett; 2, S and W Tait; 3, Gary McAdoo.
Best pair: 1, Robin McAdoo; 2, Hunter Stewart; 3, S and W Tait.
Supreme Champion: Robin McAdoo; reserve, S and M Liggett; 2nd reserve; S and W Tait.
LEADING PRICES (GNS)
Shearlings - Gordon McAdoo and Sons 450 360; Samuel Burrows 440; S and W Tait 400; William Moore 400; James Winters 350; W and R McMullan 320.
Ram lambs - Robin McAdoo 600 400 360 340; Martin Conway 600; S and W Tait 380 300; Gary McAdoo: 300.
