Texel Show Report Balmoral Show

[click here for Balmoral Gallery]

Considering Northern Irish sheep producers have had to contend with a long, wet winter, a fantastic display of Texel sheep greeted judge Alan Clark from Lanark at Balmoral Show where leading the way was Martin Millar, Coleraine, Co Londonderry, with his three-crop ewe.

By Corrie Lancelot, a tup purchased from Carlisle for 5000gns, she is out of a homebred ewe and took the championship on her first outing ever. Mr Millar, who runs 70 pedigree Texel ewes and is celebrating his third breed championship at Balmoral, said: “Having been flushed once we have some cracking ewe lambs in the flock. She will likely be shown again this summer.”

Commenting on his champion ewe after the judging, Mr Clark said: “This was an amazing, well balanced ewe, showing great power and strength, every inch a champion.”

Taking the reserve spot and second reserve spot was Jack and Beth Gault, Newtonabbey, Co Antrim, culminating to the family’s third reserve championship title at Balmoral. Their reserve female champion and reserve overall champion is by the homebred tup Forkins Ogara out of a homebred ewe. Again this was the first outing for the ewe where she will next head to Ballymena and Ballmoney Shows.

Father Alistair Gault was then tapped out as male champion and second reserve overall champion, with his tup lamb by Mullan Playboy, a tup bought at Dungannon for 5000gns. He will now be retired from showing before being offered for sale in Lanark at the end of the year.

Taking the reserve male championship was John Foster, Castlederg, Co Tyrone, with his two shear tup ram Blackstown Ozzy by Mellor Vale Masterpiece. Ozzy was used as a ram lamb in Mr Foster’s 90-ewe flock having been purchased at Ballymena Mart when he stood champion in 2008. 

Mr Clark described his reserve overall champion as another great female. “She’s a classy gimmer with great style; she came out winner of an incredibly difficult class.

“My male champion was a very powerful ram lamb, well grown and well fleshed for this time of year, while the reserve male was a good, balanced ram.”

Overall, Mr Clark added he was particularly impressed with the standard of the sheep placed in front of him, considering the harsh winter these breeders have had to contend with.

The Texels beat off stiff competition in the Interbreed Group of Three championships on the third day of judging at Balmoral to secure the title under pedigree and commercial sheep breeder John Geldard, Lake District.

The winning team consisted of an aged ram from John Foster’s Springhill flock, an aged ewe from Martin Millar and a ram lamb from Beth and Jack Gault’s Cherryvale flock. Mr Geldard commented: “The Texel group were incredibly well balanced, showing great fleshing and locomotion, a credit to the exhibitors.”

FULL CLASS RESULTS:

Ram, two shear and upwards:

1 Mr John TW Foster, Springhill – WWB08019

2 Mr John TW Foster, Springhill – FAO08419

3 Mr John TW Foster, Springhill – FTS08088

Shearling ram:

1 Mr Samuel Kerr, Fairyglen – KSF09033

2 L and K Beacom, Castleknowe – SCY09114

3 Mr Stewart Ferris, Leapogues – MKR091212

Ewe, two shear and upwards, rearing or having reared a lamb in 2010:

1 Mr Martin TC Millar, Millars – VMG07341

2 Mr Martin TC Millar, Millars – VMG06180

3 Mr Steven McCollam, Carmavy – MSY06257

Shearling ewe:

1 Beth and Jack Gault, Cherryvale – GAF090031

2 Mr Henry Gamble, Springwell – GRS09072

3 Mr Henry Gamble, Springwell – GRS09029

Ram lamb, born in 2010, bred by exhibitor:

1 Beth and Jack Gault, Cherryvale – GCN1000105

2 Mr Martin TC Millar, Millars – VMG1000166

3 R Henderson, Ballynahone – HBR1000023

Ewe lamb, born in 2010, bred by exhibitor:

1 Mr David Warwick, Braehead – QDA1000028

2 Mr Thomas James Carson, Downkillybegs – CTD1000030

3 Mr David Warwick, Braehead – QDA1000017

Champion Martin TC Millar’s two shear or above ewe: VMG07341

Reserve Beth and Jack Gault’s shearling ewe: GAF090031

Young Handlers Competition:

Junior:

1      James McCombe

2      Jonathan Hammond

3      Robbie Foster

4      Liam Donohoe

5      James Price

6      Sam McIntyre

7      Isobel Riley

Senior:       

1      Robert Gamble

2      Mark Rainey

3      Neil Watson

4      Victoria Price

	Beth and Jack Gault’s 1st prize, male and second reserve ram lamb – GCN1000105
	David Warwick’s 1st prize ewe lamb – QDA1000028
	Samuel Kerr’s 1st prize shearling ram – KSF09033
	Beth and Jack Gault’s 1st prize, reserve female and reserve overall shearling ewe – GAF090031
	John Foster’s 1st prize and reserve male champion aged ram – WWB08019
	Martin Millar’s 1st prize, female champion and overall champion aged ewe – VMG07341
	Group of Three – WWB08019 (SPRINGHILL - John Foster), VMG06180 (MILLAR’S – Martin & Cyril Millar), GCN1000105 (CHERRYVALE - Beth & Jack Gault)
	Judge Alan Clark presenting James McCombe with his trophy for winning the junior young handlers class
	Judge Alan Clark presenting Robert Gamble with his trophy for winning the senior young handlers class
	Judge Alan Clark
	Alan Clark judging
	Bank on Texel
	The Group of Three winning team consisted of an aged ram from John Foster’s Springhill flock, an aged ewe from Martin Millar and a ram lamb from Beth and Jack Gault’s Cherryvale flock.
	Stephen Bloomfield, Regional General Manager, and John Henning, Head of Agriculture of Northern Bank are pictured congratulating John Foster, Martin Millar and Alastair Gault with the winning entries of the Best Interbreed Group of Three.