The Belgian Beltex Breeders Society of Ireland hosted an in-lamb show and sale on Saturday, December 7, at GVM Tullamore Mart, Co. Offaly.

Despite the impact of Storm Darragh making travelling conditions more challenging, the event was described as a “great success” and the society commended the Beltex breeders that attended the sale as well as Tullamore Mart and its staff.

Sale averages and clearances held strong with a flurry of online bidding which the society says “shows the continued profile growth of the breed”.

Thomas Clarke from the Branraduff Flock, in Ballindine, Co. Mayo was judge on the day.

He awarded the overall champion title to Declan Robinson’s Sheephaven Jennifer.

The Buckles Fizzy Pop-sired shearling ewe later fetched the top price of €1,300 in the sale ring and headed back Clarkes flock in Co. Mayo.

The reserve champion title was awarded to Jack and Sean O’Brien’s Aileach View Kardashian.

This ewe lamb is sired by Wannop’s Firecraker and her full sister took the second-place rosette in the ewe lamb class. The Aileach View flock had a full clearance of their ewe lamb pen later in the sale.

The Aileach View flock success didn’t stop here. Their shearling ewe was awarded second place in her class and sold to William Glynn from Moate Co. Westmeath.

Both the third and fourth place shearling ewes came from the Cloneycavan Flock of Hugh O’ Connor and both ewes also headed to Co. Westmeath for their new home selling to Paul Slevin’s flock in Mullingar for €1,000/head.

A third shearling ewe of O’ Connors also broke the €1,000 mark, selling to Kevin Burke in Co. Laois.

John and Dudley Mahers’ Ballinakill Flock from Co. Tipperary took a clean sweep in the aged ewe class.

Maher’s pen of aged Beltex ewes are in-lamb to Rockdale Head over Heels. Progeny from this double five-star ram is in high demand and the pen averaged €850/head in the sales ring.

The show results were as follows:

  • Champion: Sheephaven Jennifer, lot 21 owned by Declan Robinson;
  • Reserve Champion: Aileach View Kardashian, lot 37 owned by Sean and Jack O’Brien;
  • Shearling Ewe Class:
  1. Sheephaven Jennifer, lot 21 owned by Declan Robinson;
  2. Aileach View, Lot 14 Sean and Jack O’ Brien;
  3. Cloneycavan Just Dance, lot 12 owned by Hugh and Stephanie O’ Connor;
  4. Cloneycavan Jo Jo, lot 13 owned by Hugh and Stephanie O’ Connor;
  5. Aileach View, Lot 3 owned by Sean and Jack O’ Brien;
  6. Quarry Mount Jungle Boogie, Lot 24 owned by Brian Mathews.
  • Aged Ewe Class:
  1. Ballinakill Hullahoop, lot 25 owned by John and Dudley Maher;
  2. Ballinakill Hunky Dory, lot 26 owned by John and Dudley Maher;
  3. Ballinakill Hanna, lot 27 owned by John and Dudley Maher.
  • Ewe Lamb Class:
  1. Aileach View Kardashian, lot 37 – Sean and Jack O’ Brien;
  2. Aileach View, lot 38 – Sean and Jack O’ Brien;
  3. Quarry Mount Kinvara, Lot 32 owned by Brian Mathews;
  4. Hillview Kadienne, lot 30 owned by Dermot Goss;
  5. Hillview Kerri, lot 31 owned by Dermot Goss.

The In-lamb show and sale capped off “a fantastic year of shows and sales for the breed this year” and the society thanked all breeders and buyers, as well as Tullamore Mart for its support.

BEGIA BELTEX BREEDERS SOCIETY PEDIGREE NEWS