Big money paid for Suffolks at Athenry Show and Sale
Beneath a damp sky over Galway Bay, The West of Ireland Registered Suffolk Sheep Breeders Club held their Premier Show and Sale at Atherny Mart on Friday evening last, August 22.
Supreme Champion of the Show went to Matthew Pearse, O’Briensbridge, Co. Clare, for his January born twin lamb, sired by Errigal Rockefeller, out of a dam from his own flock.
This champion, which sold for €1,000 to a commercial farmer from Galway, captured the Male Champion Rosette and was first in the Open Ram lamb Class. Matthew also received €920gns and €720gns for two other ram lambs.
Reserve Supreme Champion went to Mark Grealy from the Oranmore Flock, a single January born ram lamb, sired by Castleisle A Kingsman out of a home bred dam.
This lamb was also the Reserve Male Champion and was placed first in the Recorded Class and first in the pairs – he sold for €1,340gns. Mark sold three other ram lambs for €1,000gns; €940gns and €920gns.
The first class paraded in front of our judge, James Rooney from the Benwiskin Flock, was the Ewe Lamb Class. Here, the red rosette went to Zachary and Bernadette Silke, Sacre-Coeur Flock, for their late December born single stylish ewe lamb sired by Essie the Giant out a Benwiskin Ewe.
Winner of the Hogget Ram Class was one to the Society’s newest Breeders, Laura Durkin from Tournmakeady. Her hogget, Malcom Chesney, sold to a local commercial breeder for €600gns as did another hogget owned by Laura.
Our club wishes to express a special word of thanks to our judge, James Rooney, who carried out an exceptional job and thanks also to all our sponsors for their support.
Pictured: Clodagh, Mark Óg and Mark Grealy, Oranmore, with their Suffolk Reserve Supreme Champion Ram Lamb at Athenry Mart on Friday – the lamb sold for €1,340gns.