With six classes to display, three supreme champions to announce and nearly 60 pedigree Vendéen sheep to sell, Roscommon was the place to be last Thursday, 13 July, as Roscommon Mart played host to the Vendéen All-Ireland premier sheep show and sale. New parking facilities and great hospitality from the mart staff made the day extremely enjoyable for vendors.

The knowledgeable Padraic Niland was the judge on the day. Proceedings began at 12pm and the shearling ram class was first on the agenda. Cheryl O’Brien’s shearling ram, from Springvale, Kildorrery, Co Cork, claimed the top spot. O’Brien’s winning Vendéen was sired by B7257 and his dam was Quitrent Lavina. When put under the hammer, this top shearling ram made €560.

John Lynch from Ballinalee, Co Longford, was second and Andrew Gilmore from Cortubber, Kingscourt, Co Cavan, followed in third place and made €470 when in the selling ring.

Ram lambs with five terminal traits were in the next class for Niland to judge. His deciding view saw Ena Nagle take the honours. Nagle’s exceptional ram lamb travelled all the way from the Landmark flock, Ballyloughy, Mitchelstown, Co Cork, and it was worth the journey as the rebel didn’t stop there in terms of winning rosettes on the day.

Ena Nagle brought home the overall supreme champion title, the Harry Browne Memorial Cup, and the lamb performance cup, which was sponsored by Pat Oliver. When left for farmers to bid upon, the animal made €860, making it the second-best price made on the day. The champion was from the Cottage Jasper family.

Ciaran Coughlan may have come second in this class but he managed to take home the most money for his ram lamb, making €910 in total. Coughlan, who runs the Noggus flock, sold his ram lamb to Keith Anderson from Springfield, Co Westmeath. Longford man John Lynch came in third place with his five-star index ram lamb.

Ena Nagle was in top place in the second ram lamb class also. Making €700 in the ring, the sire was Cottage Jasper and the dam was Landmark Lace Ally. Andrew Gilmore and Cheryl O’Brien secured second and third place, respectively.

With just two ewes in the shearling ewe class, John Lynch saw the red rosette going his way. Its sire was Killeen Owen and its dam was Ballinascraw Merit. Nagle claimed the second place in this class.

Class 4a, ewe lambs with five terminal traits, was between three vendors. Ciaran Coughlan came out with the first and second honours, while Brendan Rooney followed in third. Coughlan reached €300 with his winner and €270 with his second-placed ewe lamb.

The next class, also ewe lambs, was won by Brendan Rooney. Andrew Gilmore came second and Coughlan took third. Rooney, from Drumfad, Grange, Co Sligo, made €460 in the ring. His winner was sired by Ballinascraw Jasper and the dam was Landmark Lot Ally.

While Ena Nagle claimed the honours for the lamb performance cup and the supreme champion cup, reserve champion place was awarded to Cheryl O’Brien for her winning shearling ram. The reserve champion made €560 in the bidding arena.