Judge John Harbinson selected John and Sean Brown’s shearling ewe as the 2017 Beltex national champion at the society’s finals held at the Athlone Agricultural Show recently. The Boherawillin flock from Durrow, Tullamore, Co Offaly, is no stranger to winning the championships having secured the overall title every year from 2012 to 2015.

The Boherawillin pedigree Beltex flock was originally established by John and his wife, the late Breda Brown, in 1996, and their loyalty and commitment to the breed has continued down through to generations to their grandson, Sean. Their success on Sunday did not stop with the champion as the Boherawillin flock also took the reserve overall championship with another homebred sheep, this time their senior ram. Grandfather and grandson smiled proudly for photos, sharing the same flock name and family surname.

Breeder Dermot Goss, Kilcurry, Dundalk, Co Louth, had a very successful day. His ram lamb received the first prize in his class while his Hillview flock’s shearling ram also received first prize in his class before going on to be awarded reserve champion male when it came to the championship stage.

Laois breeder Alan Cuddy who runs the Aughduff flock took the reserve female champion prize with his first prizewinning senior ewe, while his ewe lamb also picked up the red rosette in her class. Commenting after the show, judge John Harbinson said he was not only impressed by the numbers forward for the national championships but also the quality of sheep.

Melissa Harbinson took the helm when it came to the young handlers’ class; she awarded the first prize to Ryan Cuddy of the Aughduff flock.

The society members will now move their focus to the annual society premier sale, which is taking place on 23 August at Tullamore Mart, Co Offaly.

Beltex shearling ram

1 Dermot Goss, Lurgankeel, Kilcurry, Dundalk, Co Louth.

2 John and Sean Brown, Gormagh, Durrow, Tullamore, Co Offaly.

3 Sean and Paul McCartney, Oldcourt, Clough, Ballacolla, Co Laois.

Beltex senior ram

1 John and Sean Brown, Gormagh, Durrow, Tullamore, Co Offaly.

2, Brian Mathews, Quarrymount House, Killeigh, Co Offaly.

3 Sean and Paul McCartney, Oldcourt, Clough, Ballacolla, Co Laois.

Beltex shearling ewe

1 John and Sean Brown, Gormagh, Durrow, Tullamore, Co Offaly.

2 Dermot Goss, Lurgankeel, Kilcurry, Dundalk, Co Louth.

3 John and Sean Brown, Gormagh, Durrow, Tullamore, Co Offaly.

Beltex senior ewe

1 Alan Cuddy, Aughduff, Camross, Portlaoise, Co Laois.

2 Brian Mathews, Quarrymount House, Killeigh, Co Offaly.

3 Alan Cuddy, Aughduff, Camross, Portlaoise, Co Laois.

Beltex ram lamb

1 Dermot Goss, Lurgankeel, Kilcurry, Dundalk, Co Louth.

2 Colm Curran, Kilbride, Trim, Co Meath.

3 John and Sean Brown, Gormagh, Durrow, Tullamore, Co Offaly.

Beltex ewe lamb

1 Alan Cuddy, Aughduff, Camross, Portlaoise, Co Laois.

2 Dermot Goss, Lurgankeel, Kilcurry, Dundalk, Co Louth.

3 John and Sean Brown, Gormagh, Durrow, Tullamore, Co Offaly.

Beltex young handlers’ competition

Judge: Melissa Harbinson

Ryan Cuddy, Aughduff, Camross, Portlaoise, Co Laois.

All-Ireland champion 2017

Beltex shearling ewe (John and Sean Brown).

All Ireland reserve champion 2017

Beltex senior ram (John and Sean Brown).

Reserve male shearling ram champion

Dermot Goss.

Reserve female senior ewe champion

Alan Cuddy.

All-Ireland crossbred sheep championship

Tim Kelleher was the busy man with the duty of adjudicating crossbred sheep in the All-Ireland commercial ring at the Athlone show.

The overall supreme champion went to Christopher Johnston from Lifford, Co Donegal.

His best crossbred ewe lamb saw him take the major when all champions were placed against each other in the championship lineup.

The class winner and reserve overall champion was awarded to David Kelly from Oldtown, Tiermaclone, Ennis, Co Clare, for his crossbred hogget ewe.

Western Texel regional championship

The very successful Niland flock was out in great force at the Athlone show. Padraic Niland from Kinvara, Co Galway, claimed top honours on the day with his female champion and supreme champion Texel ewe.

Thomas Kenny, Ballinasloe, Co Galway, followed suit, snatching the reserve female champion and the reserve supreme champion sashes at the show.

John Foster was the judge in the Texel ring throughout the day and awarded the male championship to Padraig Treacy from Knockcroghery, Co Roscommon.