The Irish Blue Texel Sheep Society held its annual Premier show and sale on Friday 15 August at the showgrounds in Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Roscommon. In a smaller sale to previous years there were 70 lots on offer of both Blue Texel and Dassenkop males and females. A number of special sales which have already taken place in the last few weeks led to the reduced number. Judge on the day was Henry Jewitt from the Sunnybank flock in England.

Champion in the Blue Texel section was Cavan man Declan McCaffrey’s ewe lamb Cracking Blues Jenny, a daughter of Derg Jack in the Box and out of Cracking fancy-pants, a Caryl’s Blues Captain daughter. Jenny went on to sell for €1,000 to a undisclosed buyer.

Reserve champion overall and male champion in the Blue Texel section went to Valleyview Jack Daniels, a February-born ram lamb by Derg Jaguar out of a Millside ewe, Jack Daniels sold for €1,040.

First- and second-placed shearling Blue rams went to the Muntertinney flock of James Johnston, Raphoe, Co Donegal, both by Woodview Hunter. They sold for €850 and €820 respectively.

Champion Dassenkop male and overall champion went to Nigel Hogan’s Diamond Jackaroo. Jackaroo was by a Dutch imported ram 310 and a home-bred ewe by Cleenagh Chopper. Jackaroo was purchased by Philip Crowe from the Cavan-based Powerful flock for €760.

Reserve champion Dassenkop also went to the Diamond flock.

Blue Texel Sheep Premier.

Leading prices

  • Pat O’Malley’s much-admired first-prized ram lamb Kilconly Jessie, a son of Powerful Hazard and out of a Powerful-bred ewe, Jessie sold for €1,000.
  • James Johnston’s second-prize-winning ram lamb, Muntertinney Jammy Dodger, a Knockmult Jumping Jack son out of a home-bred ewe, sold for €1,000.
  • Nigel Hogan’s Diamond Jolene, which was reserve champion Blue Texel female, sold to James Richardson, Armagh, for €800. She was a daughter of Matts Hot Shot out of a home-bred ewe.
  • Other leading prices included a Meantha shearling ewe by Powerful Frightening selling for €740, a Diamond Blue Texel ewe lamb for €800 and Adam Johnston’s shearling ram selling for €800.