As part of the first NSBA championships, the south of Ireland branch of the Suffolk Sheep Society brought their national championships to the event. The breed boasted one of the largest entries of any with 80 of the best Suffolk sheep in the country lined out on the day.
The surreal weather witnessed across the country on the day wasn’t enough to hamper keen exhibitors from strutting out in front of judge Iain Barbour. Iain, who runs the Solowaybank flock in Drumfries and Galloway in Scotland, is recognised as one of the leading producers in the breed, selling to a top of 26,000gns at Stirling in 2017.
His expertise in the breed helped him make short work of the judging which cumulated to the final championship line up. After deliberation over his male and female champions he eventually tapped forward Arthur O’Keeffe’s shearling ewe.
Arthur and his family are familiar faces in the championship line ups, having won the supreme championship on a number of occasions, including in 2017. This year was no different with the champion ewe having secured the reserve female of the year title at last year’s nationals. This tight-skinned shearling had placed top of the female line before being awarded the overall championship. Sired by the 11,000gns Shannagh resolve, the dam is a Cairness Galastar daughter.
Sheep from 10 different counties weren’t enough to stop the O’Keeffe’s run of form with Arthur’s son, Patrick, securing the reserve female and reserve overall championship. Having placed second in the shearling class, Patrick’s ewe followed his fathers all the way to the end, making it a double triumph for the family. This ewe was sired by Clyda Dreamcatcher while the dam was out of well-known Rookery Classic, which sired a number of champions for the family’s flocks.
Successful family day out
Arthur’s sister and president elect, Susan O’Keeffe, was also in the championship line up having secured the overall male champion Suffolk. Her first prize ram lamb securing the male championship marked a phenomenal day for the Mallow-based O’Keeffe family. Sire behind the top male was the 19,000gns Muirton One Direction while the dam goes back to the aforementioned Rookery Classic.
Last of the championships to be awarded was the reserve male which was scooped by Seamus Browne. This ram stood second in line to the champion in the ram lamb class. Sired by Lakeview Heart, this one goes back to Gold Dam.
Class 1: shearling ram
1. Philip Lynch, Castlebellingham, Co Louth.
2. Sean and Valerie Tiffin, Kilgarvan, Co Kerry.
3. Coote Geelan, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim.
Class 2: aged ewe
1. Philip Lynch, Castlebellingham, Co Louth.
2. Susan O'Keeffe, Mallow, Co Cork.
3. Kenneth Bailey, Tulsk, Co Roscommon.
Class 3: shearling ewe
1. Arthur O'Keeffe, Mallow, Co Cork.
2. Patrick O'Keeffe, Mallow, Co Cork.
3. Susan O'Keeffe, Mallow, Co Cork.
Class 4: novice ram lamb
1. John Stacey, Bunclody, Co Wexford.
2. Garth Graham, Ballygawley, Co Sligo.
3. David Quinlan, Gowran, Co Kilkenny.
Class 5: open ram class
1. Susan O'Keeffe, Mallow, Co Cork.
2. Seamus Browne, Letterkenny, Co Cork.
3. John Stacey, Bunclody, Co Wexford.
Class 6: novice ewe lamb
1. Aaron Kealy, Dunshauglin, Co Meath.
2. Colin Watchorn, Newcastle, Co Wicklow.
3. David Quinlan, Gowran, Co Kilkenny.
Class 7: ewe lamb
1. Philip Lynch, Castlebellingham, Co Louth.
2. Seamus Browne, Letterkenny, Co Donegal.
3. Patrick O'Keeffe, Mallow, Co Cork.
Four in a row at Charollais all-Ireland