The father and son duo of Colm and James McAteer had a day to remember at the Ulster Ram Breeders Blackface Association annual sale held at Ballymena Livestock Market on Monday.

Breaking the existing sale record, the pair sold their leading Lanark ram lamb for an exceptional 50,000gns.

The son of £14,000 Auldhouseburn was purchased by Alan and Hugh Blackwood from Auldhouseburn, Scotland.

Adding to the memorable day and realising an outstanding sale average, Colm and James went on to sell the record lamb’s pen mates for a creditable 14,000gns to John McPherson, Balliemeanoch, Scotland, with others reaching 6,500gns, 5,500gns, 3,800gns and 3,200gns.

James McCurdy from Broughshane was hot on the McAteers’ heels with a ram lamb sold late in the day which realised 45,000gns. This son of £72,000 Auldhouseburn sold to Robert Loughrey.

Red-letter day

Cathal, Charlie, Oonagh and Eoghan Harkin, The Rock, also enjoyed a red-letter day with their ram lambs selling to a top of 32,000gns, with others reaching 8,000gns, 7,500gns and 4,500gns.

Their top-priced lamb, a son of £65,000 Auldhouseburn, was knocked down to Charlie Gallagher.

Patrick and John Harkin, Loughash, sold to a top of 22,000gns with a son of £65,000 Auldhouseburn. Glenmore Farms purchased it.

James McCurdy achieved the second-top price of the sale with this lamb, which realised 45,000gns. \ Mullagh Photography

Also going to Glenmore Farms was a ram lamb from Gordon Crawford, which realised 18,000gns.

Other top ram prices included:

  • 12,000gns from Veronica and Patrick Fullerton to Sean and Cahir McGilligan.
  • 11,000gns from Stroanbrack, Brian and Conor Devine to Auldhouseburn.
  • 10,000gns from Cahir McGilligan to Glenmore Farms.

    • Lanark shearlings

    Leading the way in the Lanark shearling ring was a ram from Patrick McGuigan, which realised 10,000gns.

    Heading to Scotland, this son of £12,000 Loughash was knocked down to the Wight family of Midlock Farms.

    Charlie, Cathal, Oonagh and Eoghan Harkin sold this son of 65k Auldhouseburn for 32,000gns. \ Mullagh Photography

    First exhibitor of the day in the Lanark section Eoin McKenna set a precedent for the day ahead, selling his first shearling ram to a creditable 6,500gns.

    Also heading to Scotland, it was knocked down to Malcolm Coubrough.

    John McCalmont from Glenarm enjoyed a good trade in the shearling section with a ram which realised 6,500gns, selling to P Sheerin.

    Other top prices included:

  • 6,500gns from Colin Mceldowney to Tom Staunton.
  • 5,200gns from Patrick and John Harkin to Euan McMillan, Lurg.
  • 5,000gns from Nevan Mceldowney to A and A Devine.

    • Perth sheep

    Starting the weekend with a bang, the association also held its Perth sheep annual pre-sale show.

    Brendan Robinson and Michael Friel took on the task of judging.

    Tom, Joe and Archie Adams had a successful day out, taking both overall champion and overall reserve champion titles.

    Standing overall champion was the Adams’ shearling ram, which went on to realise 2,900gns in the following day's sale. He was knocked down to J McHugh.

    Also from the Adams, the overall reserve champion was a ram lamb which went on to make 7,500gns, selling to judge Michael Friel.

    Brendan Robinson topped the Perth section, selling this lamb for 13,000gns. \ Mullagh Photography

    The following day's sale saw a top price for Perth shearlings reaching 4,400gns.

    The ram from Michael Smyth, Limavady, was knocked down to P Brennan. Michael’s pen went on to realise a good sale average, with another sold for 2,200gns to O Cassidy.

    Brendan Robinson had a successful day in the Perth Lamb section, selling to a top price of 13,000gns. It was knocked down to Michael Smyth.

    Selling to a creditable 10,000gns was a ram lamb from Kevin McAleer. Sam Adams purchased it.

    Also making 10,000gns, Eamonn Conway sold his ram lamb to Tom Adams.

    Ballymena ram sale averages

    Perth ring

  • Shearlings – averaged £969.76.

    • An increase of £226.21 for 10 more sold than 2025.

  • Lambs –averaged £1,685.

    • A decrease £542 for 12 more sold than 2025.

    Lanark ring

  • Shearlings –averaged £1,273.

    • A decrease of £65 for 25 less sold than 2025.

  • Lambs –averaged £4,209.

    • An increase £1,270 for nine more sold than 2025.