The West of Ireland Registered Pedigree Suffolk Sheep Breeders Club held its 55th Annual Show and Sale in Roscommon Mart on Friday 7 August.

For this year's show, the club welcomed Eoin Butler, of the renowned Castlewood Flock in Northern Ireland, as the guest judge.

There were some seriously strong sheep on display for the show, which kicked off with the Shearling class. Paul Morris of the Coolarne Flock took the red rosette with a home-bred ram sired by Coolarne Carswell out of a Coolarne Ewe.

The Novice class was up next, where Aidan and Mary Carney of the Coolough Flock received the red ribbons for their Annakisha Daire sired lamb out of a Milldam Ewe, which went on to sell for €1,000.

The Gigot class also saw a strong line-up of quality rams and it was a Crewelands Dancing Brave sired lamb from the Enniscrone Flock of Ronan Gallagher which took the top honours.

This strong lamb out of a Duncan’s ewe went on to make €1,180.

Marie Jennings’ Ballygarris Flock took reserve in the Gigot class, with a well-built lamb sired by Ernevalley Dawson out of a Ballygarris ewe, which was later knocked down at €1,380.

Record breaker

The Open Ram class was a tightly contested affair and it was another Enniscrone Ram which caught the judge’s eye.

This Limestone B Double Diamond lamb out of a Windfiled ewe stood out from the competition and was tapped out as the eventual champion, much to delight of breeder Ronan Gallagher from Co Sligo.

Taking reserve was another strong lamb from the Inchear Flock of James Cuffe, which was sired by Enniscrone Dawnstar out of a Limestone Ewe.

The champion later went on to sell to a breeder for a new club premier sale record of €3,100, re-enforcing the judge’s decision, while the reserve was knocked down at €1,000.

In the Pairs, it was Thomas Kenny’s Flock which took the top honours, while Trevor Geelan’s Loughrynn Flock had to settle for second.

Overall bidding was brisk in the ring and the sale achieved a clearance rate of 75%, with an average price of €1,025.

The next club sale will take place in Athenry Mart on Friday evening 28 August at 7pm.