The Irish Texel Sheep Society held its second premier sale in Carnaross Mart, Co Meath, recently. The show and sale began with judging under the watchful eye of Edward Buckley from Co Cork. Edward returned this year to select the champion after purchasing last year’s winner.

Judging started with the female classes. The ewe lamb class was led by John Neville (Thornville) with a ewe lamb sired by Drumcon His Highness. She took the female champion title and went on to sell for a record €2,550 at the second premier sale, purchased by the judge himself.

Second place in the ewe lambs was awarded to father-and-son duo Patrick and Barry Farrell, with a lamb sired by their Blessington purchase, Annaghdown Hoodini, out of a sister to Oberstown Gucci. She sold for €2,000 to Gillian Earle (Co Wexford).

The third-highest price in the ewe lamb section went to the McHugh family for their third-prize winning ewe lamb, another daughter of Annaghdown Hoodini from the same line as Greenhill Dance Monkey. This lamb was selected by Nicola Featherson and purchased for €2,200

The shearling ram class was won by another father-and-son team, John and Geoffrey Taylor from Co Monaghan, who presented a naturally born triplet sired by Loosbeare Chief. He sold for a record €2,400 for a shearling ram at the second premier, purchased by Wexford breeder Liam Dillon.

The second-highest priced shearling ram was from John and Michael Donhoe, selling for €1,650 to Brendan Flanagan. Next highest was from Sean and Peter McGee, with a son of Knockhill Great Expectations selling for €1,340 to Mike Heary.

The novice class was also claimed by father and son, Michael and John Donhoe, with a full brother to their record-breaking Sheep Ireland sale topper. He sold for €3,000 to the McHughs, Matthew Harrison and Ethan Duffy.

The first win for the McHugh family was in the open ram lamb class, with a son of their renowned Blessington purchase, Silverhill Helpful, from the same line as Greenhill Dance Monkey. He later claimed both the male championship and overall champion titles, selling for a record €5,000 to Brian Hanthorn.

The reserve male champion and reserve overall champion also came from this class, with Pat and Barry Farrell presenting a son of Hilltop Golden Eye, out of another sister to Gucci. He sold for €2,100 to Wexford breeder Michael Sinnott.

The second win for the McHughs was with a son of the aforementioned Annaghdown Hoodini, selling for €1,850 to Paul Doherty. The McHughs also claimed the recorded class with another son of Annaghdown Hoodini, who sold for €2,000 to Frank Butler.