All roads lead to Carrick-on-Shannon this Friday 15 August where the big highlight in the Blue Texel calendar - its premier show and sale - will take place in the showgrounds.

The show kicks off at 3pm, with the sale starting at 6pm.

There are 70 sheep entered for the sale, with a mix of shearing rams, ewes, ram lambs and ewe lambs from some of the best flocks in the country. The sale will include Blue Texel and Dassenkop sheep.

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It’s the Midland and Western Livestock Improvement Society’s first sale to use the Irish Farmers Journal online bidding platform Martbids, having changed its provider earlier this month.

Buyers need to make sure they are registered to bid in Carrick and any new buyers need to contact the sales office in Carrick once they seek approval to bid.

Buyers won’t be approved to bid without prior verification by the sales office. You can register by downloading the Martbids app or visiting www.martbids.ie.

Judge

The judge for the premier sale is the renowned pedigree sheep and cattle breeder Henry Jewitt of the Sunnybank & Show Winners flock in the UK.

“I’d like to thank the Irish Blue Texel Society for inviting me to judge and I’m looking forward to seeing a strong section of quality sheep.

"On my home farm, we run pedigree Limousin and British Blue cattle alongside our flocks of Blue Texels, Dutch Spotted, Badger Face Texels, Suffolks and a commercial flock.

"We started breeding Blue Texels in 2013 and added the Badger Face Telexes in 2019. Since then, we’ve been lucky to achieve great success - selling Badger Face Texels to 10,000gns, Blue Texel tups to 30,000gns and gimmers to 20,000gns.

"A personal highlight has been winning the Badger Face Texel champion twice at the Great Yorkshire Show.

"On sale day, I’ll be looking for a very smart, stylish and correct animal, which handles well and has a good top and end. I wish all exhibitors the very best of luck and can’t wait to see you all on the day,” Henry said.