Despite incredible weather, crowds flocked inside for the inaugural NSBA championships held in Cillín Hill mart on Saturday.

The nearly 700 sheep that attended the event included 10 breeds along with a large commercial showing. Below are some of the very worthy champions.

Suffolk

Arthur O’Keeffe claimed both the champion and reserve titles in the Suffolk ring. Both were from the shearling ewe class ,and the champion was reserve champion last year as a ewe lamb.

Vendéen

John Lynch secured the overall championship in the Vendéen section with his hogget ewe Ballinascraw Rihanna. Sired by Killeen Owen, this ewe was shown as a lamb but saw her highest placing as a second. This marked a good day for Lynch, who also claimed two other first prizes with a ewe lamb and ram lamb.

Beltex

Top of the Beltex breed was the senior ram class first prize winner Barrack. This star was exhibited by Alan Cuddy.

Blue Texel

Top of both classes in the Blue Texel ring was Vicky Collison, Roscrea, Co Tipperary. Her ram lamb class winner went on to claim the championship.

Jacob

Cathal Walsh's shearling ram was was crowned champion. This ram bought as a lamb goes by the name Glenmore Buckaroo.

Texel

The Texel classes saw the biggest entry on the day, with more than 200 sheep present. John Neville claimed the overall female and supreme championship with a hogget ewe. This stylish young ewe was bought last December from Brian Hanthorn.

Charolais

The Miley family of Declan, Mark and Joe picked up the champion and reserve titles in the Charollais ring. This marks the fifth year in a row the outfit have secured poll position at the breed's national finals. Champion went to the shearling ewe class winner who is sired by Rheadar Orlando and out of Logie Durno Oprah. Reserve went to the dam of the champion, Oprah, who herself won the championships in 2015 and 2016.

Belclare

It was again a championship win for the Mileys in the Belclare ring, with their homebred hogget being tapped forward. Sire behind this one was Coolgara Blaze, sire of last year's record-priced ram.

Commercial

Both the overall and reserve championship in the commercial ring went to David Kelly. Out in front was a Texel cross Suffolk while a Texel cross was in reserve.

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