Donegal breeder John Greene from the Larahirl flock went home a happy man when he snapped up the double at the Growvite All-Ireland Texel Sheep Society Championships which were staged at Finn Valley show recently.
Having taken the male championship, John’s shearling ram, Strathbogie Uno, went on to win the overall supreme title amid a quality line-up of sheep with over 190 sheep competing across 10 classes. Not stopping there, John also took the overall reserve title with his female champion as well as the reserve female title.
The supreme champion, Strathbogie Uno, was purchased jointly as a lamb in the 2013 Lanark sale for stg10,000gns. Interestingly, his sire, Strathbogie Terminator, was also the sire of a number of other prize winners in the ring.
The overall reserve champion, also owned by John, was a shearling ewe by Kelso Pavarotti. Earlier, she had taken the female champion and her full sister was second to her in the shearling ewe class.
But the winning spree didn’t stop there for John as his aged ewe by Lochar Rocket was tapped forward by the judge, Charlie Boden of the Sportsman flock, as the reserve female champion.
This outstanding ewe displayed character, conformation and carcase, but there was more than looks to this lady as she was the dam of a Strathbogie Terminator daughter who took first prize in the senior ewe lamb class, and a Terminator son who was second in the senior ram lamb class.
It proved a worthwhile trip for Arthur and Patrick O’Keeffe of the Annakisha flock, Co Cork, when their senior ram took the reserve male championship. A lamb with a tremendous carcase and super head, he is a Tullylagan Tonka son out of a Castlecairn Secret Service dam.
Meanwhile, Daire and Enda McManamon, Co Mayo, won first and second in the junior ram class with two ET brothers. By Scholars Twenty Twelve and out of a Rascal Panther ewe, these rams generated a lot of interest around the ring at Finn Valley.
The highly contested junior ewe lamb class saw a ewe from Malachy McMeel’s Forthill flock, Co Monaghan, take the red rosette. She is a daughter of Thornville Ureka – the reserve male champion at the 2013 Growvite All-Ireland Championships.
Neville Myles from the Silverhill flock won the two shear ram and upwards class with Emlach T-Rex, a Glenside Razzle Dazzle son. Purchased at the 2012 Premier Texel sale, T-Rex was the overall reserve male champion at the 2012 All-Ireland finals.
Rodney McLaughlin from the Clara flock, Co Donegal, won the novice ram lamb class with a son of Strathbogie Terminator, while the novice ewe lamb class went to Philip Crowe’s Powerful flock with a stylish Strathbogie Terminator daughter.
Finally, the Gemma Doyle Memorial Cup for the junior stockperson was awarded to Laura Brennan, Monard, Claremorris, Co Mayo.
The Irish Texel Premier Show and Sale will be held at Blessington mart, on 8 to 9 August, where there will be 100 pedigree Texel females and 250 Pedigree Texel rams on offer. Most of the rams will have €uro-star evaluations and be STAP eligible. To request a catalogue contact 087-3552992.
Class results
Two shear ram and upwards
1. Neville Myles.
2. Paddy Leonard and G,C and M Taylor.
3. Paddy Leonard.
Two shear ewe and upwards
1. John Greene.
2. Danny Murray.
3. Willie Doherty.
Shearling ram
1. John Greene.
2. Ronnie Edwards.
3. Shane Keane.
Shearling ewe
1. John Greene.
2. John Greene.
3. Arthur and Patrick O’Keeffe.
Senior ram
1. Arthur and Patrick O’Keeffe.
2. John Greene.
3. Rodney McLaughlin.
Junior ram
1. D and E McManamon.
2. D and E McManamon.
3. David Coen.
Senior ewe
1. John Greene.
2. Ryan Greene.
3. Liam Walsh.
Junior ewe
1. M, J and A McMeel.
2. D and E McManamon.
3. Anthony Donnelly.
Novice ram
1. Rodney McLaughlin.
2. Liam Browne.
3. Philip Crowe.
Novice ewe
1. Philip Crowe.
2. Rodney McLaughlin.
3. M, J and A McMeel.
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