Held over two days in Blessington Livestock Mart, the Premier Charollais show and sale provided a spectacular display of livestock, with some classes exceeding 40 entries.

Tasked with the job of whittling down the numbers was Bruce Ingram of the Loanhead Flock in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Leading the overall trade was a ram lamb owned and exhibited by Cavan man David Argue.

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The pick of many pedigree and commercial breeders, Rockdale Emperor was knocked down to Northern Ireland breeders Alistair Crawford and Kinley G Tenner for a mouth-watering €7,000.

A son of Hollybank Daytona, going back to the best line of females in the Cavan-based flock, this promising young lamb was born in January.

The Rockdale flock went on to average €3,550 for a pen of four ram lambs, with David's next best finding his reserve at €3,400, selling to William Tait of the Calhame flock in Co Donegal.

Auctioneer Tom Doyle was kept on his toes throughout the day, as 44 rams exceeded the four-figure mark.

Ram-lamb section

The second top lot in the ram-lamb section came from the highly regarded Bawnard Flock of Jim and Frampton Jeffery, with their January-born ram lamb, Bawnard Electric.

Sired by Annamacneil Dakota going back to the highly influential sire Duiske Whats Wanted on the dam side, this five-star terminal ram lamb caught the eye of Joseph Byrne of the Foynes flock in Co Wicklow for €4,600.

Caltra flock

Not far behind and heading west to Co Galway was Liam and Shane Conway's ram lamb, Caltra Erling the Viking, an impressive Rockdale Dusty son going back to a homebred dam.

Snapping this one up at €4,000 was Drew Cowen from Northern Ireland.

Caltra El Nino, a son of the two time all-Ireland senior ram champion Carrowbaun Anchorman also got plenty of interest, selling to Co Wexford breeder Dyelan O’Sullivan for his Cloughmill flock.

Overall, the Galway men finished up with a tremendous pen average of €3,400.

Male and overall champion which sold for €3,200, shown by Frank Jordan and John O'Toole with judge Bruce Ingram. \ Sean McCarthy

The overall champion of the day went to Frank Jordan of the Ballinaslee flock and was the pick of many in the sales yard.

This impressive son of Foxhill Va Va Voom attracted plenty of attention and later found a new home with Nicholas Redmond for €3,200.

Ewe lambs

Eddie and Paul O’Gorman topped the ewe lamb trade at €1,500, selling their offering to Raymond and Eamon Shanahan in Co Cork. Hot on her heels was William Gleeson's second prize winner which met her reserve at €1,200, selling to Caroline Cairns.

Overall, ewe lambs averaged €746 for 14 sold, representing a 70% clearance.

Judge Bruce Ingram with Andrew Gilmore and his overall female champion, which sold for €2,000. \ Sean McCarthy

Cavan breeder Andrew Gilmore was out in front in the hogget ewe section, with his reserve overall champion fetching the top female price of €2,000, selling to Andrew Reilly for his Tunker flock.

The hogget ewe trade proved the hottest of them all, with a 90% clearance and a steady average of €910.