The Belgian Beltex Sheep Society hosted their annual Elite show and sale last week in Tullamore mart. Online bidding was available, but a good share of customers decided to stay ringside.

Topping the sale was a shearling ram from Declan Robinson’s Sheephaven flock in Letterkenny, Co Donegal.

This ram is a full brother to the 2018 premier sale champion and stood third in the pre-sale show.

After a flurry of online bidding, he was eventually knocked down to Michael McGrath, Mulligar, Co Westmeath at €1,180.

Mr. Robinson also received €860, second top price, for another shearling ram that heads to Waterford with breeder Aaron James, Dunmore East.

Next up was Knockawuddy Edwald, which sold at the next highest price of the day at €800 for James and Cormac Killilea, Clarinbridge, Galway.

This fourth prize winner will join the pedigree flock of Jimmy Burke, Castlebar, Co Mayo.

In the ram lamb section, John Maher, Ballinakill, topped the sale when he secured €740 for his first prize winner Ballinakill Full House.

This stylish ram lamb will make the short journey to Killeigh to join the Quarrymount flock of Brian Mathews.

Two ram lambs – Quarrymount Farmer and Quarrymount Ferrai – both from Brian Mathews sold for €680, finding new homes in Clare and Cork respectively.

James Killilea sold his top lamb for €620, while Diarmuid Curran of the Stoney Road flock sold his second prize winner for €600.

First prize

Judge Tom Kenny awarded first prize in the shearling ram class and overall championship to Hillview Ebersold from Dermot Goss, Dundalk, Co Louth.

This much-admired shearling unfortunately failed to meet his reserve in the ring and left unsold.

First prize winner in the female section and overall reserve champion was consigned by Brian Mathews and having failed to meet her reserve in the ring, sold quickly afterwards for €550.