Despite a number of main sheep breeds moving their all-Ireland finals to the NSBA championships held in Kilkenny last month, the Irish Vendéen Sheep Society held its ground and returned to Athenry for the Sheep 2018 event.

The show attracted over 40 purebred Vendéen sheep to compete for the much sought-after title of all-Ireland Vendéen champion.

Continuing her form from last year’s all-Ireland finals to claim overall championships for two years in a row was Cheryl O’Brien, Kildorrery, Co Cork.

Female and overall champion exhibited by Cheyl O'Brien.

Her shearling ewe, Quitrent Rosita, ticked all the boxes for judge Michael Oliver who tapped her forward as female and overall champion.

This stylish ewe is sired by a French AI ram, while her grandmother also claimed top spot in the shearling all-Ireland class in 2015.

The Lynch family topped a superb day when they claimed reserve overall champion with their ram lamb red rosette winner.

This young ram was sired by a ram the Lynch family bred over 12 years ago, which was also the sire of the second prize-winner for the family in the same class.

Out of a French AI-bred ewe, the male champion also placed first in Kilkenny last month and will now be kept as a stock ram.

Claiming the reserve female champion behind the eventual champion was the Lynch’s ewe lamb class winner.

This stylish ewe also placed top of the line in Kilkenny and is sired by a French AI sire. John and Stephen Lynch are no strangers to winning ways having claimed the overall championship at the finals two years ago.

Reserve female champion exhibited by Stephen Lynch.

Securing the last of the championships was Ciaran Coughlan, who was awarded the reserve male championship for his stock ram.

This powerful ram, originally bred by Cheryl O’Brien, was bought at the society’s premier sale in 2015 and claimed the male and reserve overall championship at last year’s finals.

Speaking about his champion, judge Michael Oliver said: “This ewe was a real French ewe, with real breed character and tight wool. The reserve similarly had plenty of breed character, size and power. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality on show.”

Reserve male champion from Ciaran Coughlan.

Full results:

Senior ram: 1. Ciaran Coughlan, Ferbane, Co Offaly; 2. Ena Nagle, Mitchelstown, Co Cork.

Shearling ram: 1. Cheryl O’Brien, Kildorrery, Co Cork; 2. Mark and Audrey Crowe, Dunsany, Co Meath; 3. Ciaran Coughlan, Ferbane, Co Offaly.

Ram lamb: 1. John Lynch, Ballinalee, Co Longford; 2. John Lynch, Ballinalee, Co Longford; 3. Ena Nagle, Mitchelstown, Co Cork.

Senior ewe: 1. Ciaran Coughlan, Ferbane, Co Offaly; 2. Cheryl O’Brien, Kildorrery, Co Cork; 3. Ena Nagle, Mitchelstown, Co Cork.

Shearling ewe: 1. Cheryl O’Brien, Kildorrery, Co Cork; 2. John Lynch, Ballinalee, Co Longford; 3. Cheryl O’Brien, Kildorrery, Co Cork.

Ewe lamb: 1. John Lynch, Ballinalee, Co Longford; 2. Cheryl O’Brien, Kildorrery, Co Cork; 3. Cheryl O’Brien, Kildorrery, Co Cork.