The Zwartbles breed has taken a positive swing throughout the UK of late with wins including the interbreed title at last month’s Balmoral Show. This win helped to highlight to onlookers what the breed can offer, which will hopefully go towards increasing their population in years to come.

The NSBA Championships played host to the recently formed Zwartbles Éire Co-Op Society's first ever all-Ireland championships, attracting nearly 50 sheep. Andrew Duncan was given the task of judging the breed across five classes.

He awarded the overall championship to Colin Stephenson’s Woodfield Emerald. A native of Baltinglass, Co Wicklow, Colin first won the shearling class before going on to be awarded the female and inevitably the overall championship. The win topped an exceptional day for the Woodfield outfit having also secured the reserve male championship with their ram lamb.

Overall male championship in the Zwartbles ring went to John Powell’s Dairylough Eric. Born January 2017, Eric was originally purchased from Melvin Dorman in Co Down. Sired by Hedgefield Break in Boy, this shearling ram also placed second at the Connought Spring Show in Corofin.

Results

Ram lamb class

1. Colin Stephenson.

2. Ronan Lally.

3. Oisin Lyons.

Ewe lamb class

1. Tim Kelleher.

2. Tim Kelleher.

3. Ronan Lally.

Shearling ram class

1. John Powell.

2. Colin Stephenson.