Munster breeders take top honours at Suffolk show

MUNSTER breeders shared the honours of the top rosettes at the Suffolk Sheep Society Show and Sale of Rams at GVM Mart, Tullamore.

Tipperary sheep breeder, John Hanly, Horse and Jockey, showed the Overall Champion of the Show, a January born ram sired by Rheadr The Real McCoy out of dam, Rheadr Reco, from the grand-dam, Baileys Boxer.

In the salesring the champion ram, which was winner of the Open Class in the earlier judging, went on to top the prices paid with the auctioneer’s hammer falling at €440 and the ram going to a new home in the Co Westmeath flock of John McLoughlin at Kilmore, Mullingar.

One of the top Suffolk flocks in Cork, produced the Reserve Champion. The ram was exhibited by Patrick O’Keeffe, Annakisha House, Mallow, Co Cork, a family long associated with sheep breeding in the south.

The January ram was sired by Balquhain Red Star and out of the dam, Rookery Classic with the grand dam, Cairness Liam. In the sales ring the ram failed to make the reserve.

Three rams shared the second highest price when selling for €400 each. It was a good day out for AIdan Collins, Sixmilebridge, Co Clare, who was the exhibitor of all three.

Susan O’Keeffe, Annakisha, Mallow received €380 for a ram and a number of entries changed hands at €350 each.

Overall the trade was described as “relatively quiet” with the bidding for many of the lots on offer failing to meet the expectation of their breeders, and an average of €374 for the sale which had an overall clearance of 41pc.

RECORDED CLASS

1. Patrick O’Keeffe Annakisha House, Mallow, Co Cork; 2. Hanly Brothers Heathview Farm, Horse & Jockey, Thurles, Co Tipperary; 3. Hanly Brothers Heathview Farm, Horse & Jockey, Thurles, Co Tipperary

OPEN CLASS

1 John Hanly, Heathview Farm, Horse & Jockey, Thurles, Co Tipperary; John Hanly, Heathview Farm, Horse & Jockey, Thurles, Co Tipperary, 3 Aidan Collins Rossroe, Sixmilebridge, Co Clare