Ballymaconnelly dazzle at Dorset Diamonds with 4,600gns top price

Samuel and Elaine Caldwell (right) with Thomas and Sam Wright (left) and Ballymaconnelly Iceman who was the top price at the Dorset Diamonds Sale making 4,600gns.

The 11th annual Dorset Diamonds Spring Sale delivered another standout day for Northern Ireland’s sheep breeding community, with local flocks commanding impressive prices and Ballymena once again at the heart of the action.

Held at Ballymena Livestock Mart on Saturday, 28 March 2026, the prestigious sale saw a string of four-figure sums, but it was a standout ram lamb from Rasharkin breeders Samuel and Elaine Caldwell that stole the show.

Their Lot 70, Ballymaconnelly Iceman, topped the sale at an eye-catching 4,600gns, capping off an exceptional run of success for the well-known local flock.

Ballymaconnelly Iceman leads the field

By Ballycraig Express and out of a homebred ewe by Lisnafillan Dylan, the striking ram lamb is a twin brother to the Champion at the Dorset Emeralds Sale in Worcester just the previous week.

The strong local interest in the bloodline was clear in the ring, as an intense burst of bidding unfolded before father-and-son team Thomas and Sam Wright from Ballymoney secured the top-priced animal.

The sale topper rounded off what was already a remarkable week for the Caldwells, further underlining the strength of pedigree Dorset breeding in the Ballymena and wider North Antrim area.

Championship honours in the pre-sale show

Judge Jeremy Durrant (middle) pictured with James and Craig Robson and their Dorset Diamonds Champion Ballyhamage Hideaway.

Before the auction got under way, the pre-sale show was expertly judged by Jeremy Durrant of the Hydes Flock in Essex.

Durrant selected the first-place shearling ram, Ballyhamage Hideaway (Lot 25) from James and Craig Robson of Doagh, as his Champion.

No stranger to success in the show ring, Hideaway had already caught Durrant’s eye previously, having been his first choice in the ram lamb class at the 2025 National Show in Armagh, which he also judged.

Bred by Bencran Frank and out of Ballyhamage E299, the shearling ram is also a maternal relative of the 2023 Swatragh Show and Sale Champion.

The ring appeal continued into the sale itself, where the ram went on to make 2,100gns, purchased by Samuel and Elaine Caldwell.

Wrights secure Reserve Champion

Reserve Champion honours went to Ballytaggart Immense from Thomas and Sam Wright, after the ram lamb came through a particularly strong and competitive class.

Immense, out of Ballytaggart F2900 and by Ballymaconnelly Hob-Nob, carried notable pedigree appeal. Hob-Nob had itself been both Champion and top price at last year’s Diamonds Sale.

Judge Jeremy Durrant was clearly taken by the quality on display and later purchased the winning ram lamb himself for 2,900gns.

Strong momentum for the NI Dorset Club

The continued success of Dorset Diamonds reflects the growing stature of the event and the breed across Northern Ireland, with local breeders once again proving highly competitive at both show and sale level.

For Ballymena and the surrounding farming community, the event remains a major date in the agricultural calendar, drawing buyers and breeders from across the region and beyond.

The next Northern Ireland Dorset Club event will be its National Show at Limavady Show 2026 on Saturday, 18 July 2026.

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At a glance

• Dorset Diamonds Spring Sale held at Ballymena Livestock Mart on 28 March 2026

• 11th annual event for the Northern Ireland Dorset Club

• Top price was 4,600gns for Ballymaconnelly Iceman

• Sold by Samuel and Elaine Caldwell of Rasharkin

• Bought by Thomas and Sam Wright from Ballymoney

• Champion in the pre-sale show was Ballyhamage Hideaway

• Reserve Champion was Ballytaggart Immense

• Multiple sheep achieved four-figure sums

• Next major event is the National Show at Limavady Show 2026 in July