Co Antrim breeder celebrates double success at NI Dorset sheep sale

Caroline McKeown with the sale topper, Ashvale Ironman I1504, who sold for 1,200gns.

A Templepatrick sheep breeder has claimed the overall championship and the highest price of the day at the Northern Ireland Dorset Sheep Breeders Club’s fifth annual Swatragh Show and Sale.

Caroline McKeown’s Ashvale flock enjoyed a standout showing at the event, with her ewe lamb taking the overall championship before selling for 700 guineas, while another Ashvale entry topped the entire sale at 1,200 guineas.

The results brought further success for the Co Antrim breeder, who also secured second and third places in the ewe lamb class.

Ashvale ewe lamb takes championship

Judge Philip Hegarty is pictured with Caroline McKeown and her ewe lamb who was Overall Champion at the NI Dorset 5th Swatragh Show & Sale.

Held on Friday 21 August, the annual sale was judged by Philip Hegarty of the Corlea Flock, Omagh.

His choice for overall champion was Lot 35, a ewe lamb from Caroline McKeown. The homebred Ashvale lamb, by Bellewstown Hawkeye H568 and out of Ashvale E0649, went on to top the female trade when she was purchased by John Duggan, Co Meath, for 700gns.

McKeown then recorded the day’s highest price with her second-placed ram lamb, Ashvale Ironman I1504.

Ironman is the last son available to purchase from Beechmount Edwardo E671 and is homebred out of Ashvale D0389.

He sold for 1,200gns to Finn Davidson of Gibston Farm Dorsets, Aberdeen, giving the Ashvale flock both the overall championship and sale-topping price.

Further success for Ashvale flock

The top three ewe lambs, all from Caroline McKeown’s Ashvale Flock.

There was more success for McKeown in the ewe lamb class, where her entries filled the first three places.

Lots 29 and 31 finished second and third respectively and were also purchased by John Duggan, selling for 420gns and 480gns.

Lot 26, an Oliver Tree Glen daughter out of an Ashvale ewe, was bought by judge Philip Hegarty for 450gns.

The results completed a particularly strong Swatragh outing for the Templepatrick flock, with Ashvale animals attracting buyers from Co Meath, Co Tyrone and as far afield as Aberdeen.

Portaferry breeders take reserve championship

Judge Philip Hegarty and Peter Breen are pictured with the Reserve Champion and Opposite Sex to the Champion, Ballymacnamee Invincible ZD71 I0182.

Reserve Champion and Opposite Sex to the Champion went to Ballymacnamee Invincible ZD71 I0182, Lot 12, from Elaine and Peter Breen of Portaferry.

It was the Breens’ sole entry in the sale but made its mark by winning the ram lamb class before being selected as reserve overall.

Invincible, a Lisnafillan Del Torro son out of Islandview F0071, sold for 550gns to Richard and Matthew Hall.

The remaining ram lamb placings went to Caroline McKeown in second, P Knowles in third, G&S Miller in fourth and P McKinney in fifth.

In the ewe lamb class, McKeown took first, second and third, with G&S Miller securing fourth and fifth.

Ram lamb prices rise

The winning ram lamb line-up.

The sale also recorded stronger prices than last year’s event.

Ram lambs averaged £645.75, an increase of £120 on the previous year, while ewe lambs averaged £427.35, up by more than £10.

The fifth annual Swatragh Show and Sale was sponsored by Strabane Mills, with the NI Dorset Sheep Breeders Club thanking the sponsor alongside exhibitors, buyers, officials and everyone who supported the event.

Ballymena sale next on the calendar

Attention now turns to Ballymena, where the Club’s next event will be the NI Dorset Autumn Show & Sale at Ballymena Livestock Mart on Monday 12 October 2026.

Further information, including the sale catalogue when released, will be available through the Northern Ireland Dorset Horn and Polled Dorset Sheep Breeders’ Club Facebook page and website.

For local breeders and followers of the Dorset breed, the Ballymena sale provides the next opportunity to see how animals coming through the autumn trade compare after a Swatragh event marked by stronger averages — and a particularly successful day for Templepatrick’s Ashvale flock.