Kells breeder Elizabeth McAllister wins top honours at Dungannon Beltex sale
Irish Beltex Premier Show & Sale: Judge Andrew Baillie and Sophie McAllister with Overall Show Champion, Artnagullion Major.
Sunday 20 September 2026
Kells sheep breeder Elizabeth McAllister secured the overall championship, reserve male championship and highest shearling ewe price at the Irish Beltex Sheep Breeders Club’s Premier Show and Export Sale in Dungannon.
Her homebred ram lamb, Artnagullion Major, won the top show honour before selling for 4,500gns to Douglas Nisbet, Loughbrickland, at Dungannon Farmers’ Mart on Monday, 31 August.
The results marked a strong day for the local Artnagullion flock, with Elizabeth also winning the shearling ram class and selling a shearling ewe for 2,050gns.
Artnagullion Major takes the championship
Judge Andrew Baillie with Kenny
Judge Andrew Baillie, of the Callacrag Flock in Lanarkshire, selected Major as his first-placed ram lamb before awarding him the male and overall championships.
Major is by Glenview Jeff and out of Artnagullion LIZ.K025. His sire, jointly owned with Gary Beacom and Russell Smyton, was the 2024 Dungannon Premier Show Champion, the Irish Beltex Flock Competition’s Best Overall Stock Ram in 2024 and the 2025 Balmoral Show Champion.
Explaining his choice, Mr Baillie said:
“The Champion from Artnagullion was a really bonnie, correct sheep. He showed himself well and had a tremendous top.”
Further success for the Kells flock
Elizabeth’s first-placed shearling ram, Artnagullion Lucky, went on to take the reserve male championship. The homebred Rathbone Tony son, out of Artnagullion Flossy, sold for 2,100gns to Edward and Shirlee Nicholson of the Derryogue Flock, Kilkeel.
Artnagullion Lily achieved the highest price in the shearling ewe section at 2,050gns. A paternal half-sister to Major, she was bought by Michael Oliver of Lisnacrann Pedigrees, Swinford, County Mayo.
Another Glenview Jeff offspring, Elizabeth’s sixth-placed shearling ram, sold for 1,600gns to Eddie McCarthy, Buttevant, County Cork.
Lakeview Lionheart leads the trade at 5,500gns
Gary & Max of Artnagullion whose shearling ram Lakeview Lionheart achieve top price of 5500gns
While Artnagullion took the overall show championship, the highest sale price was achieved by Lakeview Lionheart, a shearling ram from Fivemiletown breeder Gary Beacom.
The second-placed shearling ram sold for 5,500gns to Glenn Baird of the Aghavilly Flock, Armagh. He is by Logie Durno Jack Daniels and out of Lakeview Jungle Princess, the 2025 Irish Beltex National Show Champion.
The result followed Beacom’s success at the Society’s Premier Sale in Carlisle, where a shearling ram sold for 65,000gns and a full brother of Lionheart made 5,000gns.
Bolies ewe wins reserve overall title
Joshua Keys with female and reserve overall champion Bolies Lemon, with Judge Andrew Baillie
Joshua Keys, Fivemiletown, secured the female and reserve overall championships with his shearling ewe Bolies Lemon. By Matt’s Hellboy and out of Bolies Juicy, the 2024 Balmoral Show Beltex Champion, she sold for 1,450gns to Cathal Tuohy, Coose, Whitegate, County Galway.
Mr Baillie said:
“The Reserve Champion from Bolies was also a good, correct sheep who was well balanced with great breed characteristics.”
John Harbinson, Limavady, took the reserve female championship with his second-placed shearling ewe, which was bought by Jayne Tannahill, Coleraine.
Glenarm breeders sell all nine sheep
Hugh and Eddie O’Neill, Glenarm, sold all nine sheep in their consignment, with three shearling rams each making 1,400gns. They also secured third place in both the shearling ram and shearling ewe classes.
Matt’s Mr Bean achieved 2700gns
Among the other leading prices was 2,700gns for Matt’s Mr Bean, the second-placed ram lamb from Matthew Burleigh, Kinawley. By Matt’s King of the Road and out of Matt’s Jammy Dodger, he was bought by Mark Latimer, Bessbrook.
Omagh breeder Alastair Shortt took first and second in the ewe lamb class, with the animals selling for 500gns and 950gns respectively to Mark Breen. He also sold a ram lamb for 1,400gns to Leslie and Stephen Glenn, Carryduff.
Strong demand from buyers
Eddie & Melissa
Club chairman Eddie O’Neill reported an 89% clearance rate, with buyers bidding both online and at the ringside.
He said:
“It is great to see the time and effort put in by our club members pay off for them.”
A £200 voucher competition sponsored by Glenkeen Livestock Supplies was won by Alison McCrabbe of the Ardstewart Flock. She put the voucher towards Lakeview Limited Edition, a shearling ram from Gary Beacom bought in partnership with Bodoney Beltex.
Full class results
Shearling ram: 1st, Elizabeth McAllister, lot 16; 2nd, Gary Beacom, lot 1; 3rd, Hugh and Eddie O’Neill, lot 18; 4th, John Harbinson, lot 23; 5th, Matthew Burleigh, lot 10; 6th, Elizabeth McAllister, lot 15.
Ram lamb: 1st, Elizabeth McAllister, lot 47; 2nd, Matthew Burleigh, lot 104; 3rd, William Porter, lot 44; 4th, Elizabeth McAllister, lot 48; 5th, Russell and Martina Smyton, lot 45; 6th, Alastair Shortt, lot 43.
Shearling ewe: 1st, Joshua Keys, lot 53; 2nd, John Harbinson, lot 61; 3rd, Hugh and Eddie O’Neill, lot 65; 4th, John Harbinson, lot 59; 5th, Matthew Burleigh, lot 105; 6th, Elizabeth McAllister, lot 67.
Ewe lamb: 1st, Alastair Shortt, lot 68; 2nd, Alastair Shortt, lot 69; 3rd, Chris Johnston, lot 71.
Omagh sale next on the calendar
The next listed event is the Omagh Show and Sale on Friday, 25 September, at Beattie Pedigree Livestock Centre. Readers interested in attending or buying should visit the Irish Beltex Sheep Breeders Club’s Facebook page for details.
