Mountdale flock’s champion ewe lamb tops Ballymena Dorset sale at 2,800gns

Overall Champion

A ewe lamb from a County Antrim breeder’s flock claimed both the championship and the highest sale price at this year’s Northern Ireland Dorset Horn and Polled Dorset Sheep Breeders’ Club Premier Show and Sale in Ballymena.

Held at Ballymena Livestock Mart on Monday, 27 July, the club’s 54th annual event saw Ellen McClure’s Mountdale flock continue a remarkable run of success, with her champion ewe lamb selling for 2,800gns after catching the eye of judge Joe Redford.

Champion completes winning run

Mountdale I541 won a strong ewe lamb class before being named Overall Champion. Sired by Mountdale Gladiator and out of Mountdale G28, she had already enjoyed success earlier this season as part of the first-prize pair of lambs at Balmoral Show and the winning group in the club’s recent flock competition.

She later topped the sale, selling for 2,800gns to K Lagan.

The result capped another successful few weeks for the Dundrod breeder, who had recently secured the Champion Flock title and won the Northern Ireland Dorset National Show.

McClure also sold another Mountdale Gladiator daughter for 1,000gns after the ewe lamb, out of Mountdale D66, finished third in her class and was purchased by R Greer.

Strong demand drives lively trade

Reserve Champion

Reserve Champion honours went to Ben Lamb’s homebred ewe lamb, Richill I2379.

By Hilltop Hero and out of F1173, she sold for 2,100gns to judge Joe Redford and Richard Fitton of Dynamite Dorsets.

Ben Lamb also enjoyed one of the strongest sales of the day, with four sheep among the leading prices. Two further Hilltop Hero ewe lambs sold for 850gns and 700gns, while another entry by Oliver Tree Predator realised 750gns.

James and Craig Robson’s Ballyhamage flock, based in Doagh, sold one of their prize-winning ewe lambs, a Bencran Frank daughter, for 900gns to Glen Miller.

The brothers also achieved 800gns for their second-placed Poll Dorset ram lamb, Ballyhamage I330, while two further Ballyhamage Hideout progeny sold for 650gns each.

The Opposite Sex to the Champion award went to the first-prize ram lamb from David and Sarah Stevenson’s Greenhill flock. By Downkillybegs Einstein, the ram lamb sold for 850gns to Peter Knowles.

Another ewe lamb from Richard Currie’s Hilltop flock in Ballymena also realised 850gns, selling to A & G Sloane.

Excellent clearance rate

Demand throughout the sale remained strong, particularly for ewe lambs, with buyers bidding both in the sale ring and online.

The ewe lamb section achieved a 100% clearance rate, averaging £576.76 per head, representing a 19% increase on the previous year.

Three additional ewe lambs reached 800gns, including entries from the Manor, Rivervalley and Ashvale flocks.

Laura Weir’s Lisnafillan flock dominated the shearling ewe section. A Wilsey Fortune daughter scanned in-lamb with twins topped the section at 800gns, while another in-lamb Ballytaggart Destructor daughter made 750gns. A Downkillybegs Flashdance triplet sold for 650gns.

Across all sections, 96 pedigree Dorset sheep sold for a combined 56,280gns, with the overall clearance rate reaching 90.5%.

Judge praises quality on show

Judge Joe Redford, of the Pegasus Flock in Manchester, praised both the standard of sheep and the strength of competition.

“The quality and show of sheep at the NI Dorset Show and Sale was fantastic. The ewe lamb class was particularly impressive. The Champion was flashy from the moment she entered the ring and showed herself brilliantly. She handled extremely well throughout and had great carriage.

“There was very little between her and the Reserve who was also a fantastic sheep. She had show ring presence with a beautiful true-to-type Dorset head.

“The Opposite Sex to Champion, the ram lamb class winner, displayed power with great balance and was extremely correct.

“It was brilliant to see more people in the novice class this year too, which is vital for ensuring the future of our breed. I’d like to thank the Northern Ireland Dorset Breeders Club for the invite to judge and to all vendors who put forward a great show of sheep.”

Club chairman Samuel Caldwell said the sale reflected continued confidence in the breed.

“We had a great Premier Show and Sale. The buoyant trade reflected buyers’ confidence in the breed and the continued demand for quality breeding females, making for a highly successful sale all round.

“In all, 96 pedigree Dorset sheep sold to a total of 56,280gns, with a 90.5% clearance rate. It was a very good day for the Dorset breed in Northern Ireland and for our club members.

“On behalf of the club, I would like to thank the breeders, buyers, judge, Ballymena Mart and our sponsors Norbrook and Provita Animal Health.”

The club’s next event is the 10th Annual Omagh Show and Sale on Friday, 7 August 2026, followed by the 5th Annual Swatragh Show and Sale on Friday, 21 August 2026. Further information, including catalogues, is available through the Northern Ireland Dorset Horn and Polled Dorset Sheep Breeders’ Club website and Facebook page.

Full Results – NI Dorset Sheep Breeders Club 54th Premier Show & Sale

The Stevenson family – Opposite Sex to Champion – Lot 20, ram lamb, (David & Sarah Stevenson)

Monday 27th July 2026

Judge: Mr Joe Redford of Pegasus Flock, Walkden, Manchester.

Poll Dorset Ram Lamb

1st – Lot 20, D & S Stevenson

2nd – Lot 26, J & C Robson

3rd – Lot 19, D & S Stevenson

4th – Lot 23, C McKeown

5th – Lot 5, L Weir

6th – Lot 10, P & E Breen

Pair of Ram Lambs

1st – Lots 14 & 15, P McKinney

Shearling Ram

1st – Lot 3, R Moore

2nd – Lot 1, L Weir

Poll Dorset Ewe Lamb

1st – Lot 53, E McClure

2nd – Lot 69, B Lamb

3rd – Lot 56, E McClure

4th – Lot 74, A & C Kennedy

5th – Lot 49, E & H Kennedy

6th – Lot 45, P, S & A Knowles

Pair of Ewe Lambs

1st – Lots 125 & 126, J & C Robson

2nd – Lots 70 & 72, B Lamb

3rd – Lots 76 & 75, A & C Kennedy

4th – Lots 99 & 100, R Currie

5th – Lots 48 & 47, P, S & A Knowles

Shearling Ewe

1st – Lot 35, L Weir

2nd – Lot 36, L Weir

Novice Breeder Lamb Class

1st – Lot 129, T Craig

2nd – Lot 130, T Craig

3rd – Lot 11, A Beck

Championships

Overall Champion – Lot 53, ewe lamb, Ellen McClure

Reserve Champion – Lot 69, ewe lamb, Ben Lamb

Opposite Sex to Champion – Lot 20, ram lamb, David & Sarah Stevenson

Sale Averages

• Ram lambs – £625.63

• Shearling rams – £577.50

• Aged rams – £367.50

• Ewe lambs – £576.76

• Shearling ewes – £630

Kindly sponsored by Norbrook and Provita Animal Health.