Priestley tops the class at Armagh for the third year in a row

This Cairnton Chaos shearling ewe out of a Birness Playboy dam edged out Campbell & Jason Watson in an impressive strong line up of shearling ewes.

However, Priestley had to fend off stiff competition in particular from Ballynacannon flock owner Dennis Taylor who claimed the reserve champion prize with his ram lamb a Limestone Springbok

son.

Competition in the Northern Ireland Championships was intense with Judge James Cannon of the Redbrae Flock from Scotland handing the first, second and third placed rosettes in the aged ewe class to Blackstown flock owner Jack Moses, Cherryvalley Suffolks and the Castlewood flock of Martin & Eoin Butler respectively.

Rossbrook flock owners Sharon & Keith Johnston topped the table in the shearling ram class ahead of Jason & Campbell Watson who went on to take the second prize rosette.

Lesley Liggett took the red rosette in the ewe lamb class with Dennis Taylor taking second and Stephen & Jordan Toye taking third prize.

Dennis Taylor clinched first in the ram lamb class with the Corony flock of Lesley Liggett second and Patrick McVerry third in a very powerful line up of ram lambs.

Lesley Liggett took the pair of lambs award with Dennis Taylor second and Ian Donald third.

The Ballynacannon flock also went on to take the group of 3 award edging out Jason & Campbell Watson and Ian Donald.

But in the final deliberations Dennis Taylor had to settle for second best as Co. Down breeder Mark Priestley scooped the top prize on offer for the third year in succession. Mark also went on to take Interbreed Champion of the show.

Judge James Cannon commented on the show: “Thoroughly enjoyed my day at Armagh Show, extremely high standard of sheep forward in every class, a real credit to everyone. Very pleased with my overall champion especially when she went on to win the Interbreed! It was also a pleasure to judge the Young Handlers, so many enthusiastic Young Stockmen.”

Meanwhile in the stock judging competition which followed it was Martin Butler & Richard & Andrew Wilson who took the prizes in the Over 26 section with brother and sister Eimear & Eoin Butler and Ruth Wilson taking the winnings in the U26 section. Millie Donald won the U9 age group in the Young Handlers Competition and Isabella Taylor took the Winning Rosette in the 10-14years group.

Many thanks to Thompsons for sponsorship of the Stock Judging Competition and Britmilk for sponsoring the Young Handlers competition.

Results

Aged Ewe: 1st Jack Moses; 2nd Cherryvalley Suffolks; 3rd Martin & Eoin Butler; 4th Jason & Campbell Watson; 5th Stephen & Jordan Toye; 6th Philip Kennedy

Shearling Ewe: 1st Mark Priestley; 2nd Jason & Campbell Watson; 3rd Dennis Taylor; 4th Mark Priestley; 5th Ian Donald; 6th Dennis Taylor

Shearling Ram: 1st Sharon & Keith Johnston; 2nd Jason & Campbell Watson

Ewe Lamb: 1st Lesley Liggett; 2nd Dennis Taylor; 3rd Stephen & Jordan Toye; 4th Michael McNally; 5th Ian Donald

Ram Lamb: 1st Dennis Taylor; 2nd Lesley Liggett; 3rd Patrick McVerry; 4th Dennis Taylor; 5th Ian Donald; 6th Jason & Campbell Watson

Pair of Lambs: 1st Lesley Liggett; 2nd Dennis Taylor; 3rd Ian Donald

Group of 3: 1st Dennis Taylor; 2nd Jason & Campbell Watson; 3rd Ian Donald

Male Champion - Dennis Taylor

Reserve Male Champion - Keith & Sharon Johnston

Female Champion – Mark Priestley

Reserve Female Champion – Lesley Liggett

Overall Champion – Mark Priestley – Shearling Ewe

Reserve Champion – Dennis Taylor – Ram Lamb

Young Handlers Results

U9: 1st Millie Donald; 2nd Lewis Kennedy; 3rd Jack Watson

10-14years: 1st Isabella Taylor; 2nd Aimee Liggett; 3rd Noah Taylor

Stock Judging Results

26 & Over: 1st Martin Butler; 2nd Andrew Wilson; 3rd Richard Wilson

Under 26: 1st Eimear Butler: Joint 2nd Eoin Butler & Ruth Wilson