NORTHERN Ireland’s Matthew Burleigh, Matt’s flock, Shanra, Co Fermanagh, who has picked up multiple tickets since he first began competing at the Beltex Sheep Society’s annual show and sale of registered rams and females at CCM Skipton back in 2016, finally landed the big one last week when crowned supreme champion, then 4000gns top price, at the 2024 breed highlight.

He claimed the coveted title with the first prize shearling ram and male champion, Matt’s Jackson, a March, 2023-born single among the first crop of shearlings by Muirton High and Mighty, a 16000gns acquisition in 2022 who has since sired gimmer lambs to 5000gns.

The Hackney dam, herself by Airyolland Asulam, also produced another 4000gns tup, the third prize shearling at last year’s Skipton showcase. Her price-equalling 2024 supreme was first tapped out by show judge, renowned Beltex breeder Paul Slater, then claimed by him for his highly regarded Whiteley Hey flock, Macclesfield.

The Matt’s flock’s ten-strong consignment of shearling rams proved in ready demand at the ringside, all successfully sold and all but two hitting four figures. Among them were a brace of Murrays Expert sons, Matt’s Javier and Matt’s Jimmy, away at 2500gns and 2000gns respectively, the former snapped up by Paul Simpson, Wigglesworth, the latter a joint purchase by Adrian Leach, Owlers flock, Hebden Bridge, and Dick and Watson Harrison, Clifford House flock, Skipton.

Next up were Matt’s Jay Jay and Matt’s Jakko, both by High and Mighty, the former making 2200gns again to the judge – he took home four in total – the latter 2000gns to John McTear, Cockermouth. All ten Matt’s shearling rams levelled at a solid £1984.50.

Next best at 3800gns and again flying the flag for Northern Ireland was the third prize shearling ram from Co Tyrone’s Gary Scott, Bessy Belle flock, Mountjoy, Omagh, His Bessy Bell Jigalo, by Tullyagan Figo, out of a Mortons Charles-sired dam, joined Frank and Sue Towers, Hornby, Lancaster.

The adjudicator remained in the well-supported shearling ram show class - it attracted a 24-strong entry - for his reserve supreme, the second prize shearling ram and reserve male from defending Scottish Borders champion John Green, Greenall flock, Lilliesleaf.

His Greenhall Just William is a twin son of the privately purchased Riverview Havoc, himself by Ardstewart Armani, who has sired tups to 30000gns, while the dam, the Rathbone Tony daughter, Artnagullion Amber, also produced last year’s Skipton title winner and 8000gns top price. The overall reserve made 1800gns when falling to fellow exhibitor Harry Wood, Dean Brow flock, Dutton, Preston.

Top call of 2600gns in the Greenall pen fell to another Havoc son, Greenall Juggernaut, by the Heatheryhall Fireman Sam daughter, Greenall Golden Delicious, a full sister to last year’s Skipton champion. This, too, took the eye of Paul Slater.

Mr Green, who farms at The Craggs with his wife Emma, and sons, Gilbert and William, also arrived with a strong team of shearling rams, all Havoc sons, with eight sold all hitting four figures, including two at 1600gns, Greenhall Jazzy Jeff, out of a Faughill Escobar dam, and Greenall Just In Time, by Rathbone Tony-sired Artnagullion dam. The overall Greenall shearling ram average was £1483.13.

From Cumbria, the Buckles flock, Barras, Kirkby Stephen, also hit 2600gns with Buckles Jaguar, a Lurg Goliath son out of an Ardstewart Armani-sired ewe, selling locally to AR Rigby, Slaidburn, The Buckles - Jack, Tom and Kevin – also claimed 2000gns with Geffens Jimmy Page, by their home-bred Buckles Hercules, out of a Broxty dam, which went to Co Durham with GW Lee & Sons, Frosterley. Two further Buckles shearling rams sold at four-figure prices.

The Wannop’s Farms flock, Heaton-with-Oxcliffe, Morecambe, sold several shearling rams at four-figure process and to a top of 2000gns for Wannop’s Justify, by Dooley Gabriel, out of a Belvoir View Chaos-sired dam, going to HL Donaldson, Great Busby, Middlesborough. The same team also made 1,200gns with the fourth prize shearling ram, Wannop’s Julian, an Aviemore Festival son.

Turning to the females, the section champion, the first prize shearling ewe, once more hailed from Northern Ireland and David Brown, Brownville flock, Bessbrook, Co Down. Shown by grandson, Mark Latimer, Brownville Joop is by the 7000gns Faughill Francisco son, Procters Hey Good Looking, bred locally in Wennington by Procters Farm and a 2000gns Skipton acquisition when purchased jointly with John Harbinson, Glenkeen flock, Limvady, Co. Londonderry, two years ago after standing first prize ram lamb, champion male and overall reserve champion.

A first crop daughter of the home-bred dam, Brownville Frankie, herself by Cothi Elite, acquired for 3400gns four years ago, whose own dam, Brownville Aya Ya Beauty, stood reserve champion at Balmoral, the female victor topped its section at 1200gns when claimed by the Boden & Davies partnership, Stockport.

The Brownville flock arrived mob-handed with a team of 21, comprising 14 gimmer shearlings, four shearlings rams and three ram lambs, two of which, Brownville Kung-fu and Brownville Ko Jax, both by a Matt’s tup out of Cothi Elite-sired ewes, stood third and fourth in their show class, both making 1,000gns.

From Aberdeenshire, Alan Miller, Miller Farms, Lurg flock, Midmar, Inverurie, consigned the first and second prize ram lambs, both January-born singles. The class winner, Lurg Kenny Rogers, is a first crop son of Pager Jackpot (by Buckles Fury), purchased as a ram lamb for 14000gns, out of a home-bred Buckles Dark Dawn dam, Lurg Honour, a RHS 2022 first prize winner.

The class winner topped the ram lambs at 1500gns when heading north of the border with W McMillan, Newton Stewart, the runner-up, Lurgs Keep Looking Fit, by the Orkney Eurostar son, Vicky’s Gladiator, out of a Kingledores dam, making 1,000gns.

The Lurg flock, whose entries were shown by shepherd Finn Christie, was also responsible for the reserve female champion, the second prize shearling ewe, Lurg Jaws of Death, by Woodies Explosive, a 16000gns buy as a shearling from fellow Aberdeenshire breeder Stuart Wood, Woodies flock, Skerne.

Out of an Ardstewart, she made 700gns, bettered at 850gns by a second Lurg shearling ewe, while from the same home four shearling rams sold at four figures to a top of 1600gns for the Airyolland Freuchie son, Lurg Junction.

Also in the mix, local breeders David and Karen Shuttleworth, Heber Park flock, Gargrave, sold a trio of four-figure shearling rams to a top of 1800gns for the Dooley Garnet son, Heber Park Jeffrey, while the same sale high was one of another four-figure trio for Co Antrim regulars, brother and sister, William and Libby McAllister, Artnagullion flock, Kells, Ballymena. It fell to their Edendiack Hitman son, Artnagullion Jeep. Aged ram prices peaked at 650gns for a 2022 Stonehills tup from James Simcock, Simo’s flock, Stoke Lacy, Hereford.

Back with the girls, local breeders, Garry Robinson and niece, Laura Robinson, Garla flock, Embsay, consigned the first prize ewe lamb, Garla Khalida, a January-born single by the home-bred Skiddaw View Electric son, Garla Johannes Kepler. Out of a Withy Trees dam and the last of this year’s gimmer lambs to be sold by the Robinsons, the class winner sold for 350gns section top, the runner-up, Dean Brow Kamila, a Lakeview Figo daughter from Harry Wood making 300gns.

Plenty of other vendors achieved four-figure selling prices, primarily with males. The annual highlight, co-sponsored by Craven Farm Vets & Sheep Breeding, Nutrigrow, Aytin Shears, I’Ansons and Harrison Agricultural Services, attracted a total entry of 240 head, with a solid 87% clearance rate. Shearling rams averaged £968 (2023 £951), shearling gimmers £503 (2023 £513) and ram lambs £694 (2023 £1090).