You would be forgiven for thinking there was only one breeder with ram lambs at the Premier Show and sale in Roscommon on Wed 23rd July. The Ballinascraw flock took 1st prize in the LambPlus 5star class for Terminal Trait with their only 5star ram lamb. This was followed by a record breaking 1st 2nd 3rd and 4th in the open ram lamb class. Then had 1st and 5th in the shearling ewe class. They to wait for the Championship of Production sheep to win their next trophy, the Pat Oliver Performance Cup. They followed this with the overall championship and reserve championship. What a day in the show ring for the Lynch Family of Ballinalee, Co. Longford. It did not end there though. In the sales ring the Champion was sold for 1,000 guineas to Mike Edgeworth from Waterford and the other 4 averaged over 600 guineas each. The judge on the day was Fred Coulter from Ballymena, Co. Antrim, renowned breeder and judge.
Front L-R Stephen Lynch holding the Champion, Ballinascraw Najinsky, Champion and John Lynch with Ballinascraw Nasa, Reserve Champion.
Back L-R Fred Coulter, judge and Cheryl O’Brien Vendéen Society Chairperson
Pat Oliver on the left presenting the Performance Trophy to John Lynch on the right with Fred Coulter, the judge, in the centre
The sale went well with an almost 80% clearance of rams on the day with prices and clearance up on 2013. The ring was crowded for the entire sale and the bidding was brisk.
With lots of demand for quality Vendeen sheep, this all bodes well for the upcoming sale season.
Results of the Premier Show kindly sponsored by Univet
| Shearling Ram | ||
| 1st | Lot 29 | Liam Dolan |
| 2nd | Lot 30 | Liam Dolan |
| 5 star Terminal Ram Lamb | ||
| 1st | Lot 39 | John Lynch |
| 2nd | Lot 37 | Cheryl O’Brien |
| 3rd | Lot 15 | Gordon & Yvonne Johnston |
| 4th | Lot 9 | Mark & Audrey Crowe |
| 5th | Lot 10 | Mark & Audrey Crowe |
| 6th | Lot 3 | Tom Duffy |
| Open Ram Lamb Class | ||
| 1st | Lot 12 | John Lynch |
| 2nd | Lot 14 | John Lynch |
| 3rd | Lot 38 | John Lynch |
| 4th | Lot 13 | John Lynch |
| 5th | Lot 23 | Tom Medlycott |
| 6th | Lot 5 | Cheryl O’Brien |
| Shearling Ewes | ||
| 1st | Lot 48 | John Lynch |
| 2nd | Lot 43 | Andrew Gilmore |
| 3rd | Lot 54 | Ena Nagle |
| 4th | Lot 51 | Andrew Gilmore |
| 5th | Lot 49 | John Lynch |
| 6th | Lot 44 | Ena Nagle |
| Ewe Lambs | ||
| 1st | Lot 47 | Andrew Gilmore |
| 2nd | Lot 45 | Andrew Gilmore |
| 3rd | Lot 41 | Pat Fitzgerald |
| 4th | Lot 46 | Andrew Gilmore |
| Lamb performance Champion for the Pat Oliver Cup | ||
| Champion | Lot 12 | John Lynch |
| Reserve | Lot 37 | Cheryl O’Brien |
| Overall Champion for the Harry Browne Memorial Cup | ||
| Champion | Lot 39 | John Lynch |
| Reserve | Lot 12 | John Lynch |