Heading up the Badger Face Texel classes at Balmoral were Jack King and Stephen Swales with their jointly owned ewe Kirkinriola Flashy.
Judge of the day, Richard Bett of the Louth-based Yarburgh flock tapped out Flashy as champion describing her as “pure power”.
One of just 10 or so pedigree Badger Face ewes in the flock at Ballymena, the ewe is by Knockmult Evander out of a Cleenagh ewe, and Jack’s fifth placed ram lamb was the same way bred.
The Badgers share the farm with a flock of Dutch Spotted, and Jack and father Martin’s multi-breed dairy herd under the banner of Kirkinriola Pedigree Livestock. Jack says Flashy is without doubt one of the best Badger Face ewes in the flock and will herself be flushed in 2025.
For the reserve breed championship, Mr Bett went for the male title winner, Knockmult Gandalf, a ram lamb from Russell Millen and Seamus Killen.
Knockmult also picked up the reserve female award with one of their two ewe lambs, Glimmer and Glitter which are out of a sister to last year’s section winner by Little Whisker Easy Rider. Knockmult’s second placed ewe was out of last year’s champion and the flock’s third place ewe is a full sister to last year’s winning ram lamb which later sold for 5,000gns.
The reserve male championship this year went to the second placed ram lamb in class from James Johnston’s Broadwater flock at Aghalee, Co. Antrim, and James had another in fourth place in the class. He also stood third and fifth in the ewe lamb class.
First prized shearling ram was awarded to Patrick and Orla Grant from the Craigdoo flock at Kilcoo, Co. Down.
Shearling ram class winner, Knockmult Flip Me
