Northern Ireland Club’s 7th Annual Show and Sale – Omagh

The Northern Ireland Club staged their 7th Annual Show and Sale of North Country Cheviot Rams and Females on Friday 29th August 2025 at Beatties Livestock Centre, Omagh. The event once again drew a strong crowd, with buyers travelling from across the country to compete for quality stock. Presiding over the judging was well-known North Country Cheviot breeder Mr Dallas Allen, Humbleheugh, Northumberland.

In the Park section, top honours went to Murnion Livestock, Castleview Flock, with their impressive shearling tup Castleview Flash, a son of Allanshaws Bright Spark. He not only secured the Park Championship but went on to set a new centre record when selling for £6720. The Reserve Park Champion also came from the same home in the shape of Castleview Fierce, another Allanshaws Bright Spark son, which later changed hands for £3150.

The Hill section title was awarded to a stylish hill gimmer from Sam Miskelly’s Lisbreen Flock, a daughter of Craig D 03775 out of a ewe by Hownam Grange Villager. She went on to sell for £472. Standing Reserve in the Hill section was a ewe lamb from James McConaghie’s Stolan Flock, sired by Lisbreen D 02035 and out of a ewe by Cymraeg A 02134.

Trade in the sale ring was outstanding, with seven tups breaking the £3000 barrier. Following the record top price, the second highest came from Orla and Thomas McAlister’s Oakwood Flock, when Oakwood Fighter, sired by Kilvaddy Captain, realised £5040. Their Oakwood Foreman, a son of Allanshaws Dream, also sold well at £4305.

Close behind, Gareth Henderson’s Sandelford Flock saw two strong prices with Sandelford Fireball at £4095 and Sandelford Foreman at £3675, both sons of Jethart Dagger. Adding to the Murnions’ success, their Castleview Forceful, sired by Synton Chief, made £3150.

In total, 51 rams sold to a top of £6720 and averaged £1640, with an 80% clearance on those forward for sale.

Flock averages were as follows:

• Castleview – £3622.50 for 4 sold

• Oakwood – £2856 for 5 sold

• Leam – £2835 for 2 sold

• Sandelford – £2310 for 6 sold

• Benrafton – £1875 for 7 sold

• Stargole – £1312.50 for 2 sold

• Ballintogher – £1168 for 4 sold

The female trade also met with strong demand. Leading the way was a gimmer from Alister McNeil’s Kilvaddy Flock, a daughter of the homebred Kilvaddy Eagle, which sold for £1491. The same flock followed up with £1365 for a second gimmer, this time by Allanshaws Bombay.

Not far behind, a gimmer from Norman Robinson’s Benrafton Flock realised £1470, sired by Broomhillbank Alabama. Robinson’s pen proved especially strong, with three further gimmers topping the £1000 mark — two bred the same way as his leading entry and another sired by Allanshaws ATV.

Meanwhile, James Rowan’s Ballintogher Flock brought forward a tremendous run of gimmers by Allanshaws Xanthus, with the best trading to £1239, £1134 and £1050.

Those involved with the Sale were delighted with both the turnout and the quality on offer, with the day producing an excellent clearance and record-breaking trade, further cementing the strength and demand for North Country Cheviots in Northern Ireland.

SHOW RESULTS - PARK

SHOW RESULTS - HILL