Again the trip across the water was an eventful one, with the enthusiasm of the Northern Irish breeders as keen as ever, and their premier sale was as keenly attended as ever, despite the lack of Blackface ewes coming over from Scotland for crossing. The lack of sheep did probably however dampen down the top prices compared to last years trade, although it still ended a healthy £490 for 174 tup shearlings sold and £508 for 60 ram lambs.

Buyers were selective of their pick, but backed their choices with firm bidding. Once again it was the Orravale flock of Robert Loughbridge which caught the imagination. His pen leader which took a top bid of 2200 gns was a homebred shearling by X8 MacQueston bought out of Castle Douglas for £3300 and out of a Midlock bred ewe which was a daughter of Controversy. Final bidder for this strong crossing tup was R Hayes, Co. Tyrone. Robert also saw his first prize shearling, by the £8000 X16 Clennell sell to R A Mckelvey for 1500 gns. Another son of the MacQueston X8 sold for 1700 gns to A Montgomery, Ballymena.

Another familiar name was bringing in the pennies as the McCormick Bros, Brablagh, sold their top shearling for 1800 gns. They have established a good reputation with their Mules which averaged £74 this year, and sold lambs up to £89 by their A30 shearling which is a son of Z1 MacQueston, going back to the Greenriggs tup and out of a ewe bought at the Ewanston dispersal sale. This strong boy headed south over the border into Co. Roscommon, where he will be used by John Regan to use on Suffolk ewes.

The champion was a tup lamb from J Adams & Sons, home to the 25 ewe strong Holmview flock and a son of the 2300 gns Hulloch Hill tup they bought last year, and is making a big impact in their flock already. His mother is a Mossvale X11 daughter and sold for 1800 gns to Joe Dixon, Co. Londonderry . Also matching the 1800 gns mark for ram lambs was Robert Loughbridge, back selling lambs after a few years absence. His pen leader, a very strong lamb by A26 Midlock, son of Controversy sold to Steven Kerr, Mulgeeth.

Making an impressive debut at the sale was Graham Loughery who sold their first lamb for 1700 gns, by a 7 year old T5 Dreva and out of a Firth ewe, again going back to the Controversy tup. Seamus O'Kane was the final bidder.

In the female section it was a day to remember for John Holden, who took Female Champion with his yearling ewe which went on to sell for 1000 gns and he saw the same price for his 2 nd prize ewe lamb, now christened "Bo-Peep" after disappearing due to an mix up, but now reunited with new owner, Ian Gibson, Ballymena.

Other top prices - Tup Shearlings - 1750 gns - G Walsh to James Stewart, 1600 gns - John Holden to E Loughran

Tup Lambs - 1500 gns Graham Loughray - Mark Walsh, 1200 gns A Christie - S Hammond

2nd prize shearling from John Holden made 1600 gns

Reserve Champion - 1500 gns

Female Champion from J Holden - 1000 gns

Gimmer Lamb from John Holden - 1000gns