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The Belgian Beltex Breeders Society held its all-Ireland championship at Athlone Show on Sunday 26 June. To mark the 20th anniversary of the Beltex, the society invited Mrs Yvonne Edwards from the Welsh Beltex Society to judge.
Yvonne runs the Penbrynpark flock, which has gone from strength to strength having won the Pembroke show on five occasions.
No stranger to the role, Yvonne has judged at numerous shows, including Devon and Stafford, and this year will be the judge at Cornwell.
In the championship line-up, it was shearling ewe Sheephaven Annistashia which caught her eye before being tapped forward as the 2016 Beltex all-Ireland champion.
Reserve champion
Exhibited by Geraldine and Colm Lyons, Annistashia was sired by Pentland Showman. Originally bred by Declan Robinson, Annistashia was purchased at the 2015 Beltex premier sale last year as a ewe lamb.
Geraldine and Colm Lyons, Kilgerril, Ballinasloe, Co Galway, joined the Beltex Breeders three years ago. Although only a 16-year-old, Colm is no stranger to showing sheep, as his dad Francis was one of the founding members of the Beltex society and has shown sheep around the country for 20 years.
The 2016 reserve champion was awarded to the ram lamb class winner, which was bred by Offaly breeder Brian Matthews.
The Quarrymount flock had a very successful day, winning first prize in all three male categories – the senior ram, shearling ram and ram lamb. The successful ram lamb was a son of the senior ram class winner Headlind Teaseme.
The Boherawillin flock of John and Sean Browne, which has won the championship for the past four years, was very much to the fore again this year, winning first prizes with its senior ewe and its ewe lamb.
There was more jubilation for the Lyons family of Galway when Francis won first prize in the Kepak all-Ireland factory lamb competition with his pair of Beltex-cross lambs suitable for the continental market.
Class results:
Beltex shearling ram: 1st Brian Mathews, Quarrymount House, Killeigh, Co Offaly.
Beltex senior ram: 1st Brian Mathews, Quarrymount House, Killeigh, Co Offaly.
Beltex shearling ewe: 1st Geraldine and Colm Lyons, Heathview House, Kilconnell, Ballinasloe, Co Galway.
Beltex senior ewe: 1st John and Sean Browne, Gormagh, Durrow, Tullamore, Co Offaly.
Beltex ram lamb: 1st Brian Mathews, Quarrymount House, Killeigh, Co Offaly.
Beltex ewe lamb: 1st John and Sean Browne, Gormagh, Durrow, Tullamore, Co Offaly.
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