Another sunny Sunday in the summer show calender saw the west of Ireland-registered Suffolk sheep breeders club take to Claregalway Show for its 2023 club finals. The prestigious event, which was very well supported by breeders who turned out in their droves with quality sheep, was judged by Andrew Wilson from the renowned Shannagh and Castleisle flocks in Co Donegal.

The annual event kicked off with the young handlers class, which saw Matthew Mangan take the top spot with Harry Graham and Lorna Bailey following in second and third place, respectively.

It was a cracking day for Mark Miley from Knockcroghery, Co Roscommon, who was cheered on by his young daughters Ria and Isla as his shearling ewe was tapped out as the supreme champion at the 2023 club championships.

The young gimmer named Cranorskie Adele was sired by Birness Banter and was bred from a Castleisle Capaldi dam.

Adele who had previously won the shearling ewe class was tapped out as the overall female champion before being awarded the supreme championship title.

Sunday’s championships made for a memorable day for Michael and Marie Jennings from Hollymount, Co Mayo, with their impressive pens of Suffolk sheep, who claimed as many accolades as they possibly could from the 2023 finals.

The duo placed second in the aged ewe class, second in the shearling ram class, first in the ewe lamb class, as well as placing first and second in the ram lamb class. It was an incredible achievement that just got better and better.

The Jennings family stepped up to scoop the reserve female championship with their ewe lamb and the male championship with their first prizewinning ram lamb, before going on to be tapped out as the reserve supreme champion with their ewe lamb, Ballygarris Big Ben. The January 2023-born lamb was sired by Kells T-Rex who was purchased by the Castleisle and Shannagh flock for 25,000gns after being crowned champion at the 2020 Blessington sale.