Aberdeenshire Suffolk breeder, Jimmy Douglas, who owns the Cairness flock from Fraserburgh, came home in style from last week's South of Ireland Suffolk show and sale at Roscrea Mart, last week, having purchased the top priced lot at €11,000gns.

Selling at this price was a ram lamb from new breeder, Philip Byrne from Windgap in Co Kilkenny, who sold a son of Cairness Achievement out of a BYD-bred ewe by Errigal Simply The Best. He was second in the novice class and fourth in the open ram lamb section.

Pre-sale show judge, Alister Gault, of the Forkins flock, found his champion in Susan O’Keeffe’s open ram lamb class winner, a late December-born lamb by Cairness Costello out of a ewe by Rookery Classic. He made €1450gns selling to Thomas Egan from Roscommon.

Reserve champion was a ram lamb from Gerry Killilea’s Carragh flock from Cregcarragh, Co Galway. Placed second in the open class, this Lakeview Harbinger son out of a ewe by Strathisla Dylan Thomas, made €2800gns to Shaun and Seamus Gahan of the Barrowlands flock from Coolyhune, St Mullins, Co Carlow.

Mr Killilea also picked up the female championship was a ewe lamb by Carragh Black Diamond out of ewe by Errigal Simply the Best. Eric Campbell of the Master flock forked out €950gns to take her home to Tuam, Co Galway.

Lexi and Alan Kilpatrick, Donegal, were also in the money, taking €2000gns for their first prize novice ram lamb from Northern Ireland breeder, Campbell Watson, Ballymena.

Next best at €1500gns was a lamb from Andrew Wilson's Castleisle flock from Shannagh, Raphoe, Co Donegal and judge, Susan O'Keeffe, received €1450gns for the best from her Clyda flock from Annaskisha Mallow, Co Cork.

Overall averages for males and females levelled at €940.00 with a disappointing clearance rate of 57%.