Andrew Clark of the Teiglum flock, Carluke, had his work cut out for him at the North Ireland National Texel event staged at Armagh Show, when he found his champion winner from the ewe lamb class which boasted some 40 lambs.

Taking the tri-colour was an end of February-born lamb from Martin McConville's Glenhone flock. She is sired by the 10,000gns Coniston Equinox which is a son of the 350,000gns Sportsmans Double Diamond. Her dam is by Castlecairn Doodlebug.

Mr Clark tapped out the male champion as his choice of reserve overall. This was Alastair Gault's jointly owned shearling ram, Douganhill Gangster, the junior champion stock ram in the 2023 NI flock competition and another son of Coniston Equinox.

Keeping it in the family, son Jack, landed the blue and white sash amongst the males with his first prize winner from the young breeders' class – a ram lamb from the Cherryvale flock. He is sired the 100,000gns Strathbogie Gypsy King which stood reserve champion at last year's Highland Show, and out of a Clarks Bolt dam.

A Seaforde ewe lamb took the equivalent amongst the females for Mark Priestley. She is sired by Auldhouseburn Gazza and out of a dam by Procters El Presidente daughter that was out of a Knock-bred dam by Knock Banker. This makes her a maternal sister to the 7000gns Seaforde Empire King which has bred rams to 100,000gns.

Leading Awards

Aged ewe (Judge: A Clark).  – A Glendinning, Lylehill; 2, J Wilkinson, Ballygroogan; 3, Naomi O’Hare, Milburn. Gimmer – 1 and 3, A Gault, Forkins; 2, M Priestley, Seaforde. Ewe lamb born before Feb 28, – 1, M McConville, Glenhone; 2, Mark Priestley, Seaforde; 3, J Cubitt, Drumcon. Ewe lamb born from March 1 – 1, R Strawbridge, Tamnamoney; 2, M Priestley, Seaforde; 3, I and W MacRoberts, Magherally.

Aged ram – 1, J Henry, Federnagh. Shearling ram – 1, A Gault, Forkins; 2, J Henry, Federnagh; 3, J Wilson and J and A Moses, Blackstown. Ram lamb born before Feb 28 – 1, A Glendinning, Lylehill; 2, B Hanthorn, Mullan; 3, A Gault Forkins. Ram lamb born from Mar 1, 1, A Gault, Forkins; 2, I and W MacRoberts, Magherally; 3, Rebecca Burke, Burke.

Young breeders – 1, J Gault, Cherryvale; 2, J Walmsley, White Water; 3, J Henry, Federnagh.

Group of three – 1, A Glendinning, Lylehill; 2, A Gault, Forkins; 3, L McPolin, Tamnaharry.