Crookmuir Farm tops strong Kerry Hill entry at Balmoral

Fiona and Sean McAllister’s shearling ram secured championship honours at the first major show of the season

The Kerry Hill show season got off to a flying start at Balmoral Show, where Fiona and Sean McAllister’s Crookmuir Farm shearling ram claimed championship honours under judge and society president James Barr, of the Valleyview flock, Kells, Co. Antrim.

Reserve champion was the winning shearling ewe from Amy Dougan’s Croob View flock, rounding off a successful day for the Co. Down exhibitor in front of a packed ringside and under blue skies.

Commenting on his selections, Mr Barr said: “I enjoyed my judging today. It was my first time judging at Balmoral. It was a good turnout of sheep, lots of good sheep.

“I came to my champion, the shearling ram, because he had plenty of power and good legs on him. My reserve was the same, a shearling ewe who ticked every box.”

The championship followed a strong entry of Kerry Hills, with Ashley Harkness heading the aged ram class, while Amy Dougan also topped the aged ewe and ram lamb sections. Crookmuir Farm had also won the ewe lamb class.

Class Results

Aged Ram

1st 619 Ashley Harkness

2nd 620 H Jewitt & S Forbes

Shearling Ram

1st 628 Crookmuir Farm

2nd 626 Ashley Harkness

3rd 624 Amy Douglas

Ram Lamb

1st 630 Amy Dougan

2nd 632 Ross Jamieson

3rd 634 Dale Wylie

Aged Ewe

1st 636 Amy Dougan

2nd 638 Ross Jamieson

3rd 635 Jack Colhoun

Shearling ewe

1st 642 Amy Dougan

2nd 643 Amy Dougan

3rd 646 Ross Jamieson

Ewe lamb

1st 654 Crookmuir Farm

2nd 655 Dale Wylie

3rd 652 Amy Dougan