The Irish Texel Growvite National Championships didn’t disappoint at the Adamstown Show in Co Wexford. Held under sunny skies in the South East, the first class of the day, the aged ram was won by John and Liam Martin with their stock ram, Kilduff Glen, a son of Drunderg Five Star.
Next up was the aged ewe class, where Ronan Gallagher’s long trip paid off with first prize, courtesy of a Rhaeadr Entrepreneur daughter MZH2200855, who later bred the much-admired second-prize senior ram lamb.
The shearling ram class was one of the biggest of the day, and Arthur and Patrick O’Keeffe took top honors with their home-bred shearling ram by Garngour Flyhalf. This impressive ram is headed to the Blessington Premier Sale on August 8th and 9th. The O’Keeffe duo continued their winning streak in the shearling ewe class with another Flyhalf daughter. She has an impressive record, including Female Champion and Reserve Overall at last week’s All Ireland and Reserve Female Champion at this show. She is also bound for the Premier Sale.
In the novice ram lamb class, Luke Walsh took top spot with Barossa Ireland’s Call, a son of Rathveigh Henry, purchased in Blessington last year. His full sister claimed second in the novice ewe lamb class.
The senior ram lamb class saw a son of last week’s All Ireland Champion, Drumcon His Royal Highness, from John Neville take first prize. This lamb went on to claim Male Champion and Reserve Overall and will also attend the Premier Sale.
In the March ram lamb class, Patrick Joyce repeated his win from last year with a son of Oberstown Gucci, sired this time by Coniston Equinox. This lamb will also head to the Premier Sale.
The female classes followed, with the senior ewe lamb class claimed by last week’s All Ireland Reserve Female Champion from the O’Keeffe family, a Knockhill Hercules daughter. She continued her winning streak by claiming Female Champion and Overall Champion.
The O’Keeffes also took top spot in the March ewe lamb class with a daughter of Midlock Dapper. In the novice ewe lamb class.
Emma Wharton excelled with a daughter of Seaforde Groovy Baby. She is a full sister to her €4,200 ram lamb from last year.
Judge Stewart Ferris praised the exceptional display of stock on show, highlighting the high quality of the entries.
Judge: Stewart Ferris Bellefield Texels
Aged Ram:
1st John and Liam Martin RDF2301188
2nd Aoife Wheelock and Marty Ryan YMH2106754
3rd Trevor Donnelly DII2301648
4th Tom Wheelan TWF23002038
Aged Ewe:
1st Ronan Gallagher mzh2200855
2nd Malachy Hand GAI2002384
3rd Kieran Finnerty Bellfield
4th John Tuke – RJG 2207235
5th John Tuke NBI 2202693
6th Tom Whelan TWF2101951
Shearling Ram:
1st Arthur & Patrick O’Keefe OKI2407044
2nd Michael Sinnot GEI2405496
3rd Malachy Hand YMH2407384
4th Brian Divilly DBH2400110
5th John Neville UVI2401901
6th Shane O’Leary FSE24001521
Shearling Ewe:
1st Arthur & Patrick O’Keefe
2nd Jarlath Joyce JJG24001267
3rd Percy O’Callaghan
4th John Tuke
5th Ronan Gallagher GAI2404047
6th Pat Lyon’s LPP2403326
Novice Ram Lamb :
1st Luke Walsh LWH2500107
2nd Dermot Behan DHH250658
3rd Dermot Behan DHH250660
4th Thomas Whitehead TWJ2501781
5th Paddy & Sean Morrisey MPF2501396
6th Gillian Earle EGH25013510
Open Ram Lamb :
1st John Neville UVI2501997
2nd Ronan Gallagher GAI2504342
3rd Arthur & Patrick O’Keefe OKI2507240
4th Jarlath Joyce JKG2501280
5th Fergal O’Shea FSE2501605
6th John Neville UVI2502047
Jnr Ram Lamb :
1st Jarlath Joyce JKG2501292
2nd Arthur & Patrick O’Keefe OKI2507200
3rd Ronan Gallagher GAI2504432
4th John Redmond RJG2507796
5th Ronan Gallagher GAI2504433
6th Arthur & Patrick O’Keefe OKI2507274
Open Ewe Lamb :
1st Arthur & Patrick O’Keefe OKI2508302
2nd John Neville UVI2502005
3rd John Kidd ZNE2509274
4th Brian Divilly DBH2500134
5th Patrick Joyce PJE250483
6th John Redmond RJG2507755
Jnr Ewe Lamb :
1st Arthur & Patrick O’Keefe OKI257270
2nd John Redmond RJG257800
3rd Patrick Joyce PJE250 496
4th TWJ2517847
5th Dermot Behan DHh2500665
6th Ronan Gallagher GAI254464
Novice Ewe Lamb :
1st Emma Wharton EWG250167
2nd LWH2500108
3rd Emma Wharton EWG250165
4th KFJ253031
5th Dermot Behan DHH250652
6th MPF2501388
Male Championship
Male Champion: John Neville UVI2501997
Reserve Male Champion: Jarlath Joyce JKG2501292
Female Championship
Female Champion: Arthur & Patrick O’Keefe OKI2508302
Reserve Female Champion:
Overall Arthur & Patrick O’Keefe OKI2407044
Overall Champion: Arthur & Patrick O’Keefe OKI2508302
Reserve Overall: John Neville UVI2501997
