Dapper by name Dapper by nature when it came to the progeny of the much acclaimed Midlock Dapper at the recent Growvite Texel All Ireland, which was held at Finn Valley Show Co.Donegal on June 18th. At the end of an intensive judging schedule Mr.Adrian Liggett selected both the Female and Male champions from what transpired to be two Dapper shearlings.
Judge Adrian Ligget with Champion Ger Sheils and Reserve Patrick O’Keeffe with Mark O’Rurke Growvite Sponsor
This year marked over 25 years of the sponsorship relationship of the Irish Texel Society from Univet/Growvite and it is a testament of their investment in the breed with many of the prize winners being turned out annually on Growvite.
The day was kicked off with the Aged Ram class. The top in this class was the social media famous Loosebeare Chief from a syndicate of flocks, who is flock of Stuart Doran and he is joint owned by Mark Noble, James Dunne and Michael Haverty.. This ram also carry’s double five stars in both terminal and replacement.
Next class of the day was the Aged Ewe. The top this time was claimed by Neville Myles of the Silverhill flock with a Mullan Armani daughter who also carry’s double five stars in both terminal and replacement.
It was then onto the class that produced the Champion, the Shearling Ram Class. Coming out top in this class was Knockhill Eagle a Midlock Dapper son who proved a wise investment for the syndicate of Dwayne & Ger Shiels, T.J. Duffy, Ciaran Heraghty and John Stewart when they purchased him from John Redmond Co Carlow at the Society Premier Sale in Blessington last year for €8,500. After going forward to be being awarded the Male Champion and Overall Supreme Champion, the winning streak for Eagle hadn’t finished there as later in the day he also went on to be awarded the Interbreed Champion of Finn Valley show.
Adrian Ligget then moved to the Shearling Ewe where top spot was claimed by A&P O’Keeffe with this lady who was also very similarly bred to the Champion by also being a Dapper daughter out of Duncryne Ubercool Mother. She later went on to claim the Female Championship and the Reserve Overall Supreme Champion. The Texel breed was again dominant in the Interbreed as she took the Reserve Interbreed title of the show.
The next class on the day was the Senior Ram Lamb Class with the stop spot this time going to Donegal breeder Rodney McLoughlin with a strong ram lamb sired by Knock Eclipse. This powerful ram lamb later went on to be Reserve Male Champion. He heads to Blessington Premier Sale later this year.
It was another Knock Eclipse lamb that took the top spot in the Junior ram lamb class exhibited by Roger Doherty, this lad also heads to Blessington later this year.
In the was in the Novice Ram Lamb Class that local Co.Donegal breeder Dan Bonner came out on top this time with a Hexel Diamond Joe son who is sure to be a lamb to look out for at Blessington Premier Sale.
It was the Donegal Larahirl flock of John Greene that was awarded the red rosette in the Senior ewe lamb class. A stylish Sportmans Batman daughter that later went on to be Reserve Female Champion.
In the Junior ewe lamb class it again proved to be a very worthwhile journey for the O’ Keeffe duo who travelled the long road from Co.Cork. This time it was their ewe lamb sired yet again by Midlock Dapper that was put forward.
Leading the Novice ewe lamb class was a sparky Teiglum Cinnamon daughter bred by Brian Connelly from Co.Galway.
Moving to our Young Handler exhibitors which always proves a tough class to select from. Coming out top of this class was local Co.Donegal breeder Anna Boal who is no stranger to the breed. Anna is part of the Boal’s flock and is also a granddaughter of Ronnie Edwards who runs one of the longest established Texel flocks in the breed. Anna was awarded the Gemma Doyle Memorial Cup for 2022.
Aged Ram
1st Stuart Dorran Loosebeare Chief
2nd Flor Ryan and Billy Carey Larhirl Dick Van Dyke
3rd Mervyn and Anna Boal Whitepark Dizzy Rascal
4th Ciaran Heraghty Larahirl Dazzler
Aged ewe class.
1st Neville Myles IJS1802746
2nd John, Colm & Ml McHugh HUI2006834
3rd John Greene HAK1901419
4th Dwayne Shiels GGH1909045.
5th Willie Doherty WWB1901398
6th Christine Gibson LVF2002004
Hogget Ram:
1st Dwayne Shiels Knockhill Eagle Purchased Blessington premier 2021!
2nd Hillswood Emerald Star for Sale Blessington 2022!
3rd Shane McHugh Greenhill Ectasy Purchased Blessington Premier 2021!
4th Flor Ryan Lawn Eyecatcher for Sale Blessington 2022!
5th Johnny Ryan Agricare Eminem Purchased Blessington Premier 2021!
6th Michael Quinn Knockport Ezra
Hogget Ewe:
1st A&P O’Keeffe OKI 2106389
2nd Willie Doherty YZI2102194
3rd John Greene GEI 2104473
4th Tom Kenny KTE2103604
5th Paul & Aaron Murphy PRQ2101848
6th John Greene GEI2104473
Senior Ram Lamb Class
1st Rodney McLaughlin
2nd A & P O’Keeffe
3rd Neville Myles
4th John Greene
5th Brian Divilly
6th Dwayne Shiels
Junior Ram Lamb Class:
1st Roger Doherty
2nd John Greene
3rd Justin Porter
4th D&E McManamon
5th Dwayne Shiels
6th J & I Kee
Senior Ewe Lamb Class:
1st John Greene
2nd A & P O’Keeffe
3rd Tom Kenny
4th John Greene
5th D&E McManamon
6th Dwayne Shiels
Junior Ewe Lamb Class
1st A&P O’Keeffe
2nd Dwayne Shiels
3rd Willie Doherty
4th Ger Shiels
5th Marty Bonner
6th Dan Bonner
Novice ram lamb:
1st Dan Bonner
2nd Thomas Kenny Jnr
3rd Brian Connelly
4th Michael Grant
5th Fintan Hacket
6th Peter McLaughlin
Novice Ewe Lamb:
1st Brian Connelly
2nd Patrick & James Murphy
3rd Michael Grant
4th Michael Grant
5th Nicola Featherstone
6th Ryan Doherty
Young Handlers
Anna Boal Co. Donegal
