It was the turn of Alfred and Norman Robinsion, Downpatrick, Co. Down and their Suffolk yearling ewe to take the inter-breed title at Balmoral Show.
It was an all female final in the sheep inter-breed at Balmoral Show as the short wool and long wool champions and reserves went head to head.
After coming out on top in the short wool championship, a home-bred Suffolk yearling ewe from Alfred and Norman Robinsion, Downpatrick, Co. Down took the Balmoral Show inter-breed sheep title.
It was sired by Cairness Ignition, which also bred the male champion at last year’s Suffolk Society’s Scottish area show and sale, held at Stirling. A Cairness Diamond Geezer daughter, its dam’s sire was national Suffolk champion in 2012.
Mid-Wales based judge Brian Davis described it as ’the most correct example of the breed in the ring’, adding ’it is a fantastically long sheep with good legs and good colouring with a tremendous head, being free of black wool’.
Short wool reserve champion, an aged ewe from 16 year old Jack Gault's Cherryvale flock stood reserve, and was again home-bred.
A Duncryne Uber Cool daughter, its dam was an Etric ewe, by Knock Papoose. On its firs show, it was shown by Jack's father Alastair. The family have responsible for four of the past six Balmoral Texel champions.
Inter-breed (Brian Davies) Sup., A.J. and N.A. Robinson (Suffolk); res., Jack Gault (Texel).
Border Leicester (Neill Howie) Sup. and fem., James Aiken; res. and male, Harold Dickey.
Suffolk (Chris Holmes) Sup. and fem., A.J. and N.A. Robinson; res. and male, G.C. Beacom, res. male, Stephen Sufferin; res. fem., G.C. Beacom.
Texel (P.A. Kermode) Sup., Jack Gault; res., Steven McCollam.
Blue Texel (Sue Andrews) A. and J. Knox; res., A. and J. Carson.
Ile De France (Jean Luc Berger) Sup., Edward Adamson; res., Glenhoy.
Bluefaced Leicester (Michael James) Sup., Brendan Blaney; res., Julie Loughery.
Mules (Michael James) Sup., Michelle Wright; res., Patrick Donnelly.
Perth Type Blackface (Matthew Hamilton) Sup., Sam Adam; res., Paul McEvoy.
Greyface (Matthew Hamilton) Sup., J. Adams; Michelle Wright.
Lanark Type Blackface (Andy Woodburn) Sup., Sam Wallace; J. and C. Harkin.
Hampshire Down (Kevin McCarthy) Sup. and res., Hannah Robinson.
Rouge De L'Ouest (Pat Imlah) Sup., A.J. Graham; res., I.A. Montgomery.
Dorset Horn and Poll (William Carson) Sup., Raymond Hill; res., Allister McNeill.
Charollais (Charles Marwood) Sup. and fem., res., and male, Diane Christie; res. male, Jonathan Aiken; res. fem., William McAllister.
Beltex (Colin Barnes) Sup. and male, Matthew Burleigh; res., and fem. and res male and res. fem., Eliabeth McAllister.
Zwartbles (Colin Rea) Sup., Liam Campbell; res., C. and D. Cromie.
Kerry Hill (Russell Howell) Sup., James McClintock; rres., Wallace Clarke.
Rare Breeds (David Darker) Sup., Lynda Hamilton; res., Samuel Kerr.
Jacob (Gordon Connor) Sup., Jonathan Harkness; res., James McGrath.
Lleyn (Dewi Ellis) Sup. and fem., Seamus Killen; res. and male and res. male, Barry Latimer; res. fem., C. and A. Kennedy.
North Country Cheviot (Blair Cockburn) Sup., Robinson, Graham and McNeil; res., Allister McNeill.