The UK's Premier Agricultural Machinery and Technology Show

20–21 January 2027, NEC, Birmingham

Event Details

Bluefaced Leicester record smashed at Ballymena

Angela Calvert
Head of Livestock, Shows and Sales
clock • 1 min read
Bluefaced Leicester record smashed at Ballymena

A new Bluefaced Leicester centre record of 28,000gns was set at Ballymena for the winning shearling ram and reserve champion. By R14 Hewgill, bought for 7,500gns at Carlisle and out of a Midlock bred dam by Big Yin, it was bred by the Mills family, Ballytober. The Northumberland based buyers were the judge, Martyn Archer, Carry House flock, and Andy Hunter, Steel flock, who judged the ram in Antrim.

Ram lambs from Dominic McCrystal's Drummuck flock, Lavey, topped at 16,000gns for Ya Dancer by £8,000 Cottage out of a ewe by £30,000 N1 Hewgill. It sold to Jimmy Bell, Cottage, Messrs Wight, Midlock, and Messrs Campbell, Overburns. It's full brother sold for 10,000gns to Tom Staunton, Mask View, and another S2 Cottage son sold for 7,400gns to S.J. Duncan, Hill Vale.

Ram lamb which sold for 16,000gns

Making 14,000gns from S. and J. Wilson's Deerfin pen was a shearling by 7,500gns Temain out of a ewe by M2 Asby Hall which sold to an online bidder.

The day's champion was a ram lamb from Timothy Wray's Knockstacken flock, Carnlough, which also won the trophy for the best run of sheep at the sale. By Overburns Farm Hitman, it sold to Steven Wilson, Deerfin, Graham and Julie Loughery, Temain, with Mr Wray keeping a share.

Auctioneers: J.A. McClelland and Sons.

For more shows and sales: Click here 

More on Shows & Sales

View from the Rostrum: "We have seen Texel and Beltex rams reach £80,000 and £70,000, and British Blue heifer calves £1,900"

View from the Rostrum: "We have seen Texel and Beltex rams reach £80,000 and £70,000, and British Blue heifer calves £1,900"

Oliver Watson, trainee auctioneer at Harrison and Hetherington, provides an update on current trade and looks ahead to pedigree in-lamb sales and Borderway Mart's Agri Expo event

Oliver Watson
clock 03 October 2026 • 3 min read
Sales round up: Pedigree sheep reach 9,000gns at Carlisle, Whitefaced Woodlands to 3,800gns and Bluefaced Leicesters to £4,400

Sales round up: Pedigree sheep reach 9,000gns at Carlisle, Whitefaced Woodlands to 3,800gns and Bluefaced Leicesters to £4,400

Catch up with reports from recent livestock auctions including Market Drayton, Lazonby, Castle Douglas, Clitheroe, Carlisle and Skipton

clock 30 September 2026 • 11 min read
OPINION:  Disease is currently the biggest threat to livestock businesses

OPINION: Disease is currently the biggest threat to livestock businesses

Angela Calvert
clock 30 September 2026 • 1 min read