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The AIRYOLLAND flock of Beltex sheep was started in
1998 when we imported 11 Gimmers from Belgium from a noted breeder
called Bernard Stephany. They were inseminated with a Dutch ram
called Van Aken The Mighty. Lambing time in the spring of 1999 was
a steep learning curve for us. Pregnant Beltex sheep should not be
fed too much!!!
When
we restocked in the aftermath of FMD new stock was imported from
Belgium. The nucleus forming our new flock were ewes from top
Belgium breeders Gilbert Dossche, Jos Hoefkens, Willi Werbrouk and
Raf Feryn. The flock now numbers around 100 females.
It was one of these imported tups that achieved our highest price
for 2003 when we made the decision to enter 4 tups for the Society
sale at Carlisle in addition to our regular consignment for Kelso.
The imported shearling ram, bred by Gilbert Dossche, 4062/0/2360
(pictured left) sold for 2800gns to Mr P Tippets.
Our regular consignment for Kelso were also in demand with our
best shearling , 3369/380 (pictured right), selling for £1500 to
Alan Lecky (Dergview). We sold 18 shearling rams, at Kelso 2003, to
average £747.
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2004
The year 2004 was a good year for our Beltex flock.
At the breed's premier sale at Carlisle AIRYOLLAND GALAHAD sold for
the top price of the day at 13,000 gns. (record price for a Beltex shearling and
second highest price ever for a Beltex)
The eight shearling rams we sold that day
averaged 2800 gns.
At the Kelso ram sales we took 16 shearling rams to
sell at the days top price of £1100 and to average £506. Although we
specialise in selling shearlings we decided to put forward a ram
lamb for the Inaugural sale of Beltex rams, at Lanark Market on
Thursday the 16th of September 2004. We sold AIRYOLLAND HERCULES
for the day's top price of 1600 gns. He is a February born son
of Mary Dunlop's stock sire called Dirk. He was sold to Kevin and
Rachel Buckle of Kirby Stephen, Cumbria.
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Just to round off a good year we won first prize gimmer and
reserve champion at the sale of females at Lanark in December 2004.
AIRYOLLAND GOLDIE went on to sell for the days top
price of 3000gns. She went to Brian Ryder at Newton Farm, Annan
Water, Moffat.
2005
Airyolland Galahad was used
as a ram lamb on the flock and, the next year, at Carlisle 2005, one of his lambs,
Airyolland Hunter (pictured left), was sold for 5,000gns. One of our imported tups
4001/4/965, who later became known as The Hulk, sold to Mr D Brown,
Northern Ireland, (Brownville) for 2500gns.
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| 7 of Airyolland Shearlings, Carlisle
'05. 12 sold Ave £1404 |
Airyolland Jumpstart, a
son of Hunter was sold the following year, 2006, at Carlisle for
3,200gns.
2007
During 2007, due to FMD,
restrictions our Carlisle sale shearlings were sold privately with
notable rams such as King of Clubs (pictured below) being bought by James Whiteford,
Tercrosset and Airyolland Klass Act being bought by John Hall,
Inglewood Edge. We retained Airyolland Kingsize, who won three breed
championships at local shows that year, for our stock ram.
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Airyolland King of Clubs, Another great ram out of
Airyolland Hepzibah
Dam Airyolland Hepzibah, Sire- Airyolland Jack
High
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2008
In 2008 it was Kingsize's two sisters Looby Loo
and Looby Lie turn to take the limelight. Looby Loo won four breed
championships at Stranraer, Wigtown, Colmonell and Dumfries - one
better than her brother! Then Looby Lie went on to sell at the 2008
Breed Society sale at Carlisle for the record breaking
price of 6000gns.
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Looby Lie at Carlisle sale 2008
Dam Airyolland Hepzibah
Sire
Airyolland Great Scott |
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 Looby Loo at Dumfries 2008
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