This article is from page 34 of the 2007-11-13 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 34 JPG
CLARE has a new champion to cel- ebrate this week with the news that a farmer from Sixmiulebridge has be- come the WE Lloyd Cup Champion for flocks of 31 to 60 Suffolk ewes at an international competition held in England.
Aidan Collins, from Rossroe in Sixmilebridge outshone flocks from all across the United Kingdom and Ireland to take the much coveted top prize from flocks of 31 to 60 ewes as well as taking the reserve title in the overall flock competition.
Indeed this is the second that Aidan has come in as overall reserve cham- pion, having last achieving this feat on his last entry to the competition
in 2000. This year he was piped at the post by four times overall winner Robbie Wilson of Strathisla in Aber- deenshire.
Aidan, who started his Cragroe flock 18 years ago in 1989 said he is delighted with the win, but is still chasing the ultimate gold cup.
“We are delighted, but of course I would still like to go that one step further and claim the gold cup,” he Sr AKGE
“We have had a tremendous year with a number of champions and re- serve at other Society sales also.”
The Gold Cup for overall champion last came to Ireland in 2003 when Tom Bailey took the trophy.
Indeed, this has been a highly suc- cessful year for the Sixmilebridge
farmers as he has already produced the female champion, reserve cham- pion and reserve overall champion at the Roscrea sale.
The flock also took the trophy for the best progeny group, with their most influential ram, Solwaybank Granger. Other prizes included re- serve to Robbie Wilson in three more sections namely flock ewes, stud rams and best ewe lambs.
There was victory on the double for Collins at the event as Aidan’s father, Sean Collins, received the tankard as one of the two top shepherds.
The family farm 300 acres of land in Sixmilebridge and in addition to the pedigree Suffolks they run a dairy herd of some 70 cows, plus beef cattle.
Acer Du oMO(OUTSA O1Cece MAUI ONO OComMT oUt am LE is a great honour,’ admits Sean.
Other winners included Robert H Wilson from North Dorlaithers in Aberdeenshire who took the Bris- tol Gold Cup for Champion Flock, the Sainsbury Cup for Best Ewe Lambs, the Howard Peel Cup for Best Stud Rams, the Bonnington in Bloomsbury Salver for Best flock of ewes and the Keeble Cup for flocks of 61 to LOO ewes and Stewart Dun- can from Gamrie in Banff who took the John Long Cup for flocks of 20 to 30 ewes. The event was judged by Midlands breeders David Inman and Merrick Pinny.