From Left, Judge, Geraint Jones, Samuel Caldwell with the 1st placed ram lamb and Overall Champion, Ballymaconnelly Incredible Hulk, I524, and Tim Pratt with Hydes Farming’s second place ram lamb and Reserve Overall Champion, Hydes Isuzu, I4569
Replicating last year’s championship success story, Samuel and Elaine Caldwell made the journey over from Ballymena, Co Antrim, to Worcester for the Dorset Emeralds Sale to once again secure the championship and top price on the day.
Their sale leader at 2000gns was Ballymaconnelly Incredible Hulk, a ram lamb by Ballycraig Express out of a homebred ewe by Lisnafillan Dylan. Having taken the male and overall championship under judge Geraint Jones, this one headed home to Thaxted, Essex, with Jeremy Durrant of the Hydes flock.
The Hydes flock was then in action selling the second placed ram lamb and reserve champion, Hydes Isuzu for 1900gns. By Hydes Godfather and out of a Burhos dam by Maine Valley Esquire, this one was the pick of N Sole, Gloucester.
Next up and from the same pen was Hydes Input, a Richhill Fivestar son out of a homebred Ballytaggart Diplomat daughter. Taking this one home to Caernarfon, Gwynedd, was E Hughes.
Samuel & Elaine Caldwell with the Overall Champion, Ballymaconnelly Incredible Hulk, I524
Continuing a strong run of trade for the Hydes pen of ram lambs at 1100gns was Hydes Ivan, this time a Lisnafillan Gotham son out of a homebred Huish Caesar daughter. This one was the pick of Harry Middleditch, St Paul, Suffolk.
Just shy of that price tag at 1000gns was Bolton, Lancashire-based Richard Fitton’s best ram lamb, Dynamite Ice. By the 2024 Dorset Diamond Sale champion and 4800gns Ballymaconnelly Game Boy, this one is out of a homebred Linafillan Frankel daughter and was knocked down to C Genillard, Cirencester, Glos.
Meanwhile, the second highest price in the female run was the reserve female and top priced shearling ewe, Pembroke Hot Socks from David Lewis, Narbeth, Pembrokeshire. By Legaloy Elite and out of a homebred Ballytaggart Xseptional daughter, this one sold for 780gns to previous buyer, Lilli Byrne.
Averages:
2 shearling ewes £619.50
5 ewe lambs £680.40
2 shearling rams £525.00
12 ram lambs £987.00
The female champion and top priced female also came out of the Dynamite pen in the form of Dynamite I3569. This ewe lamb is paternal sister to the previously mentioned ram lamb and this time out of a homebred Burhos Drambuie daughter. She sold for 1100gns to Lilli Byrne, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire.
Richard Fitton’s Champion Female, Dynamite I3569
More photos - https://dorsetsheep.co.uk/pages/dorset-emeralds-show-2026?_pos=2&_psq=emer&_ss=e&_v=1.0