A ewe lamb from a County Antrim breeder fetched 2,800 guineas to top the Northern Ireland Dorset Horn and Polled Dorset Sheep Breeders' Club annual show and sale in Ballymena.

The champion entry, from Ellen McClure's Mountdale flock at Dundrod, won the ewe lamb class before being named overall champion at the event on Monday 27 July. It was purchased by K Lagan.

Sired by Mountdale Gladiator, the lamb had earlier formed part of the first-prize pair at Balmoral Show and the winning group in the club's recent flock competition.

The reserve champion, a home-bred Richill ewe lamb from Ben Lamb, sold for 2,100 guineas. The buyers were judge Joe Redford and Richard Fitton.

McClure also sold another Gladiator daughter for 1,000 guineas to R Greer. Among other leading prices, a Ballyhamage ewe lamb from James and Craig Robson of Doagh made 900 guineas, and the first-prize ram lamb from David and Sarah Stevenson's Greenhill flock realised 850 guineas to Peter Knowles.

The ewe lamb section achieved a 100 percent clearance rate, averaging £576.76 per head, a 19 percent increase on the previous year. Across all classes, 96 pedigree Dorset sheep sold for a combined 56,280 guineas, with a clearing rate of 90.5 percent.

Judge Joe Redford described the standard of sheep as fantastic and highlighted the ewe lamb class as particularly impressive. He said the champion showed well from the moment it entered the ring and displayed excellent carriage.

Club chairman Samuel Caldwell remarked that the buoyant trade reflected buyers' confidence in the breed and continuing demand for quality breeding females.

The next fixtures are the club's 10th annual Omagh show and sale on Friday 7 August, followed by the 5th annual Swatragh show and sale on Friday 21 August. Details are available through the club's website and social media.