Royal Ulster Agricultural Show - Balmoral 2026

Priestley clinches RUAS Supreme Champion title at Balmoral for fourth consecutive year!

Date: 13th May 2026

Judge: Richard Hutchinson, Howgillfoot

By Orla Butler, NI Branch Secretary

Limestone breeder Mark Priestley clinches the Supreme & Reserve Champion titles with his impressive Cairnton Chaos sired shearling ewe and Benedyglen Masterpiece sired shearling ewe respectively.

RUAS Supreme Champion from M Priestley, Limestone

RUAS Reserve Champion from M Priestley, Limestone

Judge Richard Hutchinson of the Howgillfoot flock from Cumbria was impressed with the stock presented to him at the opening day of Balmoral Show and certainly had tough decisions to make in each of the classes. The aged ram class was first up with Campbell & Jason Watson taking the 1st placed rosette with Noan Commodore.

The shearling ram class saw Martin & Eoin Butler take first with their Cairnton Chaos sired shearling ram.

With a powerful line up of over 20 ram lambs, the Limestone flock of Mark Priestley took the 1st prize rosette with a son of Benedyglen Masterpiece with David Ford’s Rhaeadr Northern Champ taking second and a Birness Gladiator son of Dennis Taylor’s taking third.

In the aged ewe line up it was the Dennis Taylor’s eye catching Limestone Springbok bred female who was handed the first place rosette. Martin & Eoin Butler’s Shannagh Lonestar bred ewe took second and Campbell & Jason Watson’s Garvan Cracker bred ewe taking third.

The onlookers then got their first glimpse of the impressive Cairnton Chaos sired shearling ewe presented by Mark Priestley who took the winning rosette whilst also going on to claim the 2nd & 3rd placed rosettes with his Benedyglen Masterpiece & Cairnton Chaos sired shearling ewes respectively, a remarkable achievement for the Limestone Flock!!

The Craigdoo flock of Patrick Grant, shone in the ewe lamb category with their Limestone Juggernaut sired ewe lamb taking first spot, Glenquilly Suffolks took second also with a Limestone Juggernaut sired ewe lamb and the Limestone flock taking third with a Salopian Solid Gold sired ewe lamb.

Campbell & Jason Watson came out on top winning the group of three just ahead of Keith & Sharon Johnston and the Carony flock of Lesley Liggett whilst Patrick Grant took the winning rosette with a pair of lambs followed closely by Glen Caldwell & Lesley Liggett.

In the final deliberations the Limestone flock of Mark Priestley claimed the Champion & Reserve Female Title along with the Male Champion the Overall coveted RUAS Supreme Title & Reserve Champion of the Show. David Ford of the Mullaghboy flock took Reserve Male Champion.

Our Young Handlers did exceptionally well in the Young Handlers Competition. Hope you all enjoyed the experience.

8-13 years

1st Lara Taylor

2nd Millie Donald

3rd Lewis Kennedy

14-18 years

1st Callum Griffin

2nd Tommy McMonagle

3rd Gareth Wilson

All in all a fantastic few days for the Suffolk breed to showcase Northern Irelands premier livestock.

Commenting on the show Judge Richard Hutchinson said “it was a great honour to judge at the Balmoral show. The quality and number of the sheep was very impressive and a credit to all the exhibitors. There were a lot of sheep that didn’t get placed that could have won at other show’s. The Limestone gimmers were very impressive with the champion having a great head beautiful hair with some serious power and bone and great top and back end. I thoroughly enjoyed my day having such great stock to judge”.