The Blue Texel classes at the Balmoral Show 2026 attracted a strong entry and an excellent standard of sheep, with judging in the capable hands of Dylan Jones. Speaking after the judging, Dylan commented that there were “good sheep in front of me” and that he was “pleased with the standards” throughout the day.
Gary Piggott got the day off to a strong start by winning the Ram class with Clay Lough Knockout (ET) GPI/25/00062, while Gerald Travers took top honours in the competitive Ram Lamb class with Islandmoyle Blues Louis Vuitton ISL/26/01446. In the female section, Hillside Commercial claimed first prize in the Aged Ewe class with Derg Jellybean (ET)JSA/24/01736, before Knockmult Farm won a very strong Shearling Gimmer class with Knockmult Koala (ET) RWM/25/03291. The Ewe Lamb class was headed by Johnathan Allen with DYH/26/00512.
The female classes drew particular praise from the judge, with Dylan Jones describing the Shearling Gimmer class as “very good, with outstanding females.” Gerald Travers’ successful ram lamb later went on to secure the Male Championship, with Gary Piggott taking the Reserve Male Champion honour.
Knockmult Farm continued their success by securing both the Female and Overall Championship titles with their outstanding shearling ewe Knockmult Koala (ET) RWM/25/03291, while S Allen & A Shortt claimed the Reserve Female and Reserve Overall Championship awards with Derg Kardashian (ET) JSA/25/01854. Summing up his final selections, Dylan Jones remarked that he was “more than happy to take champion and reserve home.”
Overall, the Blue Texel section once again provided a tremendous showcase for the breed at Balmoral, with strong competition and quality sheep throughout the classes.
Show results:
Judge: Dylan Jones
Ram
1st – 105, Gary Piggott, GPI/25/00062
2nd – 106, Gary Piggott, ISL/01399
3rd – 107, Gary Piggott, GPI/25/00065
Ram Lamb
1st – 118, Gerald Travers, ISL/26/01446
2nd – 116, Gary Piggott, GPI/26/00095
3rd – 109, Johnathan Allen, DYH/26/00509
4th – 115, Gary Piggott, GPI/26/00094
5th – 110, S Allen & A Shortt, JSA/26/02242
6th – 108, Johnathan Allen, DYH/26/00510
Aged Ewe
1st – 121, Hillside Commercial, JSA/24/1736
2nd – 123, Gerald Travers, RWM/24/03170
3rd – 122, Gary Piggott, JSA/24/1747
4th – 119, Adam Copeland, RWM/24/03159
Shearling Ewe
1st – 132, Knockmult Farm, RWM/25/03291
2nd – 124, S Allen & A Shortt, JSA/25/01854
3rd – 131, Knockmult Farms, RWM/25/03320
4th – 130, Knockmult Farms, RWM/25/03326
5th – 126, Nigel Flanagan, VER/25/00121
6th – 129, Hillside Commercial, JSA/25/1869
Ewe Lamb
1st – 135, Johnathan Allen, DYH/26/00512
2nd – 137, S Allen & A Shortt, JSA/26/02240
3rd – 138, S Allen & A Shortt, JSA/26/02241
4th – 136, Johnathan Allen, DYH/26/00511
5th – 144, Gary Piggott, GPI/26/00098
6th – 143, Gary Piggott, GPI/26/00097
Male Champion – 118, Gerald Travers, ISL/26/01446
Reserve Male Champion – 116, Gary Piggott, GPI/26/00095
Female Champion – 132, Knockmult Farm, RWM/25/03291
Reserve Female Champion – 124, S Allen & A Shortt, JSA/25/01854
Overall Champion – 132, Knockmult Farm, RWM/25/03291
Reserve Overall Champion – 124, S Allen & A Shortt, JSA/25/01854
