Despite the fact nothing came close to breaking last year’s record breaking price of 220,000gns for a Texel ram lamb, a much improved trade throughout saw overall averages improve by £176 per head to level at £2445 at this year’s Scottish National Show and Sale at Lanark, where a top price of 65,000gns was achieved.

In all, 15 lots sold at five figure prices which complete with a further 22 lots selling at between 5000gns and 10,000gns ensured most breeders went home in a confident mood.

Sale leader was Forkins Rocksolid, a Tamnamoney Ned-sired lamb from Northern Ireland Texel and Suffolk breeder Alastair Gault, purchased by Trinidad Investments, West Sussex.

Next at 50,000gns, Fyvie-based breeders, Willie Knox and sons Andrew and Graeme, sold Haddo Ringleader, a Knock Powerpacker son, to Jeff Aiken, Texel manager at Proctors Farm, Slaidburn, Lancs.

Two lots came under the hammer for 40,000gns including the best from John Forsyth’s much talked about Glenside pen which also sold another two at 10,000gns each. His dearest by Strathbogie Phython, was knocked down to Robbie Wilson, Milnbank, Turriff and Graham Morrison, the vendor of last year’s 220,000gns lamb from Cornhill, Banff.

The pre-sale reserve champion, Cambwell Rob Roy from Tom and Robert Laird, Cambwell, Biggar, matched the 40,000gns. He is by Cowal Powerhouse and sold to Kenny Pratt, Peterculter, Aberdeen; George Howie, Knock, Peterhead and George Wilkinson, Arkleby House, Aspatria, Wigton.

For full report and pictures see this week’s issue of The Scottish Farmer, on Friday September, 3