Commercial trade leads NI Texel sale

Commercial buyers dominated the ringside at the Northern Irish National Sale, at Ballymena Auction Mart, where most rams sold to prime lamb producers, reinforcing the decision to move the sale to a later date to suit local trading patterns.
Texel Sheep Society chief executive, John Yates, was also pleased at how the sale went, with the event witnessing a 92% clearance for shearling rams, while 82% of ram lambs changed hands.
Topping the trade 4000gns was a ram lamb from Naomis Ardis’ Millburn flock, purchased by Messrs Simpson and Calvin, of the Ballyhavistock flock, from Dervock. For their money, they get Millburn All Star, a son of Usk Vale Yankee out of a Carmavy Striker daughter. 
Second top price amongst the lambs was an 1800gns call for the reserve champion from the pre-sale show. This was Co Antrim breeder, Nigel Ross’ Glenross Action Man, a Milestonehill Yankee Doodle son out of a dam by Curley Usher, purchased by AH Wilson, Newton Cromellin.
Just behind, on 1700gns, was Alistair Breen’s Drumderg Alpha Male, a Drumderg Won and Only son out of a ewe by Teiglum Target, from Enniskillen. Third at the pre-sale show, he sold to C and D Seaman, Florencecourt, Co Fermanagh.
Another from the same home made 1600gns to Henry Gamble, buying for his Springwell flock from Bangor, Co Down. Drumderg Aurelius, another by Won and Only, is out of a Teiglum Tornado daughter. 
Murray Annett’s, Milestonehill Ahab, from Rathfriland, by Millar’s Yankee, made the same money, selling to Josephine Burns, Rathfriland.
Shearling rams peaked at 1340gns for Graham Rodgers’ Bohard Yog, a son of Duvarren U Beauty II, out of a dam by Cullon Prince. He sold to Shaws Hill Farm, Kells, Ballymena.
Next best, at 1200gns, was Co Down breeder, John Watson’s Duvarren Yorkie, a second prize son of Springhill Wrangler, purchased by A Bowles, Ballynahinch, Co Down.
Gimmers met the best of the sale’s trading, achieving a new centre record average when 22 sold to level at £933.07 – up £145 on the sale’s previous best, set in 2012.
Leading this section at 2500gns was a Sportsmans Wilko-sired gimmer from Louise Breen’s Fourtres flock, from Augher, that stood first in her class at Lurgan Show as a ewe lamb. Unsold through the sale ring, she later made that money when selling to Cahir McAuley, buying for his Larkhill flock, Sevenmile Straight, Antrim. The dam, a Stainton ewe, is by Sportmans Tremendous. 
Just behind, on 2000gns, Messrs Hamilton bought the reserve female from Gareth Fyffe’s Botera flock, Omagh. A daughter of Milnbank Womaniser, she is out of a ewe by Cwmcerrig Topper.