Selective trade for Texels at Carlisle sale

With much of the country basking in glorious sunshine and many farmers desperate to catch up on much needed silage and harvest work, there was little commercial trade for ram lambs while the shearling trade, faired slightly better with 77% of the entry changing hands.

Demand for the cream of the crop was nevertheless as strong as ever, with the sale leader at 40,000gns, Garngour Alabama, from the Clark family from Lesmahagow, selling in a five-way split.

A son of the 15,000gns Knock Yardsman sold last year, he is out of a ewe by Mossvale Winston which is a daughter of the 2016 inter-breed sheep champion at Biggar show. This ET late March-born lamb that stood second in the recorded class at the pre-sale show, was knocked down to Charlie Boden of the Sportsmans flock from Mellor Hall, Mellor, Stockport; Ben Vernon, who owns the Charben flock from Marstonbrook, Rochester, Uttoxeter; Aberdeenshire breeder, Kenny Pratt of the Hilltop flock from Oldtown, Peterculter; Ben Baggott Farms, Higher Coley Farm, Little Haywood, Staffs and Robert Evans, Fox Farm, Minsterley, Shrops.

The Clark brothers, Alan, Andrew and David and their mother Helen, also received 12,000gns for Alabama's full ET brother, Garngour Alcapone. Fourth in the open, he also sold to several breeders to include Jimmy Warnock buying for the Watchknowe flock from Sandilands, Lanark; Robert Osbourne, Castlehill, Durisdeer, Thornhill; Jim and Carolyn Hastings, buying for their Courthill flock from Kilncroft, Holywood, Dumfries and Douganhill Farms, Orchardton Mains, Palnackie, Castle Douglas, managed by Brian MacTaggart.

Adding to the celebrations, the Clark boys' own Teiglum flock peaked at 6800gns for another March-born son of Knock Yardsman. Working his magic, Teiglum Abracadabra, which is bred from a ewe by Springwell Ulsterboy, sold to A Smith, Braco, Dunblane

The judge, Brian Hanthorn, was another in the money, with lambs at 32,000gns and 7000gns. Mr Hanthorn and his son George, who own the Mullan flock from Tynan, Co Armagh, took the big money for Mullan Amigo, an ET lamb bred from a ewe by Eglur Viscount Ace. He is by Mullan Wild Bill – a son of the 32,000gns Garngour Upperclass bred from the reserve champion at a previous Armagh Show, whose full sister made 4200gns. Steven Renwick, Glenrath, Kirkton Manor, Peebles; Robert Cockburn, of the Knap flock from Errol, Perth and Karen Wight, Midlock, Crawford, Abington, were the last bidders.

Mullan's 7000gns lamb, Mullan Awesome, which is a full brother to the family's 42,000gns lamb sold at Lanark, is by Glenside Willie Winkie and sold to Welsh breeders, Robert Bennett, Upper Hall, Meifod, Powys and AE Jones, Ynys Toddeb, Llangadog, Dyfed. Another ET lamb he is bred from a ewe by Haddo Ringleader.

More than financing that transaction, Mr Bennett, who owns the Plasucha flock from Upper Hall, received 10,000gns for Plasucha All in One, from William Dunlop and sons Quintin and William, Elmscleugh, Innerwick, Dunbar. The breeding behind this third prize recorded ET lamb includes a ewe by Baltier Rascal bred by Robert Cockburn, that is an ET sister to Knap Viscious Sid. The sire is the 30,000gns Knock Yankee.

Despite a late calling, Bruce Renwick's lead lamb from the small Castlecairn flock based at Legars, Kelso, also sold well, with Kenny Pratt, Hilltop, forking out the last 20,000gns bid to take him back to Aberdeenshire. This ET is bred from a home-bred ewe by the Teiglum Outlaw son, Castlecairn Presentation and sired by the 42,000gns Strathbogie Your Tupped.

There was more money to come when Meat Promotions Wales adviser, James Ruggeri, who runs just three ewes in his Gyrhos flock from Llanfair, Welshpool, sold Ghrhos Andy, the first prize open lamb at 15,000gns. Securing a personal best, following a 5000gns previous top, Andy is by Eden Valley Wiz Kid and out of a ewe by Clinterty Ultra. Three breeders teamed together for this ET lamb to include Peter Woof, Stainton, Kendal; G and M Wilson and Sons, Lowfield, Appleby-In-Westmorland and REJ Pierce, Oldfields, Pulford, Chester.

Two other lambs sold for 10,000gns to include Midcombe Axel, a son of the 12,000gns Strathbogie Yolo, from first time consignor, Adam Mawson, Midtown Lodge, Millom, Cumbria. He is the result of a flush from a home-bred ewe lamb by Tophill Union Jack, and was knocked down to three Northern Ireland breeders to include David Warwick, Moorfields, Ballymena; Brian Hanthorn, Mullan and D Simpson, The Willows, Ballyclare.

Proctors Farm, Wray, Lancaster and Paul and Baillie O'Connor, Drumgooland, Downpatrick, Northern Ireland, bought the second 10,000gns lamb, Milnbank American Snipper, a March-born lamb from Robbie Wilson's Turriff-based flock. He is bred from a ewe by Strathbogie Untouchable whose full sister made 6000gns and sired by the 60,000gns Strathbogie Yes Sir.

Gordon and David Gray's Ettrick flock from Selkirk, enjoyed another good day securing the overall championship with their first prize ram lamb, Ettrick Ace of Spades which made 6000gns, boosting their average – which included the first prize pen of three – to £3570 for four. The champion, by the 60,000gns Clinterty Yuga Khan and out of a ewe by Knock Topaz that was champion of champions at Kelso Show, in 2014, was purchased by Angus Kennedy, Mitchellhill, Kilbucho, Biggar.

Averages: 253 ram lambs, £1468.80 (+£205 for 12 less); 187 shearling rams, £961.73 (-£18.05 for eight fewer); three aged rams, £1347.50.

OTHERLEADINGprices

Ram lambs – 5500gns – JE and L Davies' Teilo Amryddawn, by Milnbank Wisconsin, to JE and L Davies, Llyn Yr Ynn, Llandeilo, Carmarthen and RS Mackey, Westhills, Rothbury, Morpeth; J Innes and Sons' Strathbogie Aston Martin, by Strathbogie Yes Big Boy, to EG Morgan, Blaencar Farm, Brecon, Powys.

5000gns – R Cockburn's Knap Abracadabra, by Clinterty Yuga Khan, to Messrs Herdman, Dromore, Co Down, Northern Ireland.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.