SOME 30 years of dedicated Charollais sheep breeding came to an end at Carlisle, last week, when Herbie and Alan Kennedy dispersed their well-known and show-winning Parkgate flock from Dumfries.
The flock, which has produced breed and inter-breed winners at numerous events, including at the Royal Highland Show, Dumfries, Border Union and Ayr shows, saw trade peak at 3000gns for an ET-bred ewe lamb.
Alan’s favourite, this cracker bred from the show-winning Parkgate Hottie, a former three times inter-breed champion at Dumfries and winner at the Highland, is by Carnew Nijinsky, and sold to David and Jonathan Norman, Kirkhouse, Setmurthy, Cockermouth.
Parkgate Hottie, which has also bred daughters to 2500gns, was behind several other top priced lots, including Herbie’s favourite at 2000gns – another ET-bred ewe lamb by Nijinsky. Eire breeder, Tom McCormack, Ardikellan, Strokestown, Co Roscommon, was the last man in on this entry, bidding over the ‘phone.
The lead priced ewe, at 2000gns, was another out of Hottie. This December, 2013-born ET-bred ewe is by the 4400gns Rhaeadr Midas bought in 2012, and sold carrying twins to Tawelfa Rioja, bought last year for 1500gns, to Northern Ireland breeder, Drew Cowan, Banbridge, Co Down.
Hottie was also the dam of the top priced three-crop ewe at 1600gns. Another by Midas and carrying a single to Rioja, she sold in a two-way split to Adrian Davies, Glanbrydan, Manordeilo, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, and DGJ and MA Curran, Wernfawr Bungalow, Talgarth, Brecon.

The Scottish Farmer:

Herbie Kennedy in the ring watches on as his award-winning flock is dispersed

Two others came under the hammer for 2000gns. including a ewe lamb by Rioja and bred from a ewe that is a daughter of the third prize gimmer at the Highland in 2012. She sold south to Tenbury Farm Supplies, Burford, Tenbury, Worcs.
Hannah Sloan, Rigghead, Collin, Dumfries, bought a couple of the top lots including the leading gimmer at the same money. This was a daughter of Ballyhibben O Brian, bred from an Arbryn ewe, that was placed at the Highland, in June. She sold carrying a pair to Glyn Coch Scooby Doo.
Michael Power, Shepherdsrest, Ballyhibben, Co Limerick, Eire, was another to fork out the cash, buying two lots at 1800gns and 1500gns apiece. The former, a two-crop ewe by Parkgate Nailer, out of a Ballyhibben ewe, changed hands carrying a pair to Rioja.
Travelling home on the same trailer to Ballyhibben at 1500gns was a one-crop ewe by Arbryn Mythos, bred from an Arbryn ewe and in lamb with a single to Rioja.
With entries selling to all corners of the UK, Yorkshire breeder, D Dennis, Hill View, Longlands, Over Silton, went to 1550gns for a one-crop ewe due to Rioja. She is by the Arbryn Mythos son, Parkgate Panther, and out of last year’s inter-breed champion at Dumfries, a Midas daughter bred from Hottie.
Two stock rams were forward. They peaked at 2200gns for Glyn Coch Scooby Doo, a shearling ram bought at Worcester in July for 2300gns. He is by Glantren Playboy, and sold to D Darling, Ladyflat Farm, Duns, Berwickshire.

averages:
39 ewes, £845.38; seven gimmers, £1230.00; 10 ewe lambs, £1223.25; eight commercials, £362.25.


Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington