A TRIPLET born gimmer from Welsh breeders, Steve and Sara Gibbons' Whatmore flock from Tregoyd, Brecon, proved the star attraction at the second Sapphire Blue Texel sale at Carlisle, selling for the top price of 4500gns.

The sale, which featured consignments from four flocks, was led by Whatmore Yawn, a daguther of the home-bred sire, Whatmore Wasp, which bred sons to 7000gns earlier in this year and last year produced the 9500gns record priced gimmer here in Whatmore Xtra-Sweet here. A full sister to a 5000gns gimmer sold last year, Yawn is out of the Whatmore Siren daughter, Whatmore Treacle and sold to father and son team, Adrian and Clive Richardson, who own the Cleenagh flock, alongside small pedigree herds of Charolais and Simmental cattle around Maguiresbridge, Co Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. The service sire was Whatmore Yorkie.

Her full sister, made 2200gns to H Griffiths, Bristall, Batley, and also sold served to Yorkie.

And, just behind on 2000gns, another by Wasp and served to Yorkie, was purchased by S McGuinness, Letter Breen, Co Fermanagh.

Whatmore Yarrow, by Whatmore Siren and due to Whatmore Wasp, also made the grade for the Gibbons' selling for 1600gns to RA Hughes, Rhydeilian, Llanfairpwll, Anglesey.

Gimmers from Paul Tippetts and Christine Williams' Hackney flock from Shifnal, Shropshire, also proved popular with two sales at 2500gns. The first, Hackney Yummy, by a home-bred son of a Dutch Kreuze tup that has already bred gimmers to 1900gns, out of an imported female, was bought by Reese Cooke, Nantyderi, Abergavenny, Gwent. She sold carrying a pair to Joes Alvin.

Hackney Yosser matched the 2500gns bid selling to David Cormack and Gaynor McDowell, Billesdon, Leicester. This ET is bred from the privately purchased, Whatmore Vienna, and sired by Whatmore Siren. Yosser also sold due with a pair to Joes Alvin.

Lancs breeder, S Taylor, Hiltons, Midge Hall, Preston, then went to 1500gns for Hackney Yarn, another by Whatmore Siren, and due to Joes Alvin.

Top priced lot selling across the Border at 1150gns was a Sams gimmer from Andrew and Sam Froggatt, Froggys Farm, Abbots Bromley, Staffs, purchased by J Lyle, Nether Pratis, Leven, Fife. She is by Millend Whirlwind and sold carrying a pair to Sams Achilles. Top price from the flock was 1400gns paid by R Mawer, Corner Farm, Woodhall Spa, Lincs, for another by a home-bred sire and due to Sams Achilles.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.