Auldhouseburn gimmer makes 12,000gns

In recent weeks, the owners of the tup bred by Robert Cockburn – Charlie Boden, Sportsmans and the Cambwell brothers, Cowal – have enjoyed notable success, with sales at 15,000gns and 13,000gns at Carlisle for Mr Boden, while Cowal gimmers peaked at 7000gns. This time, it was the turn of third owners, Hugh and Alan Blackwood, selling the first from Auldhouseburn, Muirkirk – all by Vicious Sid – which sold to 12,000gns, to average £5200 for four.

These were the first gimmers sold from the 40-ewe Auldhouseburn flock, established in 2012, with the dearest knocked down to pedigree Suffolk and Charollais sheep breeder, Myfyr Evans, who owns the Rhaeadr flock from Denbigh, Wales. Bred from a Cowal ewe by Kelso Pavarotti, bought privately, this big gimmer sold carrying a pair to the 60,000gns Clinterty Yuga Khan.

Next best from the Blackwoods was a 3000gns bid for another Sid gimmer carrying three to Yuga Khan. She sold across the water to Northern Ireland with the Conway Brothers, John and George, who are better known for breeding Blackface sheep just outside Plumbridge.

On the other side of the equation, Auldhouseburn, bought the first gimmer in the ring at 3800gns. This was a Castlecairn Vavavoom daughter from the Clark brothers' – Allan, Andrew and Dye – who run three flocks based at North Garngour, Lesmahagow. Their pen leader which is from the same family as this year's Great Yorkshire and Highland Show champion, is bred from a ewe by Strathbogie Smokey Blue, and sold due to the 15,000gns Knock Yardsman.

Gordon and David Gray's Ettrick flock was again in the money, selling 20 to average £1865 from a lead price of 7000gns. This was the pen's No 2, a daughter of Sportsmans Unimog son, Ettrick Vagabond, out of a ewe by Ettrick Sir Alan. Maternal sister to the first prize gimmer at the Highland and the Great Yorkshire, in 2014, she also sold carrying a pair to Yuga Khan, to new breeder, David Morrison, Dalwyne, Barr, Girvan.

Mr Morrison, who also breeds Blackface sheep bought another three Ettrick gimmers, including a Hilltop Valhalla daughter carrying a pair to Clinterty You Cracker, at 3500gns. Her mother, a Deveronvale ewe by Glenside Razzle Dazzle was purchased for 3000gns.

Brian Buchan, Clinterty, New Aberdour, Fraserburgh, also splashed the cash, forking out 4500gns for another Ettrick gimmer by the 8000gns Valhalla, carrying triplets to Yuga Khan. Her dam, by Knock Papoose is an ET sister to the 7000gns Popeye, while her grand-dam is the old Paparazzi show ewe.

Hilltop Valhalla was also the sire of the top two highest priced gimmers from Robert and Joyce Laird's Cambwell flock from Biggar at 5000gns and 3800gns. The dearest, out of a ewe by Llangwm Nut Cracker, which was part of this year's show team and is from the same family at the 10,000gns Cambwell OBE, sold to Charlie Boden, Mellor Hall, Stockport, carrying twins to the Sportsmans Supreme son, Cambwell Trademark.

Susan Jackson, Lochgoilhead, bought the 3800gns Cambwell gimmer to establish her own flock. Bred from a Crailloch True Blue ewe, her grand-dam is a full sister to Cambwell Rob Roy and Cambwell Socrates. She sold carrying a single to the 8000gns Fordafourie Young Star.

Longtown auctioneer, Archie Hamilton, who runs the Smyllum flock at Lanark, also went to 3800gns for a gimmer from Allan Cullen's Craighead flock from Carluke. His purchase, by Crailloch Victor, was shown as a ewe lamb and is bred from a ewe by Coldstream Rolex. She sold carrying twins to Procters Young Hustler.

Mr Cullen also received 3400gns for his first gimmer by Tullagh Saracen, which sold carrying a single to Teiglum Windfall. She was also part of the show team and sold to C and M Mullan, Blue Gates Texels, Limavady, Northern Ireland.

Top price for Bruce and Alistair McKerrow's Grougfoot flock from Bo ness was 3000gns paid for Castlecairn Vavavoom daughter out of a ewe by Annan Brave Heart. The buyer was Alasdair Beaton, Wester Slamannan, Falkirk.

Auctioneers: Lawrie and Symington.