A LARGE contingent of European buyers made up for a reduced number of Scottish producers – due to the good weather – at Monday’s show and sale of Suffolk rams and females at Longtown, where a total of 76 sold to average £589. 
Following on from the success of last year’s inaugural sale, this year’s event attracted a larger entry of 106 sheep and a top price of 7000gns for the second prize December-born ram lamb from Messrs Fittons’ Maestro flock from Bolton. 
Their embryo-bred son of last year’s sale topper, the 13,000gns Solwaybank Braveheart, is out of a Rhaeadr Roger Ram Jet daughter and was knocked down to Messrs Poole, Shrewsbury. 
Following at 4000gns was the lead Solwaybank gimmer from brother and sister duo, Iain and Judith Barbour, Beechgrove, Annan.

The Scottish Farmer:

Bred from the same family as the 17,000gns Solwaybank Champion, she is by Lakeview Harbinger – the same sire as the aforementioned Solwaybank Braveheart – and out of a ewe by Rhaeadr Rannoch. She heads to Bolton to join the Maestro flock. 
At 2000gns was Solwaybank’s female champion, a gimmer which sold to Mr Acebal, a Spaniard who judged the pre-sale show. Another Harbinger daughter, she is bred from a Rhaeadr Rastafari ewe from the same line as the 36,000gns Solwaybank Major. 

The Scottish Farmer: The Barbours’ male champion was one of two from the flock to sell for 1000gns, with this December-born lamb also selling to Mr Acebal. The breeding here includes Lakeview Harbinger on to a Solwaybank Solario-bred ewe. 
Also hitting 1000gns when sold to Cabeza Rubia SL, Spain, was a 2014-born ewe by Lakeview Lingary out of a Solwaybank Skyfall daughter.
Also heading across to Spain for 1000gns with Mr Acebal was a gimmer by the 20,000gns Solwaybank Black Series from Messrs Delves’ Bridgeview flock, near Churchstoke, Powys. She is out of a Strathisla Red McGregor-sired ewe. 
The Delves sold another gimmer from the flock for 750gns to Peter Frijters, Belgium. She is by Lakeview Harbinger and out of a Solwaybank Casino Royale daughter. 
Selling to Stanley Estates, Liverpool, for 650gns was the reserve male champion, a January-born lamb by Forkins Shalaa from Mr Blair’s South Thornton-based Thornfleet flock. He is out of a Muirton One Direction daughter that is a maternal sister to the 10,000gns Limestone ewe lamb sold last year. 
Auctioneers: C and D Auction Marts