Centre records were smashed at the Bluefaced Leicester breed sale at Ballymena Market, last weekend, when a tup lamb from Dominic and Gerry McCrystal’s Drummuck flock sold for 15,000gns.
The event attracted a huge crowd of buyers and enthusiasts from both sides of the Border and the Irish Sea, with the sale leader remaining in the province when purchased by local breeder, Michelle Wright, buying for her Mullaghwee flock, near Ballymena. 
Her big buy, a son of the £34,000 H1 Kirkby Redgate, is bred from a Midlock female by the E1 Hewgill, that was bought at Carlisle, in January. 
The Drummuck flock produced a cracking average, selling seven lambs to level at £2324.70.
Helping to finance that transaction, Michelle sold her best at 5500gns south of the Border to Messrs Staunton, Mayo. This was a tup lamb that was champion at Ballymena Show and first in his class at Antrim. He is by the G4 Parkgatestone tup.
Adding to that bumper sale, Mullaghwee sold their champion winner – selected by Scottish judge, Alan Shennan, Farden – for 2800gns to Paul Sammon, Tipperary. This ram lamb is by a J2 Dawyck sire.
Second top price was 7500gns paid for a Tievebuaile Farm lamb from Brendan Blaney from Cushendall, Co Antrim. He is by the home-bred H1 Tievebuaile Farm, and was purchased by the Giants Causeway flock of Declan McKillop. 
Mr Blaney, who produced the lead flock average selling seven lambs at £2325, also received 2800gns for another lamb by the same sire. It was purchased by Colin and Joan Coulter, Carrick Rock.
The H1 Tievebuaile Farm ram was  behind the top priced female from the flock too. This was the champion at the pre-sale show, which made 1600gns selling to Paul O’Connor, Drumgooland.
Matching the 2800gns bid was a Lakeview Blue ram lamb from Lee Beacom, Fivemiletown, Co Tyrone, purchased by Eamon and Phil McCormick, Brablagh. He is by a G4 Parkgatestone.
Graham and Julie Loughery’s Temain flock from Limavady, topped the shearling section at 4600gns for a son of the G1 Cottage selling to Martin Kelly, Freehall,with a half share retained. 
Temain also received 3200gns for another by the same sire purchased by Matt and Robert Workman, Kilwaughter, with the flock securing the lead shearling average of £1848 for 12. 
Reserve champion was a shearling ram by the G4 Newbigging Walls tup that made 2000gns. Consigned by Timothy Wray, Knockstacken, he went home to work in Brian Mullan’s commercial flock from Limavady. 

Averages: 157 shearling rams, £984; 104 ram lambs, £1071; 35 females, £494.