Record breaking Longtown Ladies

Despite some adverse conditions north of the Border, all vendors made it to the sale and with 15 lots selling at or above the 1000gns mark, an overall average of £523.81 was set for in the region of 190 catalogued females. 

It was the number two gimmer from Steven Renwick’s Peebles-based Craig Douglas Texel flock that proved the star attraction when she was awarded the championship ticket from Thomas Illingworth, Howgillside, before selling for the top price of 5200gns – a new centre record – to Bruce Renwick, who runs the Castlecairn flock near Kelso. This entry, a Haddo Whiskey Galore daughter, sold carrying a pair to Mullan Amigo. 

The same buyer and seller combination was behind the second top priced lot when Steven’s number one sold to Bruce for 3800gns. Again sired by Haddo Whiskey Galore, this gimmer was also in lamb to Mullan Amigo but was scanned with a single. 

         £3800 Craig Douglas gimmer

Heading down to Wales with Messrs Jones, Ynystoddeb, Carmarthonshire, having been knocked down at 2000gns, was another Craig Douglas entry by Whiskey Galore, scanned with twins to Mullan Amigo. 

Father and son duo, Gordon and David Gray, received 3000gns from Messrs Redpath, Berrymoss, Kelso, for the dearest from their Ettrick pen, based near Selkirk. That was a Tullagh Saracen daughter which was scanned with a single to Usk Vale Albatross. 

           £3000 Ettrick gimmer

Another from Ettrick, this time a Shannagh Won-O-Won daughter, sold to Messrs Murray, Cross House, Hexham, for 1100gns. She was also in lamb to Usk Vale Albatross. 

The reserve champion, a Hexel Wildcard-sired gimmer from Messrs Spyrou, Gib Farm, then sold to Messrs Woodmass, Harene, Linstock, for 1500gns. A full sister to the 4100gns Beeston Castle champion sold the previous week, she was due with two to Anglezark Uno. 

Robbie Wilson sold two Glenside Willy Nilly daughters from his Turriff-based Milnbank flock for 1200gns and 1150gns. Dearest, which was scanned with a pair to Strathbogie Yes Sir, sold to Messrs Davies for the Telo flock in Llandeilo. 

The second Milnbank gimmer, carrying one to Greenstar Alfie, heads to Walterstead Farm Cottage, Ladykirk, with Messrs Mackinnon. 

A further two Milnbank gimmers sold for 1000gns, one to Messrs Delaney, Creemully, County Roscommon, and the other to Messrs Lodge, Heyworth Lodge. 

Three gimmers then matched that 1000gns, with a pair from John Forsyth’s Glenside flock heading to Heyworth Lodge as well as to Archie Hamilton, of the Smyllum flock. 

The third at that price was a Hilltop Valhalla-sired gimmer from Messrs Laird, Cambwell, which sold to Messrs Richardson for their Stonebridge flock. 

Among the other breeds, Dutch Texels topped at 1000gns twice from Messrs Pyman, Thacka, selling to Messrs Wilkinson, Arkleby House, and S Dalton, Greenside. 

Bluefaced Leicesters followed at 900gns for a gimmer by F27 Midlock from the Wight family’s Midlock flock near Biggar. Carrying triplets to J6 Hewgill, she sold to Messrs Mullins, Corlacky Hill, Swatragh. 

Midlock sold another served by the J6 Hewgill, this time carrying a single, to James Nisbet, Sorn Mains, for 600gns. She is by the H1 Kirkby Redgate. 

Messrs Lawson, Hundith, received 700gns from Messrs Scrimgeour, Raise Lodge, for an in-lamb Bluefaced ewe hogg by D17 Smearsett, carrying a single to K8 Shafthill. 

In the Beltex section, a gimmer from Messrs Struthers, Greenbank, topped at 500gns when sold to Evan Bros.

Averages: 82 Texel gimmers, £575.24 (+£118.49 for 20 fewer sold compared to 2017); 10 Dutch Texel gimmers, £598.09; 19 Beltex and Beltex cross gimmers, £260.95; seven Bluefaced Leicester ewe hoggs, £387.62 (+£104.12 for one less).