The £18,000 centre record price for a North Country Cheviot hill-type ram at Lockerbie in 2021, was equalled at this year's event, when David and Alison Rock, and son, James, took the same money for a two-shear Hethpool ram.
The family who took over flock two years ago based in College Valley, Northumberland, topped the trade with the Hethpool Banger – a son of the home-bred Hethpool X-Rated which led the 2020 Lairg sale at £12,000 selling to Bob and Kay Adam, Auldallan. Out of a home-bred ewe, he sold in a two-way split to Rob Bennett of the Plasucha flock, Wales and David Baillie, Calla, Lanark.
A few moments later another two-shear from the Hethpool, Bam Bam, made £8000 to Norman and David Douglas, Whitehope, Selkirk. He is by Northhouse Reliant-sired Sorbietrees Victor.
On the debit side, Hethpool forked out £16,000 for Woodside Bourbon, from Michael and Lillias Elliot from Yetholm, Kelso. A son of Intack Vodka Shot, a ram purchased at Dingwall in 2019 for £4500, he is bred from an Attonburn-sired home-bred ewe.
Robert and Becca Rennie of the Attonburn flock based in the Bowmont Valley, near Kelso sold their pen leader, Attonburn Bittersweet, for an impressive £10,000. This two-shear is by the £1300 Heatherhope Vicious Stu – bought here in 2018 – and headed home to join the Elliot's Woodside flock.
His similarly aged pen mate, Attonburn Banshee, was knocked down at £4500 to RS Flintoff of the Sourhope flock, based at Kelso. He is a son of an Elsdonburn ram and out of a home-bred ewe.
Despite being second last in the ring, Norman and David Douglas' Whitehope flock from Catslackburn, sold to £8000 for the three-shear ram, Whitehope Asterix. Second in his class at this year's Royal Highland Show, he is by Suisgill Vanguard – bought at Lairg in 2018 – and headed home with RS Flintoff.
Four tups realised £7000 mark to include an entry from Gareth Price's Cymraeg flock from Wales. His Hownam Grange Valiente son was purchased by Hugh and Sandy Wilson, Newbank, Beattock.
George Irving's Benger flock from Yarrow, sold two at £7000 – Benger Beirne and Benger Barbarian, both of which are by the 1800gns Hethpool Wattie, bought here in 2019. The former sold to Ian and Katherine Hepburn, Northhouse, Hawick, with the latter purchased by CM Reid, Boreland, Peebleshire.
Benger Batman, another by Wattie, then made £5000 to Robert and Becca Rennie, Attonburn.
The last of the £7000 bids came for Newbank Blizzard from Hugh and Sandy Wilson. This son of Hethpool Vandal was bought by Messrs Mullholland, Shaws Farm.
Blizzard's pen mate, Newbank Brutus, made £4500 to R and M McIntosh, Borthwickshiels, Roberton, Hawick. He is by the Bailenacraobh-sired Keppoch ram.
Drew Oliver's two-shear ram, Sorbietrees Bravo, from his Newcastleton-based flock hit £6000. A son of Whitchesters Salvo that was purchased at Lairg in 2017 for £3500 with Commonside, he headed home with RJ and L Acton, Bradley Farm, Bardon Mill, Northumberland.
Portmore Cannonball from CM Reid's Peebleshire-based flock also attracted a bid of £5000 when selling to Annandale and Lochwood Estates, Lockerbie. Backed by home-bred genetics on both sides, he is a son of the Hethpool Wildcard-sired Portmore Banksy.
On the credit side, Ian and Katherine Hepburn's North House flock sold their best for £4500. Northhouse Banner, by Whitehope Vagabond, was knocked down to the Rocks, Hethpool.
Two rams matched that £4500 bid, the first being Hartside Hill Bugle from Linhope Farming Partnership, Alnwick. Shaws Farm, Ettrick Valley, were the final bidders on this Elsdonburn Warrior son.
Also making £4500 was Buchtrig Brigadier from Pete Tweedie, Jedburgh. He is by a £550 Clebrig tup bought at Lairg in 2019 and sold to Newbank.
LEADING prices
Rams – £18,000, £8000 Hethpool House; £16,000 Woodside; £10,000, £4500 Attonburn; £8000 Catslackburn; £7000 Talsarn; £7000 (x2), £5000 Mountbenger; £7000 Newbank; £6000 Sorbietrees; £5000 Boreland; £4500 Northhouse Farm; £4500 Hartside; £4500, £4200 Buchtrig.
LEADING flock averages
Farm (No) Average (£)
Boreland (6) 3133.33
Attonburn (9) 3100.00
Talsarn (3) 3083.00
Mountbenger (12) 2733.33
Craig (4) 2200.00
Averages: 324 rams, £1610.65 (+£50.00 on the year).
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