Pedigree Texel gimmers met with huge demand at the Christmas Stars sale at Carlisle on Monday evening where the overall average settled at £3252.75 for 70 sold, which witnessed an increase of £1272.33 for two fewer sold.

This was backed up by a sale high of 35,000gns for Charlie Boden’s Sportsmans flock of Mellor Hall Farm, Mellor. A daughter of Procters El Presidente, this gimmer is out of a Plasucha Big Gun sired-dam.

The Scottish Farmer: This Strathbogie gimmer made 21,000gns for Jim InnesThis Strathbogie gimmer made 21,000gns for Jim Innes

Adding to her future potential she sold in-lamb to the 170,000gns Knap Grumpy, having been knocked down to Alan Blackwood, Auldhouseburn.

Another from the same home then made 10,000gns when selling to Robert Cockburn’s Knap flock, Errol, Perth. A Seaforde Empire King daughter and out of a home-bred ewe by Garngour Craftsman, she sold in-lamb to Knap General Lee.

The Scottish Farmer: Another Sportsmans gimmer then made 10,000gns Another Sportsmans gimmer then made 10,000gns

Alan Blackwood was back in the buying seat at 5000gns. By the same sire, she is out of a Knockem Abracadabra-sired dam, and sold in-lamb to Knap General Lee.

The best from Robert Cockburn’s Knap flock made 28,000gns when the hammer fell to Messrs Teward of the New View flock, Darlington, County Durham. A New View Electrifying daughter she is bred from a Sportsmans Cannon Ball dam and sold in-lamb to Auldhouseburn Gazza.

Another the same way bred then made 9000gns when Messrs Branagan, Kilcoo, Newry, Co.Down, purchased a half share, with the remaining being retained for the Knap flock. Adding to her future potential she sold in-lamb to Haddo Fabio.

The Knap flock continued to be in the money when selling another Electrifying daughter for 4000gns to the Campbell family, Overburns, Lammington, Biggar. Bred from a Knock Banker daughter, she sold carrying a pair to Knap Gruffalo.

The Scottish Farmer: Robert Cockburn's best Knap gimmer realised 28,000gns Robert Cockburn's best Knap gimmer realised 28,000gns

Alan Blackwood, Auldhouseburn, was once again at the end of the hammer forking out 21,000gns for a gimmer from the Strathbogie flock of Jim Innes and stockman Michael Leggate. This one is by Cressage Enforcer and out of a Mullan Armani daughter and sold carrying a pair to Auldhouseburn Fancy Pants.

Last to achieve the five-figure prices was a Haymount gimmer from Jack Arnott, Haymount, Kelso. Sired by Rhaeadr Entrepreneur and out of an Usk Vale Crackerjack daughter, she sold in-lamb to Strathbogie Gladiator. She then took the road to Stranraer with Danny Hair, Drumbreddan.

Another from the Haymount pen then made 4500gns, being by the same sire, and found a new home with Niall Shaw, Ardfern, by Lochgilphead, Argyll. The dam side goes back to Clinterty Yuga Khan and she sold in-lamb to Strathbogie Gladiator. Kenny Pratt, Hilltop, Peterculter, Aberdeen, then sold two gimmers at 4000gns each.

The Scottish Farmer: Topping the sale at 35,000gns was this Sportsmans gimmerTopping the sale at 35,000gns was this Sportsmans gimmer

Both are daughters of Sportsmans Cannon Ball and bred from a Procters Chumba Wumba-sired ewe. The first sold carrying a pair of lambs to Auldhouseburn Fancy Pants with the hammer falling to Messrs Dixon, Corrie, Lockerbie.

Bruce Renwick, Castlecairn, Kelso, purchased the latter one, which was in-lamb to Auldhouseburn Gazza.

Just behind on the 3800gns price tag was the best from Karen and Allan Wight, Midlock, Crawford. Their gimmer is a result of the sire Claybury Dunkirk onto a home-bred ewe by Midlock Cracker, and sold carrying a pair to Midlock Fury.

The final bidders were Messrs Ayrton, Thurnham, Lancaster.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.

AT the Select Seven sale of pedigree Texel females at Lanark, Alan Clark, Garngour sold 12 to average £2524.77 and not as previously reported.

Other Leading Prices

3500gns – K Wight, Midlock, to Messrs Macgregor, Allanfauld. K Pratt, Hilltop, to Messrs Cockburn, Errol, Perth, Perthshire

3200gns – R Wilson, Millbank, to Messrs Stewart, Wardes, Kintore, Aberdeenshire. R Cockburn Knap to Messrs Cornthwaite, Bolton By Bowland. R Cockburn Knap to Messrs Turner, Grindon, Leek.

3000gns – R Wilson, Millbank, to Messrs Stewart, Wardes. R Wilson, Millbank, to Messrs Stewart, Wardes.

Leading Flock Averages

Craig Douglas (3) 402.50

Haymount (5) 3916.50

Clanfield (8) 649.68

Orchilmore (4) 577.50

Midlock (10) 1890

Hilltop (4) 3255

Milnbank (8) 1830.93

Sportsmans and Mellor Vale (7) 7935

Strathbogie (8) 4134.37

Cowal (4) 1589.37

Knap (9) 6533.3

Averages: 70 gimmers, £3252.75