A shearling ram from Brian Williamson’s Farmhill flock from Omagh, Co Tyrone, not only secured the overall championship but also the top price of 4300gns at the Northern Irish National Texel Sale, at Ballymena.

On a day which saw tup lamb averages rise by almost £100 and shearling rams climb by more than £45, clearance rates also fared well amongst the females with 91% of the gimmers finding new homes.

Topping the trade was the shearling Farmhill Aristotle, a son of Tullagh Yogi out of a dam by Knock Travis. He was knocked down at 4300gns to Paul and Baillie O'Connor for the Drumgooland flock, Seaforde, Co Down.

Second top was 4000gns paid for the highest priced ram lamb from Naomi Ardis’ Millburn flock, from Hilltown, Co Down. This was Millburn Big Guns an entry by the 70,000gns Teiglum Young Gun out of a dam by the 145,000gns Knap Vicious Sid, purchased by Ivor Kilpatrick, Raphoe, Co Donegal.

Following that at 3000gns was Irish Hill Braveheart from Wilson Kennedy, Ballyclare, Co Antrim. He’s by Knock Yazoo out of a dam by Knap Vogue, and found a new home with Peter Boyd for the Poseyhill flock, Ballyclare.

Scottish breeders, Robert Laird, Cambwell; Kenny Johnstone, Boghouse and Neil Edmondson, Castle Bank, went to 2600gns for Donalds View Best Yet from Sean Hamill, Limavady, Co Londonderry. Their purchase is by Drumgooland Aga Khan and out of a dam by Springwell Venom.

Selling at the same price was Kiltariff Bastareaud from Barclay Bell and family, Rathfriland, Co Down. This Sportsmans Yogi Bear son out of a Cowal Viceroy-sired dam, was knocked down to Robert Mulligan for the Brague flock, Banbridge, Co Down.

Top price for Roger Strawbridge's Tamnamoney flock from Coleraine, was 2400gns, paid for Tamnamoney Black Lightning, a Scotsman Avicii son out of a dam with Duncryne Uber Cool. He sold to Henry Gamble, buying for the Springwell flock from Groomsport Bangor, Co Down. Another similarly bred lamb from the same home, Tamnamoney Black Bush, made 2300gns to Liam McPolin, Newry, Co Down.

Close behind at 2200gns was Ballrussell BMW from Mary Clarke, Comber, Co Down. This first prize winner from the pre-sale show is by Staneybrae Angus and out of a dam by Seneirl Arnos and was the pick of Martin McConville, Rathfriland, Co Down.

Leading the female trade at 1300gns was the female champion and reserve overall from Beth and Jack Gault's Cherryvale flock from Newtownabbey, Co Antrim. This entry is by Halbeath Woody, out of a dam by Sportsmans Scania and sold to R Docherty, Clonmany, Co Donegal.

Next best at 1050gns was the third prize gimmer, a Strathbogie Whiplash daughter from Andrew Fyffe's Fairywater flock from Omagh, Co Tyrone, purchased by C McIlwaine, Newtownstewart.

Averages: 32 gimmers £536.48; 132 ram lambs £648.93; 64 shearling rams £748.86.

* Robert Bennett's 32,000gns Texel lamb sold at the Scottish National Show and Sale at Lanark, the previous week, Plasucha Big Gun, was bought by Charlie Boden, Sportsmans and Edward Pugh of the Glanllyn flock from Glanllyn, Bala, Gwynedd, North Wales and not as previously reported.