FOR the second year in succession, an entry from Robert Forsyth's Baltier flock from Whithorn, topped the gimmer trade at the Solway and Tyne Texel Breeders' Club sale at Carlisle.

Having sold the lead priced lot last year at 9500gns, his pen leader this time made 16,000gns selling to Messrs Teward, buying for their New View flock from Staindrop, Darlington, Co Durham. Female champion at last month's Wigtown Show, and maternal sister to a 5000gns gimmer and a 3400gns tup lamb, she is bred from a home-bred ewe by the retained stock ram, Baltier Rocksolid and sired by Milnbank Womaniser.

Baltier also received 4500gns for an ET sister to the 16,000gns entry, purchased by Kenny Pratt, buying for his Hilltop flock from Oldtown, Peterculter, Aberdeen, with Mr Forsyth's pen of four cashing in at £6431.

Keith Jamieson's Annan flock from Dumfriesshire, produced the second top priced gimmer at 6000gns, when a great grand daughter of the mother of Annan Jewel – a tup that dominated the breed in the late 1990's – was bought by Stephen Cobbald, Acton, Suffolk. His purchase, a Knock Yardsman daughter, is out of a ewe by Strathbogie Terminator.

Strathbogie Terminator was also the sire of the dam of Stuart Barclay's first prize gimmer at the pre-sale show, which made 4000gns selling to Ken Hodge of Greenarch Texels, Mosslane, Cheshire. This entry from the Harestone flock from Insch, is by Haymount Windsor.

Selling across the Irish Sea, the fourth prize gimmer from the Clark family from Garngour, Lesmahagow, made 3400gns to Messrs Leitch, Castlederg, Co Tyrone. This Teiglum entry is by Fordafourie Young Star and bred from a Ryders Unit daughter.

Averages: 73 gimmers, £1219.44 (+£258.01 for four more sold); 19 ewe lambs, £ 412.26 (-£200.82 for one more).

Su