averages

144 shearling rams, £618.22 (-£63.09 for 20 more sold); 37 ram lambs, £590.27 (-£71.05 for 22 fewer); 21 gimmers, £556.00 (+£93.33 for 26 fewer); 3 ewe lambs, £262.50 (-£275.10 for the same number).

By Kayley Kennedy

SHEARLING rams led the way at the Beltex Scotland show and sale of males and females at Lanark, last week, where the overall champion from Tom and Alfie Taylor's Heatheryhall flock topped the entry at 3800gns.

Ram averages were back on the year for near enough the same total sold, but held up well considering current tight farm budgets and the uncertainty of Brexit.

With the Taylor brothers from near Pettinain, Lanark, achieving their best ever price of £3200 at Kelso Rams Sales less than a week earlier, their new flock best was paid for Heatheryhall Campbell, another son of the 10,000gns Quarrymount William Wallace shared with Grange Hall and Callacrag, while his mother is the Tacherhill Regal-sired Heatheryhall Wallflower. He sold in a two way split to the Mairs for their Aviemore flock near Everton of Auchry, Turriff, and the Buckles for their Buckles and Broxty flocks near Kirkby Stephen.

Another by William Wallace, Heatheryhall Control, which was used as a lamb, sold to Brian Wylie, Balbrydie, Kirriemuir, for 1250gns. He is out of Heatheryhall Tiara, a Clary Prankster daughter.

Next in the trade stakes at 2100gns was Alasdair MacLean's second prize shearling ram, Tiree Chip, a son of the 13,000gns Callacrag Wise Crack that sired the 8000gns lamb Tiree Benchmark as well as a 7000gns shearling. Selling three ways to Andrew Baillie, Callacrag; Michael Russell, Lamington; and Kenny O'Connor, Kenny's, he is out of the Beechtree Maxi Muscle-sired Tiree Romantic.

James Bailey's sole entry from Wyvil Grange, Hunton, Bedale, attracted the third top price when sold to Stuart Wood for his Woodies flock near Skene and Dafydd Owen for his Conway, Wales-based Smart Ass flock for 1800gns to top the lamb trade. His Ivanhoe Dynamo is by Aviemore Bookem and out of an imported female, Van't Hoveke.

Two tups sold for 1700gns apiece with the first of these being Neil Harvey's Blackadder Coby from the flock near Duns which sold to Ian Knight, Stephney Farm, Seascale. His pedigree features The Bare Boy on the Rathbone Tony daughter, Artnagullion Ava.

The second at this price was Matt Burleigh's reserve champion Matt's Deluxe, which is by the same Hackney Corker shared with Lakeview that sired the 10,000gns Matt's Ducati sold at Carlisle. Out of the Hackney Warrior-bred Matt's Atomic, a full sister to the 12,000gns Matt's Abracadabra, he sold to P and A Moss, Ewebank, Rokeby, County Durham.

Females also peaked at 1700gns when the Mair family sold their female champion and reserve overall to Gary Beacom, Lakeview, Northern Ireland. Their gimmer, Aviemore Curie, is out of the Artnagullion Ringmaster daughter, Aviemore Wanda, and by Loandhu Bonzo.

The Mairs enjoyed a good run with their shearling rams too, peaking at 1550gns for Aviemore Carry on 3 from Colin Little, East Bracklinn, Callander. This son of the noted Airyolland Wee Jimmy, whose sons have peaked at 10,000gns, is bred from the Artnagullion Ringmaster-sired Aviemore Wendoline 2.

Another by Wee Jimmy, Aviemore Couples 2, this time out of the Ringmaster-sired Aviemore Trixie, sold to J Halliday, Linhead, Lockerbie, for 1350gns.

Also in the money at 1450gns was Raymond Flaws' Woodwick Cognac all the way from Orkney. This son of the Airyolland Wee Jimmy tup shared with Coplands and Ivanhoe, out of the Corstane Whistler-sired Woodwick Adele, was knocked down to Clark Stewart, Kinninmonth, Cupar.

Just a couple lots later, Andrew Wainwright saw his Todhall Cole sell for 1300gns to Messrs Miller, Haquoy, Orkney, and his Todhall Cracker sell to the Youngs for their Muirton flock near Alford. The former is by Woodies Bad Boy and out of the Kingledores Warrior-sired Todhall Aphrodite while the latter is by Rathbone Alien and out of another Warrior daughter, Todhall Adore.

Auctioneers: Lawrie and Symington