Females from the Withy Trees, Matts and Tiptop flocks, proved the star attraction at the Beltex Crackers sale at Carlisle, producing the top prices and lead averages.
The sale of 97 pedigree females from eight flocks saw the best from Andrew and Claire Wood and son Charlie's Withy Trees flock from Whittingham, Preston, not only sell the dearest at 5000gns, but also two others at 2700gns and 2000gns.
Their best, Withy Trees Copper Mountain, a gimmer that stood fifth at the Great Yorkshire Show, is a daughter of the 25,000gns Broxty Boxer, bred from the Woodies Razzamatazz-sired Hudhey Slip Knot – a Skipton purchase in 2013 that has since bred tup lambs to 3500gns. One of the flock's top females, Copper Mountain has been flushed to Matts Ducanti with all embryos implanted recipients, and sold scanned for a pair of lambs to the 13,000gns Cree Action Man. The buyer was relatively new breeder, Neil Harvey who is better known for his Blackadder Texel flock based at Duns, Berwickshire.
The previous entry, Withy Trees Cleco, another gimmer by Boxer but out of the Carlisle purchase, Tercrosset Sunshine, a show ewe by Airyolland Nailer, made 2700gns selling to Northern Ireland breeder, Gary Beacom, Fivemiletown, Co Fermanagh. Another member of this year's flushing team, with embryos from her implanted, Cleco changed hands carrying a single lamb to Jewitt Blazing Heat.
New breeder, Gordon Harrison, a joiner to trade from Carnwath, bought the sale's second top priced ewe lamb at 2000gns. This was Withy Trees Denise, a late January-born entry by the 3600gns Matt's Coco Pops out of the Broxty Supreme-sired Buckles Watercress – the former champion winner at the breed's Premier show and sale at Carlisle that was purchased for 5000gns and this year stood champion at the Great Yorkshire Show.
Just behind, on 1800gns, Stuart Wood, Woolhillock, Skene, purchased Withy Trees Chroming Rose, another Boxer gimmer this time bred from the Holmebeck Tonto daughter, Rathbone Anushka. She also sold due with a pair to Cree Action Man.
Top priced ewe lamb at 3500gns was Matthew Burleigh's Matt's Daisy, a February-born entry from the Northern Ireland based flock which numbers 45 ewes near Shanra, Enniskillen. A member of this year's show team, she is by Hackney Corker and bred from Matt's Adelle – the Hackney Warrior daughter that bred Matt's Curious, the NI National champion winner this year and the first prize tup lamb at the Lanark breed sale in 2017. Mother and daughter duo, Gillian and Victoria Bowring who own the 30-ewe Windmill flock at Nether Langwith, Mansfield, Notts, were the final bidders and also went to 1800gns for Matt's Claire, a gimmer by Hackney Wonderboy out of Langlands Tilly, by Drumchapel Replay. She changed hands scanned for twin lambs by Hackney Corker.
Heading north to Banffshire with Zoe Rennie, Newmill, Keith at 2000gns was the best from Ali Jackson's 15-ewe Tiptop flock based at Maulscastle Farm, Annan. The gimmer, by Ainstable Aristotle and bred from the Woodies Wots Up Doc-sired Tip Top Allstar, sold in lamb to the 6000gns Belvoir View Chaos.
Averages: Cothi flock – Four gimmers, £472.50; Headlind – Five gimmers, £357.00; Jewitt – Three gimmers, £350.00; Matts – Three ewes, £595.00; nine gimmers, £816.67; 10 ewe lambs, £982.80; Rathbone – Three ewes, £504.00; Tiptop – Four gimmers, £1010.63; three recipients, £595.00. Withy Trees – Seven gimmers, £1762.50; three ewe lambs, £1610.00.
Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.
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