Beltex lambs hit 12,000gns and 11,000gns

The lamb – the result of a frozen embryo bought from Stuart Wood's Woodies flock – goes back to the Buckles' former champion winner at Cumberland, Buckles Babybel. She is a daughter of the 10,500gns Plumtree Wonderful, bred from Woodies Natasha daughter, which sold to Mr Wood for 7500gns at the Beltex Beauties sale in 2017. Flushed to the 7000gns Artnagullion Charlie Chaplin, the Buckles – Kevin and sons Jack and Tom – from Kirkby Stephen bought a frozen embryo which saw the birth of Buckles Einstein that sold to Gary and Lee Beacom, buying for their 15-strong Lakeview flock from Fivemiletown, Co Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.

"He's a great natural lamb, full of character, carcase and shape," said Gary Beacom. "He's also good on his legs and has a great skin."

The second top priced lamb at 11,000gns, also sold across the water to Northern Ireland when purchased by Mathew Burleigh, of the Matt’s flock, Enniskillen, in partnership with Andrew and Jamie McCutcheon buying for their Bodoney flock from Trillick, Co Tyrone.

This was John and Richard Wood's substitute entry, Kingledores Edmund ET, a son of the 3000gns Arkle DJ while his dam is the College Awesome-sired Kingledores Bessy that is also a daughter of the top breeding female, Kingledores Pearl.

Minutes later, the father and son team from Tweedsmuir, Broughton, Biggar, received 7000gns from Karen and David Shuttleworth, of the Heber Park flock, Gargrave, Skipton, for Edmund’s full brother, Kingledores Endeavour ET.

Matching that 7000gns bid when selling to Wade and Alison McCrabbe’s Ardstewart flock from Co Donegal, was Aled Groucott’s Swffryd Express ET from Crumlin, Gwent. Sired by the last year's 65,000gns Airyolland Castro, Express is out of Aled’s successful brood ewe, Hackney Treacle, by Ryder Rooney.

Selling for 5200gns in a two-way split to George Cropper, Hudhey, Rossendale, Lancashire, and Adam Neachall, Cromwell, Walsall, West Midlands, was Hillview Enforcer from Neil and Jane Noble, Skelton in Cleveland, Saltburn by the Sea. Reserve male champion at the Great Yorkshire Show, he is by Matt’s Superman and out of Hillview Apricot, an Eskdale Tweed daughter.

Also heading across the water, breed chairman John Harbison, Limavady, Co Londonderry, and David Brown, Bessbrook, Co Down, joined forces to buy Dafydd Lewis' Cothi Elite ET, at 3400gns. A son of the 4500gns Aviemore Cicero, from Pentwyn, Llanwrda, Carmarthenshire, he is bred from Cothi Alys, a Cothi Stripper daughter that has bred sons to 4000gns.

OTHERLEADING prices

Ram lambs – 3300gns – MH and EH Owens' Glantre Elliot ET, by Airyolland Conan, to Messrs Wright, Kikton, Drove, Boston, Lincolnshire.

3200gns – Wannop Farms' Wannop Entire ET by Belvoir View Chaos, to Messrs Aitken, Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire; C Currie's Corbelly Edit ET, by Corbelly Dayton ET to Messrs MacLean, Heylipol, Tiree and Messrs Taylor, Pettinain, Lanark.

FLOCK averages

Ram lambs

Flock (No) Top (Gns) Average

Hodge's (4) 650 572.25

Stonedge (3) 1000 665.00

Kingledores (4) 11,000 5643.75

Vogue (3) 1500 1050

Cynn (3) 1500 868.00

Skiddaw View (3) 1000 840.00

Wannop (3) 3200 1557.50

Arkle (3) 1200 910.00

Lyonpark (6) 500 486.50

Tercrosset (6) 2600 1111.25

Cree (3) 1000 647.50

Murrays (3) 1800 1242.50

Clary (6) 3000 1338.75

Vicky's (3) 1000 637.00

Orkney (4) 3000 1365.00

Belvoir View (4) 1400 866.25

Matt's (6) 2500 1548.75

Brownville (3) 520 514.50

Muirton (3) 900 682.50

Gyffin (4) 900 748.12

Staddlestone (3) 3000 2012.50

Wern (4) 1500 735.00

Wilodge (3) 1700 1225.00

Aviemore (6) 1200 647.50

Withy Trees (6) 1800 1076.25

Hillview (3) 5200 2152.50

Corstane (3) 750 593.00

Millairies (3) 450 367.50

Brickrow (3) 1300 1050.00

Lurg (3) 2400 1645.00

Fingle (3) 800 630.00

Bursyepark (3) 400 350.00

Tiptop (6) 3000 1295.00

Hackney (3) 3000 1715.00

Bodoney (6) 1200 936.25

Glenpark (4) 550 420.00