Females proved the star attraction at a show and sale of Dutch Spotted sheep at Carlisle, securing the lead averages and five of the six top prices which included a new record of 4700gns paid for a gimmer from Alastair Jackson's Tiptop flock from Annan.
His best, Tiptop Bubble Gum landed both the overall champion and the top price, when selling to Messrs Middleton, Cowan Bridge, Carnforth Lancashire. She is sired by the imported tup, Bullseye, which was champion here last year and went on to sell for 3000gns, and out of an imported ewe.
The first prize ewe lamb from the same home was another in the money selling for 2000gns to Messrs Corbett, Highleadton, Newent, Gloucester. Tiptop Candy, a February-born lamb is a daughter of Lochlad BeSpoke, and out of an imported ewe. A previous show winner, she won a third prize ticket at the National Show, the Great Yorkshire and the Royal Welsh this year.
The top priced ewe lamb, at 3500gns, bagged a second prize at the pre-sale show for Andrew and Pam Parker's Lochlad flock from, Springfield, Lochmaben.
Their best, Lochlad Cuckoo, is sired by Hiroshima – an imported tup that scooped the reserve any other breed male championship at the Great Yorkshire in 2016 – and out of the flocks 2017 show ewe, Woolmaa, an imported female bought as one of the foundation ewes for the flock. Cuckoo went home to Messrs Corbett, Highleadon, Newent, Gloucester.
The second prize gimmer sold next at 2300gns for Aberdeenshire breeder Mrs P Troup, Corrennie, Shaggart, Inverurie. This Westpit-bred gimmer is by Ben and is backed by imported genetics on both sides. She was knocked down to Lanarkshire breeders, Messrs Lawson, Newbiggin, Carnwath.
Mrs Troup also received 2100gns for Gallowhill Belle, a gimmer purchased by Coulson Livestock, Middle Rasen, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire.
Belle is again by imported breeding and is a full sister to the flock's 2019 stock ram and to another ram that sired the previous top price Dutch Spotted at £3600 in 2018.
Lead price amongst the males and third top overall was 2800gns paid for Westbroad B Explorer II, a shearling ram sired by a Highlander tup, another imported ram, bred from an imported dam. Consigned by first time exhibitor, Duncan Welsh, West Broadmoss, Fenwick, he sold in a two-way split to Alastair Jackson, Annan, and Nick Brown, Irthington, Carlisle.
Three rams sold for 1500gns to include Williams Bertie, a shearling from Mrs Hayley Clarke, William Clarke Livestock, Hevingham Norwick purchased by Messrs Woof and Sons, Dent, Sedbergh, Cumbria. Second in his class at the pre-sale show, Bertie is a son of Tiptop Areo, out of an imported dam.
The first prize shearling matched that price for Andrew and Pam Parker, selling to Messrs Evans, Cantref, Brecon, Powys. Lochlad Braveheart, was a show ram earlier in the year and picked up a third prize ticket at the National Show. He is a full brother to the couple's Lochlad Cuckoo sold earlier for 3500gns.
Also at 1500gns was the fourth prize shearling from Kaleem Shaikh, Uddingston, Glasgow, which again sold to Messrs Lawson, Newbiggin. Their purchase, Thistledome Black Ice is also backed by imported bloodlines being a son of Uno out of Iris.
averages – 27 shearling rams, £961.39 (-£508.61 for 24 more); 49 ram lambs, £537 (-562.27 for 36 more); three aged ewes, £689.50; 18 gimmers, £1194.66; 28 ewe lambs, £1111.87 (-£89.33 for 23 more); 20 graded females, £169.31
Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.
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