Growing demand for Blue Texels not only ensured a flying trade from start to finish, but also a new breed record of 25,000gns for a ram lamb at the Northern Supreme sale, at Borderway Mart, Carlisle.
Setting the trade alight was Steve and Sara Gibbons’ February-born entry, Whatmore E-male, from their Brecon-based flock. He is backed by two generations of home-bred genetics being sired by Whatmore Chaos, a son of Whatmore Siren, and out of Whatmore Banoffi, also by Siren.
E-male headed home with Henry Jewitt buying for his Sunnybank flock, at Barnard Castle, Co Durham.
Next, at 6500gns, was the No 1 ram lamb from the Francis family’s flock at Pistyll Uchaf, Abergorlech, Carmarthen. Pistyll Everest, a son of last year’s Royal Welsh reserve champion, Carly’s Blues Dazzler, out of a home-bred ewe by Whatmore Worcester, sold in a two-way split to Kevin Watret, Annan, and Paul Tippetts, Shifnal, for their Solway and Hackney flocks, respectively.
Another tup lamb from the same home and by the same sire, Pistyll Elite, made 5500gns, selling to Aberdeenshire breeder, Stasa Moyse, buying for her Saltire Blue flock, at Woolhillock, Skene. He is out of a home-bred Pistyll Xtreme-sired ewe.
Stasa Moyse also enjoyed a cracking trade, selling the lead priced female at 6000gns along with the next three highest. Top was the substitute entry, Saltire Blue Doris, a gimmer by Caryl’s Blues Captain and out of Saltire Blue A Beauty. The buyer was Vicky Bowring, Langwith, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.
The flock’s No 1 gimmer, Saltire Blue Dawn, made 5500gns when purchased by Messrs McFarland, Omagh, Co Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Another by the same sire, she is out of Saltire Blue Beyonce, which is a maternal sister to the flock’s show ewe, Saltire A Beauty.
Ms Moyse also sold two full sisters at 4500gns apiece. Saltire Blue Dreamer and Saltire Blue Damson are by Saltire Blue Captain, out of Saltire A Beauty, and sold to Vicky Bowring, Notts, and the Page Farm Partnership, Rookwith, Ripon, respectively.
At 3200gns, neighbouring breeders, Messrs Wilkie and Sons, Skene, bought Saltire Dance With Me, by Caryl’s Blue Captain.
On the debit side, Ms Moyse went to 6000gns to buy back some of her own genetics from Northern Ireland breeder, Matthew Burleigh, Cornacra. Matt’s Escobar is by Saltire Blue Derek and bred from the Cleenagh Alfonso-sired Derg Cindy.
Just behind, on 5000gns, was Aled Groucott’s ram lamb, Nantyderri Derek, from Lodge Hill, Shifnal, purchased by Rhys Cooke, Abergavenny. He is by the 3100gns Derg Churchill, and out of the Cleenagh Xquizit-sired ewe, Cleenagh Big Bird.
Neil and Stuart Barclay, Harestone, Insch, paid 3200gns for Beili Blues Elias, from DL and BWH Jones, Pencader, Carmarthen. This ram lamb is by Carly’s Blues Dazzler and out of a home-bred ewe by Jonsland Wifi.
Auctioneers: H and H.
averages: 86 ram lambs, £1218.36; 64 shearling rams, £976.99; four aged rams, £1010.62; 91 gimmers, £1186.15; 59 ewe lambs, £724.14.
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