Females met a flying trade at the Beltex Beauties sale at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, where no fewer than 11 lots sold at or above the 5000gns bracket.

The sale of 94 pedigree Beltex gimmers and ewe lambs from 13 flocks was topped at 11,000gns by Hackney Elanor, a gimmer from Paul and Christine Tippetts’ flock from Lodge Hill, Shifnal, Shropshire, purchased by Matthew Burleigh, buying for his Matts flock from Kinawley, Enniskillen, Northern Ireland.

This ET-bred entry is the result of a flush from Hackney Crisp, a daughter of the former record priced Topflite Al Pacino, and full sister to the rams, Hackney Corker and Clinker, and last year’s joint top price here, Hackney Dior at 5000gns. The sire is Airyolland Asulam which also sired the 65,000gns record priced Airyolland Castro.

The couple also received 7500gns for a gimmer from their Wilodge flock, purchased by Liam and Jack Swinnerton of the Lipley flock from Market Drayton, Shropshire. Selling at this price was Wilodge Emerald, another bred from a flush from a Topflite Al Pacino daughter. She is bred from Wilodge Chic, the overall champion at the English National Show in 2018, which in turn was bred from Corra Alexis. Emerald is sired by the 65,000gns Airyolland Castro.

Richard Wood and his father John, had a cracking day, securing the lead average of £5523 for five gimmers from their Kingledores flock from Broughton, Biggar. Dearest here and second top price overall was 8500gns paid by Andrew Wood, Whittingham, Preston, for Kingledores Ella.

Another ET-bred female, this time bred from a flush from the College Awesome daughter, Kingledores Bessy which in turn was bred from the prolific Kingledores Pearl, Ella is sired by the 3000gns Arkle DJ, which has bred sons to 11,000gns for the flock.

Another similarly bred gimmer from the flock, Kingledores Ellie, a natural-born entry made 8000gns selling to Messrs Bowring, Nether Langwith, Mansfield. She is out of Kingledores Bianka, which boasts the same parentage as Bessy, and again sired by Arkle DJ.

Andrew Morton, Lochend, Denny, went to 6500gns for Kingledores Errinka, a naturally-born gimmer by Bailey Brook Chief out of The Glantre Armani daughter, Kingledores Cherry.

Another heading north but all the way up to Nairn at 6800gns with Messrs Stephen, buying for their newly formed Glencoe flock at Nairn was the pen leader from Neale and Janet McQuistin, Airyolland, New Luce, Newton Stewart. Airyolland Elenore is backed by home-bred genetics on both sides being the result of a flush from the Airyolland Top Notch daughter, Airyolland Wet N Wild, and sired by the Airyolland Watchman son, Airyolland Asulam.

The Buckles boys – Kevin and sons Tom and Jack – who own the Buckles and Broxty flocks from Barras, Kirkby Stephen, were in the money too with gimmer sales at 5500gns and 4500gns. The former, Buckles Emma Lee, is a naturally-born daughter of Heatheryhall Campbell – a tup bought at Lanark for 3800gns – and out of the Dooley Napal daughter, Buckles Cork Screw, was knocked down to Wade and Alison McCrabbe, buying for their Ardstewart flock from Raphoe, Co Donegal.

The latter, Broxty Eclair, another naturally-born gimmer is by Kadar Des Quatre Vents and out of the Buckles Masterpiece daughter, Broxty Candy Bar, which in turn was bred from Woodies Natasha. Final bidders were Messrs Hall, Airton, Skipton.

Matching that 4500gns sale was the best from Ross and Kirsty Williams’ Blackjack flock from Upper Tullochbeg, Huntly, purchased by Brian Hall, Ainstable, Carlisle. Black Jack Esmeralda, an embryo-born gimmer, is bred from the Woodies Ringleader daughter, Blackjack Whiterashes and sired by Bailey Brook CR7.

Their pen leader, Blackjack Elma, and full ET sister, made 4000gns selling to the Page Farm Partnership, Rookwith, Ripon.

Top price for Stuart Wood’s Woodies flock from Woolhillock, Skene, Aberdeenshire, was 4000gns paid for Woodies Enhanced, another ET-bred gimmer. She is bred from Woodies Currency – a third prize winner at the Highland last year, and sired by Woodies Cookie Monster, by Loandhu Bonzo. The buyers were Sue and Jeff Wilkinson, buying for the Langlands flock from Barningham, Richmond.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.

averages:

Flocks – Airyolland – 10 gimmers, £1869.00; Ardstewart – 12 gimmers, £1255.62; Artnagullion – four gimmers, £840.00; three ewe lambs, £689.50; Aviemore – four gimmers, £1338.75; Blackjack – seven gimmers, £2002.50; Broxty and Buckles – five gimmers, £2793.00; Clary – 10 gimmers, £1533.00; Glantre – five gimmers, £1501.50; Hackney and Wilodge – 11 gimmers, £3269.31; Kingledores – five gimmers, £5523.00; Woodies – seven gimmers, £1980.00.