Scottish breeder, Alan Blackwood of Auldhouseburn, Muirkirk, set a record price for a Texel female in Northern Ireland at the Northern Stars Texel in-lamb sale at Ballymena Livestock Market, when selling his best for 40,000gns.

The sale boasted a 99% clearance rate, with 61% of the females reaching four figure sums and averaging £3311.64 for 80 lots.

Setting the sale alight was never the less an in-lamb gimmer, due to have twin lambs to the record breaker, 350,000gns Sportsmans Double Diamond.

She is a daughter to 125,000gns Rhaeadr Best of the Best out of a ewe sired by Clintery Yuga Khan which sold for 9000gns. Once again buying back some of his own genetics was Boden and Davies for their Sportsmans and Mellor Vale flocks, along with Stuart and Neil Barclay of Harestone.

A full sister to the pen leader then realised 12,000gns to Craig Campbell of Cowal for his new Highfield Flock in Cumbria. This one is due in lamb to Bellefield Double Dutch, and helped the Auldhouseburn pen average £10,106.25 for eight sold.

Taking the second top price of the day at 26,000gns was Alastair Gault’s Forkins pen a Clarks Bolt daughter out of a Teiglum Vigilante sired dam. She sold carrying to Lakevew Dirty Dancer, and again headed home with Boden and Davies for their Sportsmans flock.

Another Bolt daughter out of a dam sired by Duncryne Uber Cool was knocked down at 8000gns to Alan Blackwood, Auldhouseburn. She sold in lamb with twins to Procters Cocktail. The Forkins flock enjoyed a field day with their pen of 17 levelling at £3270.44.

After their big purchases Sportsmans and Mellor Vale were also in the money, when their pen leader realised 9500gns, heading home with Alan Blackwood, Auldhouseburn.

A Garngour Alabama daughter, whilst the dam is a 16,000gns Strathbogie ewe, sired by Glenside Wild Boy. Adding to her future potential she sold in lamb to Garngour Detroit.

Next in the trade stakes was a Plaucha Big Gun daughter, which left the ring at a 9000gns bid from John Sherratt Pankymoor, Wem, Shropshire. She is out of a Teiglum Younggun dam, and is scanned in lamb with twins to Garngour Craftsman.

Another from the same home hit 8000gns, selling across the Irish sea to join Stuart and Neil Barclay, Harestone, Insch. She is again by Alabama, with the dam being sired by the 145,000gnd Knap Vicious Sid, and is again in lamb to Detroit.