Pembroke Deep Pockets and Ballytaggart Domino shined bright at the ‘spring stars’ sale of poll Dorset and Dorset horn sheep staged on behalf of Harrison and Hetherington, achieving a joint top price of 2000gns.

First to hit the mark was Pembroke Deep Pockets, a ram lamb from D Lewis, Llangwathen, Narberth, Pembs. A Ballytaggart Xceptional son, out of a home-bred ewe by Downkillybegs Picasso. Messrs Pratt, Hacheston, Woodbridge, Suffolk, took this boy home.

Joint sale leader at 2000gns was Pembroke Deep Pockets from D Lewis

Joint sale leader at 2000gns was Pembroke Deep Pockets from D Lewis

Aberdeenshire breeder, Messrs Byrnes, Turriff, forked out 1400gns for Pembroke Domino, a September ram lamb from the same home. A Pembroke Bulletproof son, out of a Downkillybegs Xchequer sired-dam.

Joint sale leader at 2000gns was another ram lamb this time from Thomas G Wright, Kilraughts Road, Ballytaggart, Ballymoney, Co Antrim. Ballytaggart Domino is sired by Wilsey Apollo, out of a Olivertree Archie sired dam, and now heads to Devon with Messrs Huxter, Sandford, Crediton.

The same home sold another ram lamb for 1600gns to Messrs Waller, Killington, Carnforth, Lancs. Ballytaggart Diablo is by Olivertree Archie and the dam, a home-bred ewe is sired by Manorcroft Ultimatum.

Waving the flag for Scotland was Alistair Morton of the Stobilee flock, Cleghorn, Lanark, when he sold his best for 1600gns to MacGregor Farming Partnership, Witchingham, Norwich, Norfolk. This ram lamb, Stobilee Diamond Ge is a son of Maineview Armani, which has consistently sold lambs for more than £1000, and out of a gimmer by Sherborne Prince Regent.

Alistair also produced the joint female sale leader at 650gns which was a gimmer by the 1500gns Ballytaggart Buster. Stobilee Clarissa is out of a home-bred ewe by Galgorm Wilbur, and headed north with Messrs Spence, Strathdon, Aberdeenshire.

Heading in the same direction to Aberdeen was the pick of Messrs Sheed, Cabrach, Huntly, a ewe lamb from Sam Driver, Sandy Lane, Chisworth, Glossop, Derbyshire, who also received 650gns. A Huish Alpha daughter out of a Sandy Lane Polaris sired-dam.

The same home also sold a shearling ram for 1600gns to Messrs Tickler, Grantham, Lincs. A son of Huish Alpha, out of a home-bred ewe by Sandy Lane Zipp, which sired the 3400gns Sherborne Benchmark.

averages:

Four shearlings, £774.38; 18 rams, £1001.58; 14 ram lambs, £1066.50; Four gimmers, £543.38; 11 ewe lambs, £363.68.

Harrison and Hetherington.