Suffolk breed record smashed at 200,000gns

Surpassing the previous best of 90,000gns paid for Ardlea Arbennig, a ram lamb sold at Stirling, in 2004, was an entry from father and son duo, Philip and Russell Poole’s 60-ewe flock from Beaconsfield, Upper Battlefield, Shrewsbury.

The record breaker from the Poole’s Salopian flock is also more than six times more than their previous high of 32,000gns.

It was a great day for all vendors too, according to Suffolk Sheep Society chief executive Robin McIlrath who pointed out the huge amount of uncertainty that remains surrounding the export of sheep.

“Obviously setting the breed record was the highlight of the sale, but with a 92% clearance rate (78% in 2020) and an outstanding average of £4762 for 143 ram lambs sold, up from last year’s average of £2993 for 161 ram lambs this has been an excellent sale.

“The first sale of females at Lanark, did really well and I’m sure we will see more entries next year based on the excellent prices on Thursday evening,” he added.

Setting the trade alight mid way through the sale the late December-born record breaker is by Solwaybank Rock Solid, a 26,000gns purchase in 2017 and the sire of the Poole’s previously best priced lamb at 32,000gns. He is out of the 6000gns show female from John Sinnett’s Stockton flock that stood supreme champion at the Royal Welsh Show as a ewe lamb and a gimmer, and goes back to Irongray Black Magic.

Forking out the 200,000gns was Charlie Boden of the Sportsmans flock, Stockport and Robert Jenkinson of the Dunnfell flock, Penrith, who bought the lamb for its “style, character and presence”.

Salopian's second lamb sold for 24,000gns

Philip and Russell had a field day selling seven ram lambs to average a colossal £36,712.50, backed up by another lamb bred the same way which made 24,000gns. He sold in a three-way split to to Iain and Judith Barbour, Beechgrove, Annan; Paul Delves, buying for his Bridgeview flock from Powys and Stewart and Callum Craft of the Lakeview flock from Balgeddie Grove, Glenrothes. The same buyers also went to 10,000gns for another Salopian lamb bred the same way.

Aberdeenshire breeders, Jim Young, Muirton, Corse, Alford and Rory and Pat Machray, Beech Lodge, Daviot, Inverurie, then went to 8000gns for a Salopian lamb by Strathbogie Twenty Twenty son – a sire purchased privately from James Innes – out of a home-bred ewe by Muirton One Direction.

Mark Priestley, Limestone achieved a personal best of 48,000gns

A new Northern Ireland record of 48,000gns was also achieved when Mark Priestley sold a January-born lamb from his Limestone flock in a four-way split to George and Melvin Stuart, Birness, Ellon; Stewart Lathangie, Pyeston, Glenrothes; Ronnie, Mike and Pete Black, Newton of Collessie, Ladybank, both Fife and James Wallace, Claycrop, Stranraer. Reserve at the pre-sale show, this lad is one of the first sons by the 26,000gns Forkins McCoy bought here last year which also bred a lamb at 9000gns at Ballymena the previous week. The dam, a home-bred ewe is by Limestone Aston Martin – the previous NI record holder at 40,000gns.

Stewart Craft's Lakeview flock sold to 40,000gns for this lamb

Two ram lambs hit the 40,000gns price tag, with the first being a Lakeview lamb from Stewart and Callum Craft’s 130-ewe flock from Glenrothes. He is by the 30,000gns Salopian Scuderia which was the 2020 Sire of the Year and has previously bred sons to 32,000gns. This lamb is out of a Rookery Rodeo sired-ewe, with the grand-dam being Lakeview Queen of the Maze, the three times Balmoral show champion. He sold in a three-way split to Dennis Taylor, Macosquin, Coleraine; Iain Barbour, Beechgrove, Annan, and an undisclosed buyer.

Top priced lamb from Charlie Boden's Sportsmans flock at 40,000gns

Charlie Boden’s Sportsman’s flock also received 40,000gns from a Strathbogie Ace-sired lamb bred from a Stockton ewe purchased as a ewe lamb at the flock dispersal for 4500gns. Jeremy Sharp, Firth, Bockleton, Tenbury Wells, was the final bidder.

John Gibb's 30,000gns lamb from Cairnton

Achieving their top price to date at 30,000gns were John Gibb and his daughter, Sophia, of the Cairnton flock, Techmuiry, Fraserburgh. Their best, a son of Cairnton Prince, is out of a home-bred ewe by Millhouse Remarkable, a tup bought privately. This lamb sold in a three-way split to Darragh McMenamin, Mullingar, Killygordon, Lifford Co Donegal; Jimmy Douglas, Woodhead of Cairness, Fraserburgh and Cairnton retaining a third share.

Dafydd Jones of the Frongoy flock sold his best at 25,000gns

It was also a good day for Welsh breeder, Dafydd Jones of the Frongoy flock, too when he achieved a personal best of 25,000gns for his first time selling at Lanark.

His lamb is by Strathbogie Rock On Tommy which was purchased last year for 2400gns, and out of a home-bred dam by Ballynacannon Black Diamond. Taking this boy home was the trio of buyers, Lilia Hutchinson’s Howgillfoot flock, Redgate, Rookby, Cumbria; James Alexander, Jalex, Gloverstown, Randalstown, Co Antrim; and JS Smyth, Milltown, Newton Stewart, Co Tyrone.

Champion from Birness went on to realise 18,000gns

The pre-sale champion, from George and Melvin Stuart’s Birness flock, Ellon, made 18,000gns, selling to the judge, Alastair Gault, Forkins, Newtonabbey, Co Antrim; Mark Priestley, Limestone and Andrew Wilson, buying for his Castleisle flock from Shannagh, Raphoe. Another sired by the 30,000gns Salopian Scuderia, he is bred from a home-bred dam by Crewelands Megastar – a tup that has bred lambs to 15,000gns.

Best from Strathbogie at 15,000gns

James Innes’ Strathbogie flock from Dunscroft, Huntly, saw his pen leader, brought out by shepherd Michael Leggat, sell for 15,000gns to Dafydd Jones, Frongoy and Simon Powell, Burleton Lane, Shrewsbury. This January-born lamb is by Strathbogie Twenty Twenty, and out of a home-bred dam by Castleisle Knockout that has bred lambs to 22,000gns.

Another by the same sire, but bred from a ewe by Muirton One Direction, that has bred lambs to 12,000gns, realised 8500gns for Strathbogie. Devon-based breeders, Brandon Roth, Woodbury House, Tolgus Mount, Redruth and Ross Lawrence, Roundacre, Netherleigh, Iddesleigh, Devon, bought equal shares of this lamb with John Henderson, Bullers, West Teuchan, Peterhead, buying a 10th share.

Top price amongst the females was 3500gns paid for a gimmer from Iain and Judith Barbour, Solwaybank, Rosefield, Annan. She is by Crewelands Carolus, out of a home-bred dam by Lakeview Harbinger and sold to Stephen Sufferin, Crewelands, Maghera, Co Londonderry.

Stewart and Callum Craft’s Lakeview flock received 3400gns for a gimmer from WM McMillan, Cranslagvourity, Rothesay, Isle of Bute. The breeding behind this entry includes Strathbogie Stradivarius onto a Rookery Rodeo sired-dam.

Ewe lambs peaked at 3000gns for the female champion from James Scott, East Ingliston, Forfar. A Strathbogie A Kind Of Magic daughter, out of a Cairness Stylistic sired-ewe, she sold to Charlie Boden.

Auctioneers: Lawrie and Symington.

averages: 143 ram lambs, £4761.71; 10 gimmers, £2173.50; seven ewe lambs, £1350.00

Flock averages

Flock (No.) Top (gns) Avg (£)

Solwaybank (4) 1050 813.75

Sportsmans (3) 40,000 15,085.00

Sitlow (4) 2000 1548.75

Redbrae (4) 4000 2861.25

Balquhain (5) 1900 1218.00

Lakeview (5) 40,000 9334.50

Bridgeview (4) 4200 2323.13

Cairnton (5) 30,000 7182.00

Tillydesk (4) 600 564.38

Irongray (3) 1200 980.00

Strathbogie (4) 15,000 6956.25

Frongoy (3) 25,000 10,535.00

Pyeston (5) 3200 1869.00

Roundacre (3) 1500 1120.00

Middlemuir (4) 2000 1706.25

Drimmie (4) 1100 735.00

Orion (3) 1200 875.00

Cranorskie (4) 4200 2113.13

Salopian (7) 210,000 36,715.50

Tolgus (4) 1100 840.00

Birness (11) 18,000 4157.05

Crewlands (4) 2800 1443.75

Ballynacannon (6) 4000 1758.75

Whitestone (3) 1600 875.00

Claycrop (3) 3000 2030.00

Muirton (5) 3600 2478.00