A good crowd travelled the length and breadth of the country to attend the first Crystal Maze Sale of pedigree in-lamb Texel females at Balmoral Park, Northern Ireland, where prices peaked at 3500gns for a Scottish-bred gimmer.

The sale, which included entries from the Braehead, Cowal, Ettrick, Hilltop, Knap, Lakeview, Maineview, Milnbank, Mullan, Procters, Strathbogie and Tullagh flocks, was topped by an entry from Robert Cockburn's Knap flock from Hill of Errol, Perth. Sired by Sportsman Cannon Ball and bred from a show ewe by Knap Yuga Khan, she sold in lamb to New View Electrifying to Ballymena breeder Johnny Cubitt.

Knap also took 2500gns for another by Sportsman Cannonball from Thomas Hogg, Lisbellaw.

Aberdeenshire breeder, Kenny Pratt who owns the Hilltop flock, chased her all the way, selling a Knock Crackerjack daughter for 3000gns. Patrick and James Murphy, Co Mayo, were the final bidders on this entry which sold due to Cressage Enforcer.

Mr Pratt also received 2600gns and 2500gns for gimmers. The former, again by Crackerjack sold scanned with twins to Lakeview Earn Your Keep, to Rian O’Hare, Hilltown.

The 2500gns Hilltop gimmer is by Sportsman Chieftain, in lamb to Farm Hey Exterminator, and sold to Martin Millar, Coleraine.

Liam McPolin, Mayobridge, went to 2900gns for a gimmer from Gordon and David Gray's Ettrick flock from Selkirk. Her pedigree features Ettrick Cocky Bob with the service sire being New View Electrifying.

Two others from Ettrick sold at 2500gns and 2000gns, with both purchased by Robin Creighton, Chelmsford. Dearest was another Ettrick Cocky Bob daughter due to New View Electrifying, with the 2000gns lot being sired by Brackenridge Commander.

Top price for the Proctors flock was 2100gns paid for a daughter of Usk Vale Cheeky Charlie, in lamb to Sportsman Double Diamond. She joins Brian and Billy Smyth's flock, Co Meath.

Andrew Kennedy’s Maineview flock, sold to 2000gns for a daughter of Farmhill Wizz Kid, purchased by Johnny Cubitt, Ballymena. Another from Maineview sold at 1800gns to Pat Farrell, Co Meath. Fairywater Columbo sired this gimmer which changed hands carrying twins to Alderview Explosive.

The Lakeview flock of Gary Beacom, peaked at 1900gns. Danny Murray, Pettigo, went home with this Langside Bushwhacker daughter, due to Glenside Emerald.

The entire crop of gimmers from David Warwick's Braehead met with spirited bidding, topping at 1800gns twice. Mark Patterson, Crumlin, first bought a Sportsman Batman-sired female, with Alan Glendinning, Tobermore, going to the same money for another by Knock Bantastic.