Texel rams enjoyed a good trade at the second Solway and Tyne Breeders Club sale at Carlisle, with averages up on the year and for slightly more sold.
Top price was 3000gns paid for the Clark family’s Garngour Aristocrat, the third prize ram lamb at the pre-sale show from North Garngour, Lesmahagow, purchased by John Carruthers, Silloans, Rochester. 
He is by Fordafourie Young Star and out of a ewe by Castlecairn Vavavoom which bred the 2016 inter-breed champion at Biggar Show.
The Clarks had a great day, with another two lambs making 1400gns, with the first, Garngour Assasin, a son of Knock Yardsman and a full brother to the 40,000gns Alabama, selling to VE and BM Samuel, Upper Monkton, St Weonards, Hereford. 
Minutes later, Garngour Alaska, also by Yardsman, made the same money selling to Cockermouth breeder, IM Jaeban, Forth House Farm.
Mr Jaeban, was back in buying mode, going to 2000gns for the pen leader from Derbyshire breeder, Andrew Hambleton’s Kinnelside flock from Anvla, Ashbourne. 
Kinnelside Abercrombie, is by Baltier Thunderbird and bred from a ewe by Sportsmans Tremendous II, which is a full sister to the 2200gns Kinnelside Whatsapp sold here last year.
Just behind, on 1800gns Willie Fleming’s first prize ram lamb and reserve overall champion, Mossknowe Ash, another by Knock Yardsman, from Hillhead, Kirkpatrick Fleming, sold to IT and K Carruthers, Glenzierfoot, Canonbie, Dumfriesshire. 
Top price for the Wilkinsons’ Arkle flock from Arkleby House, Wigton, was 1200gns paid by AJ and LJ Haston, Dearham Hall, Dearham, Maryport, for Arkle Amazon. He is by Eden Valley Y Not.
Angus McColm’s Crailloch flock from Port William, Newton Stewart, topped the shearling trade at 1400gns when the fourth prize shearling ram, a son of Crailloch Valentino, sold to Cornwall producer, GB Renfree, Dannett, Quenthiock. The dam is by Cambwell Sparky.
A smaller entry of gimmers also sold well, peaking at 1100gns for the pen leader from Gordon and David Gray’s Ettrick flock from Selkirk, purchased by Karen Irving, Kingfisher Farm, Rigg, Gretna. A daughter of Ellen Valley Warlord, she is bred from a ewe by Ettrick Sir Allan.

Averages: 18 shearling rams, £704.67 (+£135.57 for three more); 103 ram lambs, £497.07 (+£34.54 for three more); 17 gimmers, £609.62 (+£103.69 for 32 fewer).

Auctioneers: H and H