A triplet-born two-shear ram from Northern Ireland breeders, Andrew McCutcheon and Sally Ritson, secured the lead price of 7000gns at the Badger Face Texel Society show and sale at Carlisle.
Brougher Cruiser, which stood male champion and reserve overall for the Bodoney flock from Trillick, Co Tyrone, is a son of Drumard ED and out of a Sunnybank imported ewe by the Dutch sire, Braam Raats. He sold back across the Irish Sea with Clive Richardson, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh.
Later, the duo’s Bodoney flock took 3000gns for Bodoney Ecstasy, the third prize ram lamb which was purchased by DW and SL Harries of the Hope flock from Wennant, Llandeilo, Dyfed. He is by a Duhonw sire and out of Brougher Chloe.
Three rams sold for 3500gns with the first being John and Bryony MacGregor’s shearling ram, Hunters Dizzee Rascal, from Allanfauld, Kilsyth. Bred by Stuart and Wendy Hunter, he is by Cleenagh Biggy, out of a Hunters imported ewe and was knocked down to Michael James, of the Duhonw flock from Maesmynis, Builth Wells, Powys.
Financing that transaction, Duhonw received the same money for the first prize ram lamb and reserve male champion, Duhonw Elvis The King, a March-born ET bred from Whatmore Beeswax and sired by Duhonw Dare Devil. He is a maternal brother to an 11,000gns ewe lamb and 8000gns and 7000gns ram lambs sold last year and was knocked down to Messrs Nicholls, Wetley Rocks, Stoke on Trent.
The last of the 3500gns bids came for the shearling ram, Woodies Dark Destroyer ET from Aberdeenshire breeder, Stuart Wood, Broadwater, Skene. Messrs Mason, Clapham, Lancs, forked out the cash for this entry which features imported genetics on both sides with the sire being Woodies Full Monty by a Sunnybank imported ram.
On the other side of the coin, Woodies and John and Bryony MacGregor forked out 3200gns for the fourth prize ram lamb, High Ploughlands Ernie, a son of Cleenagh Apollo, out of a Sunnybank import from Hannah Pedley, Little Musgrave, Kirkby Stephen. His full sister sold for 3200gns last year.
Matching that price was the J and D Clamp’s show shearling ram, Riverside Delboy, from Mayfield, Yarns, Ashbourne, purchased by Messrs Millen, Coleraine, Londonderry. He was fourth at the Great Yorkshire in 2022 and also won many inter-breed championships.
Clive Richardson’s Cleenagh flock from Enniskillen, produced two of the top three highest priced females at 3200gns and 3000gns. Dearest was Cleenagh Doodle, a daughter of the imported Cleenagh Makavelli, out of Cleenagh Bella. This second prize gimmer at the pre-sale show sold to Stuart Wood.
John and Bryony MacGregor, bought the 3000gns entry for their Tamtain flock. This was the third prize gimmer, Cleenagh Daytona, which is a full sister to the Balmoral champion, being a daughter of Cleenagh Bodybuilder and bred from a Cleenagh import.
The first prize ewe lamb, Bonny and Bold Emerald Fire from Tara O’Brien, Coshquin, Co Londonderry, also made 3000gns, when selling to Messrs Bett, Yarburgh, Louth. Another by Cleenagh Bodybuilder, her dam Cleenagh Creme De La Creme, was purchased for £4000.
Stuart Wood was back in the money selling the third prize ewe lamb, Woodies Extra Special for 2800gns to Messrs Walsh, Ballintra, Co Donegal. Another by Woodies Full Monty, she is also bred from an imported ewe.
Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.
Averages: Nine shearling rams, £1724.33 (+£503.70 for seven more sold); 26 ram lambs, £1238.27 (-£133.91 for seven more); three ewes, £280; 23 gimmers, £1296.52 (-£700.73 for three more); ewe lambs, £1299.38 (-£287.29).
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