A new centre record of 26,000gns and ram lamb averages up more than £495 on the year along with an 84% clearance left Northern Irish Texel breeders in a buoyant mood following their National sale in Ballymena.
With many breeders keeping some of their best lambs back for the sale due to difficulties in trading in GB due to the Northern Ireland Protocol the event offered a quality line up which were well sought after by the ringside.
Read more: Texel breeders gear up for National Textravaganza Show at Carlisle
Leading the way at 26,000gns was Mark Priestley's Seaforde Egyptian King from Downpatrick. Sired by Sportsmans Cannon Ball, he is out of a Knap ewe by Mullan Amigo purchased at Worcester, in 2019 for 6000gns. He sold in a three-way split to John MacGregor, Allanfauld, Kilsyth; Stuart Barclay, Harestone, Aberdeenshire and Andrew Clark, Teiglum, Carluke.
Read more: Stars of the Future Carlisle Sale tops at £7550
Mark Patterson's Alderview Explosive made 20,000gns
Second top price was 20,000gns paid for the pre-sale champion, Alderview Explosive from Mark Patterson, Crumlin. He is a son of Kingspark Dynamite and is out of a dam by Teiglum Bachelor which is maternal sister to the 17,000gns Alderview Barrister.
Well sought after he sold to eight-part consortium consisting of James Wilkinson, Ballygroogan, Gary Beacom, Lakeview, Adrian Ligget, Corbo, Brian Williamson, Farmhill, Geoffrey Fleck, Ballymarlow, Andrew Kennedy, Maineview, L Donahue, P Murphy and P Varly.
Mr Patterson also received 6400gns for Alderview Eldorado, another by Dynamite, but out of a dam by Plasucha Brooklyn. He sold in a three-way split by Messrs Coleman, Alexander and McAuley.
Brian Hanthorn's Mullan lamb sold for 9000gns
Mullan Eureka from Brian and George Hanthorn, Tynan, made 9000gns selling to Alistair Breen, buying for the Drumderg flock from Enniskillen. He is by the 100,000gns Sportsmans Batman and out of a Strathbogie Yabba Dabba Doo dam.
Another from the same home, Mullan Eagle Eye, by Sportsmans Cannon Ball, made 7500gns. Bred from a dam by Haddo Ringleader, he was purchased by Michael Cunningham for the Aughnacullion flock, Co Down.
Eugene Branagan was another in the money, taking 5400gns for Largy Exotic, a son of the 130,000gns Rhaeadr Best of the Best, knocked down to Stephen Etheron of the Killans flock from Co Antrim. His dam is by Mullan Amigo.
Next best at 4000gns was Lake View Earl of Erne, a Castlecairn Doodlebug son out of an Alderview dam by Arkle Awesome, from Gary Beacom. Fourth at the pre-sale show, he headed home with Stewart Ferris, Bellefield.
Mr Beacom also had a good day amongst the shearling rams having topped the section at 2100gns with the red ticket holder, Lakeview Dollars. Sired by Langside Bushwacker, he is out of a Plasucha-bred dam by Plasucha Aberfeldy and sold to C McCloskey.
Gimmers were topped at 3800gns by an entry from Jim Wilson and Jack Wilson Moses’ Blackstown flock, purchased by John Foster of the Springhill flock.
Female champion at the pre-sale show, she is by Knock Classic and is out of a dam by Allanfauld Archimedes.
The reserve female champion from Jack Gault, Cherryvale, made 2250gns, selling to C and A Deegan. The breeding behind this transaction includes Procters Cocktail onto a dam by Strathbogie Terminator.
Averages: 179 ram lambs £1300.77 (+£495.67 for 34 more sold); 50 shearling rams £899.43 (-£20.46 for four more); 31 gimmers £871.50 (+£70.30 for 11 more).
Auctioneers: JA McClelland.
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