Ever increasing demand for pedigree Suffolk females saw a top price of 19,000gns and a further three sell at 12,000gns each at the Three Nations sale at Carlisle.

The event which comprised consignments from 16 flocks, was topped by a gimmer from Myfyr Evans’ Rhaeadr flock from Denbigh, Wales, purchased by new breeders Charlotte and Neville Pitman, Collumpton, Devon. A daughter of the privately purchased Limestone Aston Martin son, Limestone Limousine, she is from the same family as the 4000gns Rhaeadr Jet Set, being a daughter of Rhaeadr Raring To Go. She changed hands carrying a single lamb by Millhouse Magic Touch, a lamb bought for 3200gns at the National sale.

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Mr Evans also sold a ewe lamb at 8000gns to the same buyers. She is by Kinbally Kick Start and is out of another ewe by Raring To Go that last year bred a 2700gns female.

The first lot in the sale ring made 12,000gns for Dafydd Jones’ Frongoy flock from Pennant, Aberystwyth. His ET-bred gimmer is the result of a flush from a Beaufort ewe by Rookery Riverman that stood champion at the Royal Welsh in 2014, and sired by Ballynacannon Billionaire. She sold scanned with twin lambs to Strathbogie Rock On Tommy, a tup that bred the National champion at Shrewbury and sons to 25,000gns, to Stephen Cobbald, Actonhall, Suffolk.

Mr Jones’ second gimmer by Ballynacannon Noah and out of a Stockton ewe by Stockton Last Chance, made 3800gns to Rory and Pat Machray, buying for their Middlemuir flock from Inverurie. She also sold carrying a pair to Strathbogie Rock On Tommy.

Jim Innes’ Strathbogie flock from Dunscroft, Huntly, also took 12,000gns for a gimmer from Southern Irish breeder, Darragh McMenamin, Killygordon, Donegal. Selling at this price was an ET bred from a ewe by the 14,000gns Castleisle Knockout and sired by the 16,000gns Castleisle Capaldi. Brought out by Michael Leggat, she changed hands in lamb to Crewelands King Pin – the sire of Finn Christie’s 16,000gns tup sold at Shrewsbury.

The second Strathbogie gimmer, a full sister to Strathbogie 2020 and maternal sister to AK Magic made 3500gns selling to George Powell, buying for his Myddle flock from Shrewbury. Her pedigree features Crewelands Kingpin, and a Strathisla ewe by Strathisla Stiffler.

Strathisla genetics going back to the great X48 ewe bred by Robbie Wilson, were behind the final 12,000gns gimmer, when Gary Owen sold a ewe lamb from the Morris flock from Neuadd Wen, to Lilia Hutchinson, Howgillfoot, Kirkby Stephen. She is by the Birness Playboy son, Morris Assassin, and out of a Crewelands Cartel dam.

More than financing that transaction, Howgillflock sold gimmers at 9000gns and 6000gns. Dearest was an ET bred from a Lakeview ewe by Lakeview Lyphard and sired by Crewelands Captain Crusader. She goes back to the great Lakeview Queen of the Maze and sold carrying a pair to Howgillfoot Sniper and with a recipient ewe carrying a single embryo by the 25,000gns Frongoy Rocket to Charlie Boden, of the Sportsmans flock from Stockport.

The 6000gns Howgillfoot gimmer was also bred from a Lakeview ewe but a daughter of Rookery Rodeo, and sired by Captain Crusader. She also sold due with a single to Sniper and with a recipient carrying a single embryo, to Frongoy Rocker, to Messrs Richmond, Goosnargh, Preston.

Mr Boden forked out 8000gns for a ewe lamb from Stephen Bolland’s Skipton-based Wharfe flock, too. A maternal sister to the 23,000gns Limestone Gold Rush, this ET is bred from an 1800gns Limestone ewe by Limestone Black Beauty and sired by Solwaybank Cracker.

Philip and Russell Poole’s Salopian flock from Shrewsbury, also took 8000gns for a ewe lamb, when Messrs Sharp, Tenbury Wells, purchased a ET bred from a Stockton ewe by Irongray Black Magic and by Solwaybank Rock Solid.

Top price for Mark Priestley’s Limestone flock from Seaforde, Northern Ireland, was 6500gns paid by Messrs Galloway, Halifax, for a gimmer by Birness Muzza, out of a ewe by Castleisle Knockout that has bred sons to 8000gns. She sold carrying a pair to Forkins McCoy and with a recipient ewe carrying twin embryos to McCoy.

Limestone then sold ewe lambs at 4500gns and 4000gns. The former, by the 31,000gns Cloontagh Chieftain, is out of a 5000gns gimmer by Limestone Aston Martin and headed home with Messrs Berry, Rossendale, Lancs.

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Salopian bought the 4000gns ewe lamb, bred from a Gransha ewe by Limestone Brigadier that produced the 48,000gns Marksmana nd the 23,000gns Gold Rush. Her sire is Forkins McCoy.

The same buyers went to 5000gns for Iain and Judith Barbour’s No 1 ewe lamb from the Solwaybank flock from Annan. She is by Bridgeview The Joker and out of a ewe by Lakeview Harbinger.

Stewart Lathangie, Pyeston, Glenrothes, went to 4500gns for a gimmer from Paul Delves’ Bridgeview flock from Churchstoke. A daughter of the 30,000gns Salopian Scuderia, out of a ewe by Strathbogie Sirius, she sold carrying twins to Frongoy Firenze.

averages: Rhaeadr flock – Four gimmers, £6510.00, four ewe lambs, £3911.25. Frongoy – Three gimmers, £6055.00. Strathbogie – Four gimmers, £5460.00. Morris – Five ewe lambs, £3528.00. Wharfe – Three ewe lambs, £3727.50. Limestone – Three ewe lambs, £3780.00. Solwaybank – Six gimmers, £1522.50, three ewe lambs, £3080.00. Bridgeview – Six gimmers, £2362.50; four ewes, £1010.63. Claycrop – Five gimmers, £2100.00. Kexbeck – Three ewe lambs, £1890.00. Myddle – Three ewes, £1295.00

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.