Guest consignors, Donald and Ross MacPherson of the Hexel flock from Berwick-upon-Tweed, led the way at the January Gems sale of Texel females at Ballymena Livestock Market, with gimmers selling at 8000gns and 4400gns and ewe hoggs to 4000gns.
The sale, which included quality consignments from local breeders, Chrissy and Martin Mullan of the Blue Gates flock; Adrian Liggett and Brian Williamson (Corbo and Farmhill); John Trimble (Curley); Barclay Bell and Sons (Kiltariff) and S and M Warnock (Straidarran), met a buoyant trade throughout with 33% of the entry selling for more than 1000gns and an 86% clearance.
The MacPherson's sale leader which is a full sister to Hexel Didi, is sired by Procters Chumba Wumba and bred from a Castlecairn Vavavoom dam. She sold due to Coniston Equinox and heads back home to Berwickshire, when purchased by Wesley Waite for his foundation Summerskye flock.
Another from Hexel, this gimmer sold for 4400gns
Mr Waite also went to 4400gns for her stablemate, another Chumba Wumba daughter this time bred from a Drumpark Unique mother that is maternal sister to 9000gns Hexel Blockbuster. She also changed hands in lamb to Coniston Equinox.
Adding to the Hexel flock celebrations, the team then sold the equal highest priced ewe hogg at 4000gns and others at 3100gns and 1900gns. Dearest was a March-born Procters Chumba Wumba daughter out of a Garngour Alabama dam purchased for 10,000gns at the Glanllyn dispersal. She also sold to Summersyke.
Equal top priced ewe hogg at 4000gns from Hexel
Ronan Gallagher of the Enniscrone flock, Eire, bought the 3100gns ewe hogg. She is by Haymount Crackerjack and bred from a Procters Bobby Dazzler mother. Another by Crackerjack, out of a Drumcryne Uber Cool dam that is maternal sister to the 65,000gns Django and several others, made 1900gns to Alan Glendinning, of the Lylehill flock from Draperstown.
Equal top priced ewe hogg at 4000gns from Corbo flock
Wesley Waite forked out another 4000gns for the equal highest priced ewe hogg, from the Corbo flock of Adrian Liggett and Brian Williamson. She is bred from a Strathbogie Best Bet dam and sired by Sportsmans Cannon Ball.
Back amongst the gimmers, the duo received 3000gns for an Auldhouseburn Crackpot daughter out of a Drumgooland Advertiser dam. She was purchased by Marcus Johnston, Co Fermanagh, and sold served to Midas Elvis, a Hexel Born to Be Wild son.
Just behind, on 2800gns, her full sister, also due to Midas Elvis, was knocked down to Mauris Breen Augher, Co Tyrone.
Co Cork breeder, Arthur O'Keefe, went to 2400gns for an in-lamb gimmer from the Mullan's Blue Gates flock. Bred from a Drumgooland Aga Khan dam that was champion at Antrim Show in 2019 and sold here last year for 8500gns, she is by Fairywater Columbo.
FLOCK averages
Flock (No) Average (£)
Blue Gates (13) 716.00
Corbo/Farmhill (6) 1680.00
(3ewe hoggs) 1785.00
Curley (15) 829.50
Hexel (3) 4865.00
(4ewe hoggs) 2598.00
Kiltariff (3) 882.00
Straidarran (8) 719.25
averages: 48 in-lamb gimmers, £1200; nine ewe lambs, £1941.45.
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