Usk Vale Texels continued on their winning ways at the Longtown Ladies event, producing three of the top four highest prices including the sale leader at 8500gns.
Such was the demand that overall averages broke through the four-figure bracket, with 161 head cashing in at £1268 and with a 96% clearance. Notably, 20% were sold online through MartEye bidding platform.
Topping the trade was an unshown gimmer from first time consignors Willy Davis and Paul Rowlands’ Usk Vale flock from Llandrindod Wells. Their entry, a Knock-bred daughter of Garngour Alabama, out of an Allanfauld Am The Man dam, sold to the Brecon Beacons-based Ynystoddeb flock of AE Jones, Gwynfe. The service sire was Morwood Eurostar.
Selling for 5500gns was another Usk Vale gimmer with a Knock prefix
None of the Usk Vale gimmers were shown, but another from the same pen sold back down to Wales at 5500gns.
This was another Knock-bred gimmer by Sportsmans Chieftain, out of a Tophill Wall Street ewe that is full sister to Knock Yardsman She sold to Carl Bellis, Denbigh, in lamb to Lakeview Earn Your Keep.
Bury-based breeders, David and Jane Houghton, went to 4500gns for an Usk Vale gimmer to join their Tophill flock. She is by Hexel Born To Be Wild., bred from the same ewe as the 20,000gns Usk Vale Eddie and sold due to Eurostar.
Pre-sale judge, James Theyer of Clanfield Texels backed his decision and bought his choice of champion at 4500gns. This was a Knap gimmer from Robert Cockburn, Hill Of Errol, Perth. A Sportsmans Cannonball daughter out of a Clinterty Yuga Khan dam, she sold in lamb to New View Electrifying.
Robbie Wilson's third prize winner made 4800gns
Superseding that price, the third prize gimmer from Robbie Wilson’s Milnbank flock, Turriff, made 4800gns selling to Bryden Nicholson, Highfield Farming, Duns. She is by Ellen Valley Caesar, and sold due to Harestone Eldorado.
Knap was back in the money amongst the Texel ewe hoggs, selling his fourth prize winner at 2100gns to EJC Dean, Kirkhouse, Brampton.
The first prize winner and reserve champion by Claddagh Dynamite from Danny Hair, Drumbreddan, Stranraer, made 1700gns to C Asher, Ashbourne, Derbyshire.
Judge, James Theyer, also received 1700gns for a Sportsmans Desert Star daughter, bought by Harry Houldey, Kirtleton, Waterbeck.
Dutch Texel gimmers peaked at 750gns from Oliver Dean, Kirkhouse, Brampton and 700gns twice from Messrs Pyman`s Thacka Flock from Stainton, Penrith.
Ali Jackson’s Tiptop flock from Maulscastle, led the Dutch Spotted with the gimmer Tiptop Dream 2, selling to J Pullen, Lower Gaufron, Powys and ewe hoggs to 1300gns twice.
Badgerface Texels peaked at 1400gns for a gimmer from Stuart Wood, Skene Aberdeenshire, who also sold Blue Texels at 950gns and 900gns.
Beltex were topped at 700gns twice from the Black Jack flock of Ross and Kirsty Williams, Huntly.
Dutch Spotted cross ewe hoggs sold in pairs averaged £572 per head with a lead price of £720.
LEADINGFLOCK averages
Texels gimmers
Flock (No) Top (gns) Average (£)
Usk Vale (6) 8500 3700.00
Knap (4) 4500 2450.00
Milnbank (5) 4800 2120.00
Auldhouseburn (3) 2600 2033.00
Harestone (3) 2200 1800.00
Haymount (3) 1800 1200.00
Allanfauld (3) 1200 1166.00
Lauder (4) 2100 1050.00
Mitchellhill (5) 2200 1030.00
Orchilmore (7) 1400 878.00
Ewe hoggs
Hexel (3) 1600 1233.00
Drumbreddan (3) 1700 1100.00
Clanfield (3) 1700 1066.00
Knap (4) 2100 862.00
averages: 91 Texel gimmers, £1268; 24 Texel ewe hoggs, £853; 18 Dutch Texels gimmers, £510; Overall, 161 head, £1035
Auctioneers: C and D Auction Marts
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