Aberdeenshire breeders made their present felt at a joint sale of Beltex females at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, buying the top priced lots from the Buckles boys’ Buckles and Broxty flocks, from Barras, Kirkby Stephen, at 11,000gns, 8000gns, 7000gns and 6500gns.

The sale of 48 head from Kevin Buckles and sons Jack and Tom, was topped by the pen leader, Buckles Gem ET, one of the last daughters from the show winning, College Adele ET, and sired by the 30,000gns Buckles Dark Dawn. She was knocked down to Alan Miller, buying for the Lurg flock from Midmar, Inverurie, who also bought a half share of a 6500gns gimmer in partnership with fellow Aberdeenshire breeder, Stuart Wood, Broadwater Farm, Westhill.

This was Buckles Gemma, another ET, this time bred from the Plumtree Wonderful-sired Buckles Bonnie Girl ET, which goes back to the top breeding ewe Woodies Natasha. The sire is Gyffin Dexter, a tup bought jointly for 10,000gns, which has bred gimmers to 20,000gns and sired ram lambs to 17,000gns.

Mr Wood who runs the Woodies flock purchased the second top priced lot at 8000gns, Buckles Ginger Rose, a natural born gimmer by Gyffin Dexter but bred from the Airyolland Weapon daughter, Buckles Egg Nogg.

Another selling up to Aberdeenshire at 7000gns with Gordon and Lynsey Carroll of the Edendiack flock from Gartly, Huntly, was Buckles Goodness Gracious, an ET bred from the Ardstewart Super Mario-sired Buckles Annie Power ET. The sire is Buckles Espresso ET – a tup sold for 30,000gns to Withy Trees with a half share retained.

Lancashire breeder, Harry Wood, Popes Farm, Dutton, forked out 5200gns for another by Espresso in the shape of Buckles Gerry ET which is bred from the Plumtree Wonderful daughter, Buckles Bonny Girl ET which also goes back to Natasha.

Two gimmers reached 4000gns with the first, Buckles Grace ET, the family’s show ewe lamb last year, being bred from Buckles Annie Power ET, by Super Mario, and again by Espresso. The buyer was Loui Van Geffen, Carlton in Cleveland North Yorkshire

Buckles Gypsy, made the same money when selling to J Pritchard, Rochester, Newcastle upon Tyne. Her pedigree features Belvoir View Firefox ET, a tup bought privately in partnership with the Corra flock, onto the Buckles Carter Mackay-sired Buckles Eye Spy.

Also heading home with Mr Pritchard at 3000gns was Buckles Gin Fizz, another natural born gimmer, this time by the £5000 Kelso ram, Buckles E.T ET, out of the Plumtree Winner daughter, Buckles Anthea.

The dispersal of the Hillview flock from PN and VJ Noble, Skelton in Cleveland, Saltburn by the Sea, peaked at 1200gns for Hillview Eleanor, a one-crop ewe by the Eskdale Tweed-sired Hillview Al Capone, bred from the Matt’s Superman daughter, Hillview Whoopsadaisy. The buyer was Jordan Green, Drumburn, Keith.

Selling at 1000gns was Hillview Frangipani, a gimmer by Hillview Diamond purchased by Messrs Jennings, Selside, Kendal.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.

averages

Buckles and Broxty flocks – 48 gimmers, £1845.81. Hillview flock – 25 aged ewes, £420.84, 19 gimmers, £410.60