Successful sale day for breeders

Scottish contingent fares well at annual show

Scottish breeders enjoyed success at the Solway & Tyne Texel Breeders Club annual autumn show and sale in Carlisle.

Topping the sale at 100,000gn was the overall champion from the pre-sale show as judged by Selkirk breeder David Gray, who runs the Tima flock.

This was March-born ram lamb Sportsman Batman, from Boden & Davies Ltd, Mellor Hall Farm, Stockport.

By the 40,000gn Garngour Alabama, and out of a dam by the 145,000gn Knap Vicious Sid, he sold to the Procters flock in Lancashire.

Thereafter, 30,000gn was paid for February-born ram lamb Claybury Basic Instinct, by Strathbogie Youi, from Claybury Texels, Shrewsbury. He sold to Messrs Tippetts, Shifnal, Shropshire.

Other leading prices included 18,000gn for February-born ram lamb Knap Blazing Star, by Knap Alligator, from Perthshire breeder Robert Cockburn, Errol.

He sold in a two-way split to Jim Innes, Dunscroft, Huntly, and Kenny Pratt, Oldtown Farm, Peterculter.

Sandy Lee, who runs the Fordafourie flock at Memsie, Fraserburgh, sold to a top of 16,000gn for February-born ram lamb Fordafourie Big Ben, by Fachell Victor. He sold to Messrs Forsyth, Maybole, Ayrshire. Mr Lee then paid 8,000gn for March-born ram lamb Teiglum Bandana, by Ettrick Yom Kippur, from the Clark family’s Teiglum flock at Lesmahagow.

Meanwhile, Albert and George Howie, sold to a top of 12,000gn for a February-born ram lamb from their Knock flock at West Knock, Stuartfield, Peterhead. Knock Bantastic, by the 24,000gn Allanfauld Am The Man, sold in a three-way split to Messrs Clark, Lesmahagow, Lanark; Messrs Renwick, Peebles; and Messrs Wight, Biggar.

Two north-east breeders – Willie Knox, Mid Haddo, Fyvie, Turriff, and Brian Buchan, Clinterty, New Aberdour, Fraserburgh – paid 7,000gn together for February-born ram lamb Ettrick Bet Fred, by Usk Vale Albatross, from the firm of G Gray, Sunnycroft, Selkirk.

Robbie Wilson, who runs the Milnbank flock at North Dorlaithers, Turriff, sold to a top of 5,500gn for March-born ram lamb Milnbank Brisbane, by Holylee Acrobat. He sold to Messrs Jones, Corwen, Clwyd.

Shearling rams peaked at 4,000gn for Mershott Amazon, by Roxburgh Yorkie, from the Gordone Brooke Estate, Duns. He sold to Messrs Robinson, Welshpool, Powys.

In the female section, a top price of 16,000gn was paid for a February 2017 born gimmer from R & E Forsyth’s Baltier flock at Lower Cults, Whithorn, Dumfries and Galloway. By Milnbank Womaniser, she sold to Messrs Teward, Darlington, Co Durham.

The sale averages were: shearling rams, 193, £805.34; ram lambs, 278, £1,900; shearling gimmers, 73, £1,219.44; and ewe lambs, 19, £412.26.

A top price of 100,000gn was paid for the champion, Sportsman Batman, at the Solway & Tyne Texel Breeders Club show and sale in Carlisle.