Bidding spells event record as Texel pair make £2,000 in ewe hoggs sale

The sale of ewe hoggs is always a crowd-puller and this year was no exception with a new Scotsheep record of £2,000 paid for a pair of Badgerface Texels from Stuart and Wendy Hunter, West Cairnhill, Insch.

They were purchased by Lancashire breeders, Caroline Brown and Sheila Mason.

Both are sired by Cleenagh Biggy and bred from their foundation ewe, an imported female which has already bred several four-figure-priced sheep.

The couple also topped the Blue Texels, selling a pair for £1,500 per head to David Alexander, Millside, Galston.

One is by Lyles Eagle with the other being sired by Hunters Deerstalker.

The champion pairing from Robbie Wilson’s Milnbank flock from Turriff, made £1.600.

These two are both by Castlecairn Doodlebro, a full brother to the 38,000gns Castlecairn Doodlebug, and sold to David Pickford, Cheshire.

The McNees’ black North Country Cheviots made £1,300 to Dean Anderson, Elgin, with all the proceeds donated to Prostate Scotland.

The family also sold commercial Texel hoggs with Beltex cross lambs at foot up to £250 per head.

● Meanwhile, the winner of NSA’s next generation Shepherd of the Year competition was Ewan Runciman from Lauder in Berwickshire.

Freddy Fulford from Banavie, Fort William, was in second place, Bill Gray of Galston, Ayrshire, was third and Ruaridh Lawrie, Balintore, Kirriemuir, was fourth.

The event’s sheepdog trial was won by Elinore Nilsson from Alyth, Perthshire.

The quickshear champion was Hamish Mitchell and Archie Paterson was runner-up.

In the fencing event, HVB were first, Knoxfield Estate took second place and Samson Fencing were third.

The open stockjudging was won by Kevin Laing, Anna Smith was second and Harry Gemmill took third place.

The young farmers stock judging was won by John Graham, Gavin Law was second and Muriel Forbes third.

PENT-UP INTEREST: The thrice-postponed NSA event celebrates sheep farming industry.