Scottish couple to fore with Blacknose Beauties

A Scottish farming couple took home the top price and champion rosettes at the first dedicated show and sale of Valais Blacknose sheep in the UK.

Raymond Irvine and Jenni McAllister run an 80-strong flock of the rare Swiss sheep at Mains of Inverourie, near Tomintoul.

They were instrumental in founding the Valais Blacknose Sheep Society UK and organising its first sale, the Blacknose Beauties National Show and Sale, in Carlisle last weekend.

They were left celebrating after lifting the supreme champion and female champion rosettes with February 2015born gimmer Highland Breeze.

Mr Irvine said: “The Valais Blacknose Sheep Society UK has come so far in such a small amount of time.

“To be crowned the overall champion is a great honour, and to do it with so many great sheep at the event has been a dream. Jenni and I are over the moon. It has not really sunk in.”

They also lifted the top price of 3,600gn with February 2015-born in-lamb gimmer Blossom, which sold to GW Lee & Sons, Stockley Burn Farm, Frosterley, County Durham.

Next best at 3,400gn was March-born ewe lamb Westmorland Dilly, from Tim Dunne’s Westmorland flock. She also sold to GW Lee & Sons.

Thereafter 2,500gn was paid for an April 2014 gimmer called Highland Bliss from Raymond and Jenni.

She sold to Shannon Polson, from Glenfinnan, Findon.

Ms Polson also paid 2,400gn for March-born ewe lamb Hullockhowe Delilah from Hullock Howe Farming’s Hullockhowe flock near Penrith.

Other leading prices included 2,000gn for a March-born ewe lamb called Westmorland Dora, from Tim Dunne’s Westmorland flock.

The buyer was AM & AJ Jacobsen, Grange of Kinneff, Montrose.

After the sale Heather Pritchard, of auctioneers Harrison & Hetherington, said: “We were absolutely delighted to be hosting the first-ever dedicated sale of Valais Blacknose sheep in the UK.”

There was a huge amount of interest from across the UK and Ireland, and without a doubt it is creating much attention.

The first dedicated show and sale of Valais Blacknose sheep in the UK proved a hit.