Blue Texels sell to 8000gns twice at Carlisle breed sale

The embryo-born lamb from Inchford, Cornhill, Banff, is bred from the Cleenagh Xquizit-sired Nantyderri Going for Gold and sired by Caryl’s Blues Hulk. He sold down to Wales with Rhys Williams of the Dragon flock, Ty’n Llyn, Lampeter, Ceredigion.

Sam Allen and Allen Shortt's Derg Jackal also made 8000gns

On the debit side, Ms Duncan forked out 4500gns for Mr Williams’ pen leader and fourth prize ram lamb at the pre-sale show, Dragon Jupiter, a natural-born entry sired by a home-bred son of Sunnybank Exchange Rate, out of Dragon Delor.

The second prize ram lamb matched the 8000gns lead bid when selling in a three-way split to Aberdeenshire breeder, Mark Wattie, Mains of Tonley, Alford, and Orkney-based Charles Copland and Jo Higgs of the Bimbister Partnership, Lenahowe, Sandwick, and Messrs Sylvester, Eday.

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Top priced shearling ram at 6500gns was Jim and Daniel Hodge's Hodges Highlander

Selling at this price was Sam Allen and Allen Shortt’s Derg Jackal, from Strabane, Castlederg, Northern Ireland. An ET bred from an imported ewe that has produced progeny to 3000gns, he is sired by the 20,000gns Beili Blues Hulk.

Ayrshire-based breeders, Jim and Daniel Hodge, who are dispersing the Hodges flock from Dykes Farm, Auchinleck, later in the year, also came up with the goods, taking 6500gns for a half share of Hodges Highlander ET.

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David and Clare Gray's Ettrick Handyman made 6000gns

A full brother to Hodges Hot Shot, the male champion at Livescot and New Cumnock, Highlander is bred from the Hackney Your Joking daughter, Shawtonhill Edgar, and sired by Joe’s Alvin. The buyers were Caryl Howells of the Caryl’s Blues flock and Dylan and Bethan Jones of the Beil Blues both Carmarthenshire.

Just behind, on 6000gns, Rachel Almond, sold Mullgarrow Jack the Lad, a ram lamb from Shanraa, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, to Messrs Hoggard, Nottingham. For their money they get a natural-born son of Sams Houdini bred from the 6000gns Saltire Blue Doris, a Caryl’s Blues Captain-sired ewe.

At 5800gns, Top-Bank Jack the Lad, an ET bred from the Cairnrock Fully Loaded daughter, Top-Bank Grace and sired by the 7000gns Ettrick Firefly was bought by Westwood Park Farm, Leominster. The lamb was consigned by RA Francis, Pistyll Uchaf, Abergorlech, Carmarthen.

Shearling rams peaked at 6000gns for David and Clare Gray’s Ettrick Handyman from Sunnycroft, Lindean, Selkirk. Third in his class at the pre-sale show and second at the Great Yorkshire, he is sired by Saltire Blue Ferocious, out of the imported Arnold ewe and sold down to North Yorkshire with the Page Farm Partnership.

Another shearling from the same home made 3800gns selling to Messrs Jessop and Sons, Coalville, Leicestershire. Ettrick Hulk, a Ferocious son, is bred from a Corra ewe that has produced sons to 10,000gns, 6800gns and 5000gns,

Earlier, the sire of those two rams, Saltire Blue Ferocious which was originally purchased for £9000 by the couple, made 4000gns selling to Rhys Cooke of the Nantyderri flock from Llantilio Crossenny, Abergavenny. Ferocious which stood first at the Royal Highland in June, is by a Corra sire and out of Saltire Blue Daisy.

More than financing that transaction, Mr Cooke later took 4500gns for his show shearling ram, Nantyderri Hazelnut. His pedigree features Yarburgh Fire Starter and Nantyderri Eleanora, a Derg Churchill daughter and sold in a two-way split to Stephanie Dick, Mains of Throsk and Stewart Bett, manager for Robert Graham, Mains of Boquhan, both Stirling.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.

Averages: 76 shearling rams, £1247.29 (+£271.68 for two more sold); 76 ram lambs, £1474.14 (-£226.74 for 12 fewer).