A disappointing day for Dutch Spotted sheep breeders at the breed’s main show and sale at Carlisle saw only 235 out of the catalogued entry of 431 find new homes.
It was nevertheless a cracking good day for Dumfriesshire breeder Callum Dodd’s Hazelberry flock, when he sold the lead priced lot, an ET ewe lamb at 18,000gns and topped the males at 5000gns.
His best, Hazelberry Heaven, a January-born lamb which was champion at the pre-sale show and third at the Royal Highland Show, is bred from the Carlaustan Everest daughter, Hazelberry Felicia.
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Sired by Drumhirk Decider which has previously bred females to 16,000gns, Heaven was knocked down to CJ Johnston, of the Johnstown flock from Killarbran, Co Tyrone. On the credit side, Mr Johnston sold Johnstown Hetti, an ET ewe lamb sired by Saveoch Espresso Martini, for 2000gns. She headed home to Middlemoor Farm, Hudswell, Richmond.
Other females sold to 4000gns for the first prize gimmer, Glan-Y-Mor Gift, from the Jones family, Talsarnau, Gwynedd. Flushed with embryos retained, she is sired by Drumard Everest, out of Coxhill Elsa, and sold back down to Wales with Messrs Difford, Tonteilwr Farms, Mid Glamorgan.
The second prize gimmer, Roecliffe Goldie Hawn from Co Durham breeder, SD Cambage, Linburn Head, Bishop Auckland, sold next at 3500gns to Messrs Tomlinson, Offcote, Ashbourne. Her pedigree features the sire, Lochlad El-Cid and Roecliffe Elenor Rigby.
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Top price for Derek Steen’s Coxhill flock from Moffat was 2000gns paid for the fourth prize gimmer, Coxhill Gorgeous, a daughter of the Pentre Example son, Coxhill Fortress. Greensons Limousins, Bottisham, Cambridge, forked out the cash.
Other ewe lambs sold to 2100gns for Ty-Gwyn Hot Spot, from Pembrokeshire breeder, Brian Davies, South Hill Farm. Hot Spot is a daughter of Merryboro Flash and was bought by Messrs Thompson, Park Farm, Yeovil, Somerset.
Callum Dodd’s sale leader amongst the males at 5000gns was Hazelberry Gaffer, the first prize shearling ram and reserve overall. Full brother to the 7000gns Fatboyslim, he is sired by Carlaustan Everest, out of Hazelberry Arnie, and sold to David Roberts buying for the Boyo flock from Kenley, Shrewsbury.
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Glany-Y-Mor Goldstar ET, the fourth-prize shearling from the Jones family made 4000gns selling to Robertshaw’s Farm Shop, Keelham, Bradford. Bred from Coxhill Eider, he is sired by Glencoy Chance.
Ram lambs peaked at 3200gns for an entry from Liam Campbell’s Glencloy flock from Ballymena. Glencloy Halfwit, a red rosette winner, is an ET bred from Glencoy Britney and sired by the imported Dutch Flash. He was knocked down to Nicola Foster, buying for the Outberry flock from Birch Bush, Barnard Castle.
On the other side of the coin, Mrs Foster sold the lead priced aged ram at 2000gns, Cleenagh Fabio, a two-shear sired by Kilroot Everest. Three flocks teams up to buy him – Drew Guthrie, Myreside, Selkirk; Alistair McKerrow, Champany, Bo’Ness and Andy Beattie and Lauren Kennedy, Carlaustan, Stirling.
Jack Dixon, Grayrigg Foot, Kendal, bought the fourth prize ram lamb at 2800gns. Dansi Hercule from Welsh breeder, E Jones, Bryn Dansi, Dolwen, Abergele, is a son of McDermotts Fireman, out of Merryboro Fleur.
Three Dumfriesshire breeders bought Barleyclose Hotshot, an ET ram lamb that made 2500gns for Derbyshire breeders, MJ Wells and Son, One Aah Grange, Monyash. Hotshot is bred from Woodview Eva, while the sire is Westbroad Diego which bred the the 2023 national show winner, Barquhill Faith. The buyers were Callum Dodd; Ali Jackson, Annan and Pearsbyhall Farming Partnership.
Orkney breeders, JM and LJ Girvan took 2000gns for Back Tor Gary, an ET shearling ram bred by J Simpson and S Shire, purchased by Messrs Roberts, Town Hill, Dunfermline. The sire is Diamond Fandabbydozy.
Matching that price, young Robbie Jackson, Rigghead, Annan, sold Rigghead Hawkeye, an ET ram lamb bred from Tiptop Dancing Queen and sired by Diamond Freaky Freddie. Fifth prize at the Royal Highland and second at the pre-sale show, he was knocked down to Messrs Boyd, Dumfries.
Averages: Four aged rams, £1089.38 (-£1983.62 for one more sold); 32 shearling rams, £888.56 (+£90.56 for seven fewer); 49 ram lambs, £784.29 (+£22.65 for 31 less); five ewes, £640.50 (+£219.55 for six less); 91 gimmers, £834.35 (-£767.15 for seven more); 54 ewe lambs, £1068.86 (+£119.24 for 39 less).
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