All breeds sold well at the May Fair sale of 143 pedigree sheep, at Carlisle, where Dutch Spotted raked in the lead prices.

The event, which included sales of Badgerface Texels, Beltex and Blue Texels was topped at 3500gns by an imported two-crop ewe, Cinderella, from the Co Durham-based Nicola Foster of the Outberry flock. Bred by Piel Roskam and selling alongside her Lochlad Dictator-sired ewe lamb, Outberry Fair Lady, she headed home with Burnmouth Trading, Ayrshire.

Four lots hit 3000gns, with the first being an imported one-crop ewe from J Dixon, Grayrigg Foot, Kendal, which sold with twin ewe lambs – Grayrigg Foot Freedom and Grayrigg Foot Forever – at foot. Middlemoor Farm, North Yorkshire was the final bidder on this ewe backed by Dutch genetics while the lambs are by Turbo Bont Discovery.

Matching that price was Alastair Jackson’s ram lamb, Tip Top Faberge, from Maulscastle Farm, Annan. Sired by Tip Top Ed and out of the imported ewe, Blazing Heat, Faberge sold to Janet Carson’s Little Whisker flock in Co Tyrone.

Also making 3000gns was Gloucestershire-based Jonathan and Janet Corbetts’ ET ram and ewe lamb, Wedderburn Finians Rainbow and Wedderburn Foxy Lady. Sired by Glencloy Chance, which has bred stock to 6000gns, and bred from Lochlad Conker, the duo sold with their recipient dam to SJ Parker and Son, Herefordshire.

Co Tyrone-based breeder Chris Johnston claimed the final 3000gns for his ewe lamb, Johnstown Fifi ET. Sired by the 5000gns Carlaustan Extrovert shared with Emma Allen, this girl is out of Glencoy Charlene and sold to Adam Donald, Co Tyrone.

Aberdeenshire’s Stuart Wood topped the Badgerface Texels with an imported three-crop ewe leading the way at 2800gns. Selling alongside her Woodies Full Monty-sired ewe lamb, Woodies Dua Lipa, she is backed by Dutch genetics and headed home with Messrs Ridge, Stretton, Shropshire.

The ewe hogg, Woodies Classy Lady, made 2000gns. She is by stock sire, Powerful Tornado, out of an imported ewe, and was snapped up by George Pedley, Kirkby Stephen.

Next best at 1900gns was the February-born ewe lamb, Woodies Diamond, by Full Monty, and her recipient dam, which was knocked down to Glebe Farm Trading, Fleetham, Northallerton.

Top price amongst the Blue Texels was 2300gns paid for the February-born weaned ET ewe lamb, Derg Goddess, from Allen Shortt and Samantha Allen of the Derg flock, Strabane. Sired by Sunnybank Escobar, and bred from Derg Enigma – a daughter of a the 2019 RUAS champion, Coco Chanel – she headed down to Wales to join the Trisant flock of G and E Jones, Holyhead.

Elaine and Issy Hartley of the Lancashire-based Pendle flock received 2000gns for the gimmer, Pendle Freya. Sired by a Millside ram and out of the 4000gns Sams Yoyo-sired Pendle Cocopop, she was purchased by new entrants to the breed, AS and T Lyth, Bacup, Lancashire.

Stuart Wood was back in the money when topping the Beltex trade at 1100gns with the ewe hogg, Woodies Glam. Sired by the Ryder Eddie, she sold to Messrs Mitchell, Bosworth, Leicestershire.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.

averages:

Dutch Spotted – 13 ewes with lambs, £2172.69; 49 pedigree lambs; 18 empty ewe hoggs, £1685.83. Blue Texels – Three ewes with lambs, £717.50; 13 pedigree lambs, £729.34; 18 empty ewe hoggs, £877.91. Beltex – 10 empty ewe hoggs, £708.75.