Dutch Spotted proved the star attraction at the May Fair of pedigree sheep at Carlisle, attracting the top prices and the lead averages.
Tommy and Zoe Jackson's Milltown Dutch Spotted flock from Co Down, led the trade with ET lambs at 4000gns and 2500gns. Dearest was the January-born ram lamb, Milltown Hulk, the result of a flush from the 9000gns Sunnybank Fergie a Lochlad Dictator daughter, with the sire being Milltown Golden Balls which sold last year for 20,000gns. The lamb sold with recipient dam to Bethany Chew and Ben Whitham of the Lode Pit flock, Sheriff Lane, Gilstead, Bingley.
The Jackson's January-born weaned ewe lamb, Milltown Helen Go Easy, another ET by Golden Balls, but bred from the 9000gns Glencoy Cherry, made 2500gns selling to Messrs Budgen, Southhampton.
Another from the same flock Milltown Helen Go Easy ET sold for 2500gns
Matching that price, Dumfriesshire breeder, Callum Dodd, Pearsbyhall, Tundergarth, Lockerbie, sold the similarly aged ET ewe lamb Hazelberry Honey, a triplet-born entry with recipient dam, to M and M Kilroe, of the Kilcroft flock from Alderley Edge, Cheshire. Her pedigree features Diamond Freakie Freddie, and a daughter of the imported Benedictus sire, Turbo Bont.
Top price amongst the gimmers was 1800gns paid twice. First to make that money was Ali Jackson's Tiptop Geneva, from Maulscastle, Cummertrees, Annan. She is sired by the imported ram, Royal Dutch and out of Tiptop Dazling Spirit. Geneva headed home with Ilona Thompson of the Waterside flock from Somerset.
Also hitting the 1800gns mark was Derek Steen's Coxhill Gina, from Coxhill, Moffat. She is by Shebb Enzo, bred from Coxhill Dove, and was knocked down to Messrs Hall, Sutton On The Hill, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, who also went to 1600gns for Mr Steen's Coxhill Graceful, another gimmer by the same sire.
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Raymond Irvine of the Highland flock from Tomintoul, bought the lead priced Valais Blacknose at 2500gns. This was Kinneff Lanky Longlegs, a January-born ewe lamb from Symon Jacobsen's flock dispersal from Grange of Kinneff, Montrose. She is sired by Deepdale Impact and out of the Highland Eric-sired Kinneff Jo Jo ET.
Kinneff Lunan, a similarly aged ewe lamb by the same sire, then made 1600gns selling to Messrs Gitsham, Killin. Her dam is the Highland Egbert daughter, Kinneff Goody Two Shoes.
Badger Face Texels and Blue Texels both sold to 1500gns, with the former, Woodies Elegant ET, a gimmer from Aberdeenshire breeder, Stuart Wood, Broadwater, Skene, purchased by Messrs Roper, Cleator Moor. Elegant is the first female sold from the 11,000gns record priced Duhonw 12260 ewe lamb and sired by the imported Geert ram.
Wigtownshire breeders, Messrs Cannon, Wigtown, bought the lead priced Blue Texel, Solway View Huxley ET, a gimmer by Sunnybank Exchange Rate, from Kevin Watret, Maulscastle, Cummertrees, Annan. She is bred from a family of show winners with the dam being an imported female.
Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.
Averages: Zwartbles – Five embryo lambs with recipients, £470. Beltex – Four gimmers, £637.50. Badger Face Texels – Six gimmers, £658.33 (-£114.67 for one less). Blue Texels – Three gimmers, £766.66. Dutch Spotted – 16 embryo lambs with recipients,£1062.50 (+£255.66 for three less); 33 gimmers, 689.39; seven weaned lambs, £692.85 (-£1387.65 for the same number); four graded females, £765. Dorpers – Four ewe lambs, £412.50. Valais Blacknose – 13 ewes, £405.38; 10 gimmers, £455; seven ewe lambs, £1021.42; four ram lambs, £537.50.
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