Matt's Halo, an ET-bred gimmer from Matthew Burleigh's Northern Ireland-based flock topped the Blue Texel females at Carlisle when selling up to Orkney for 4000gns with Messrs Scott, Holm.
His sale leader is bred from the Saltire Blue Derek-sired Matt's Elegance and sired by Mullygarrow Grey Goose.
The second prize gimmer, Solway Vie Hi Solo, from Kevin Watret, Annan, also sold up to Orkney with Messrs Sylvester, Eday, at 2500gns. Her pedigree features a Falklands ewe by Hunters Chanter and the sire, Sunnybank Exchange Rate.
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David and Clare Gray's Ettrick flock from Selkirk was again in the money, taking 3000gns for their female champion and reserve overall, Ettrick Jade, a ewe lamb purchased by CA Jessop and Sons, The Moorlands, Coalville, Leics. An ET sister to the £10,000 Jackpot, she is bred from a Corra ewe that has bred females to 6800gns. The sire is Show Winners Grand Slam, also by Exchange Rate.
Matching that 3000gns bid was Beili Blues High Hopes, an ET ewe lamb from Dylan and Bethan Jones, Pencader, Carmarthen. Bred from a home-bred ewe by Caryl's Blues Dazzler, she is sired by Ettrick Firefly, making her a full sister to last year's 20,000gns Beili Blues Hulk. The buyers were Messrs Baird, Tetbury, Glocs.
Averages: Six ewes, £630 (+£245 for three more); 146 gimmers, £811.74 (-£45.74 for 27 fewer); 22 ewe lambs, £858.14 (+£195.50 for 15 fewer).
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