Aberdeenshire breeder Robbie Wilson of the Milnbank flock, Turriff, had a field day at the Solway and Tyne Texel Breeders’ Club sale at Carlisle, achieving the top price of 30,000gns and another at 8000gns.
Averages held up well on the year when compared to the 2023 event which saw a top price of 90,000gns paid for Hilltop Goliath.
Pre-sale champion at the Solway and Tyne Breeders club show and sale, at Carlisle made 9000gns for David Gray, Sunnycroft, Ettrick
This year’s sale leader was the ram lamb Milnbank Hunter, which is from the first crop of sons sired by the 30,000gns Clanfield Golden and bred from a Cowal Bucking Bronco daughter that has bred lambs to 25,000gns. Hunter was the pick of Charlie Boden, buying for the family’s Sportsmans flock, Stockport, Cheshire.
Alan Blackwood, Auldhouseburn, Muirkirk, and John Forsyth, Glenside, Maybole, teamed up to buy Milnbank High Voltage for 8000gns. This ram lamb is by the same sire and out of a Harestone Eldorado sired-dam.
Second top price was 22,000gns paid for the ram lamb Duncryne Hakuna Matata from Kerr Jarvie, Dunblane. He is from the first crop of sons by the 24,000gns Lanark purchase, Hexel Geronimo, and bred from the best ewe in the flock which is by Rhaeadr Equilizer. Robert Cockburn of the Knap flock, Perthshire, teamed up with Gordon and David Gray of the Ettrick flock, Selkirk, and Sandy Hunter, Wedderburn, Huntly, to buy this boy.
Three ram lambs achieved the magical 10,000gns price tag. First at this price was Uppermill Highway Express from David McKerrow and sons David and James, Uppermill, Ellon. Another by Clanfield Golden, which is shared with Robbie Wilson and the Greens of Corskie, Highway Express, is bred from an Ettrick Earthquake sired-ewe. Second in his class at the Royal Highland, he was another purchase of Charlie Boden of the Sportsmans flock.
On the other side of the coin, Sportsmans sold the two other 10,000gns lambs. First was Sportsmans Honor Roll, which sold in a two-way split – again to Alan Blackwood, Auldhouseburn and John Forsyth, Glenside. Honor Roll is a son of last year’s 170,000gns Knap Grumpy and bred from a Procters El Presidente sired-ewe.
The latter was the substitute lamb, Sportsmans Hitman, which was the pick of James and Ellie Amphlett, Hereford. This one is a son of 70,000gns Castlecairn Doodlebug, and bred from a Garngour Craftsman daughter.
The pre-sale champion Tima High Roller, from David Gray, Selkirk, made 9000gns when selling six ways – Bruce Renwick, Legars, Kelso; Jack Arnott, Haymount, Kelso; Ben Vernon, Uttoxeter; Mike Turner, Leek, Staffordshire; and Derbyrshire breeders Messrs Richardson, Buxton and Messrs Whitehouse, Ashbourne. This natural March-born lamb is sired by Sadlerhead Fury, which has bred lambs to 42,000gns; while the dam is by Claybury Dunkirk.
Just behind on 8000gns was the ram lamb Eden Valley Hit The Diff from Richard Wilson and Lisa Tinnis, Eden Valley, Cumbria. A son of Knockem Grand Slam, he is out of a Knock Yankee daughter and stood second at the Great Yorkshire Show. He sold in a two-way split to Robert Laird, Cambwell, Biggar and Kenny Duthie, Brechin, Angus.
Hope Valley Hannibal made 6500gns for Rob Evans, Hope Valley, Shropshire. This lamb is sired by the 7500gns Auldhouseburn Freaky Friday, and bred from an Usk Vale Eddie daughter. He sold in a three-way split to Messrs Woof, Kendal, Cumbria; Messrs Houghton, Bury, Lancashire; and Ryan Bradley, Salterforth Barnoldswick.
At the same price tag was Strathbogie Hannibal Lecter, from James Innes, Dunscroft, Huntly. Brought out by stockman Michael Leggat, this lamb is sired by the 28,000gns Auldhouseburn Fancy Pants, which bred the 120,000gns private sale lamb last year, and is out of a Cressage Enforcer daughter. Final bidders were Messrs Ireland, Whalley, Lancashire.
Best from Jack Arnott, Haymount, Kelso, was a 6000gns sale to Messrs Nairey, Blackburn, Lancashire. Haymount Hurricane is a son of the 120,000gns Strathbogie Gladiator, which bred Hexel’s 70,000gns lamb at Lanark, while the dam is a Rhaeadr Entrepreneur daughter.
Topping the shearling trade at 12,000gns was Duhonw Golden Boys from Michael and Ella James, Builth Wells. Second in his class at the pre-sale show, he is sired by the 24,000gns Wilodge Ex Factor and bred from a Clinterty Yuga Khan sired-dam.
He sold in a two-way split to Kirkby Stephen breeders, Messrs Dixon, Hartley, and Messrs Scott, Brough Sowerby.
The first prize shearling, Loosebeare Gizmo, made 6000gns for Paul Quick, Loosebeare Manor, Devon. A son of Loosebeare Voomer, he is bred from a Kimbolton Arrow sired-dam. Used at home as a lamb, he sold back down to Devon with Messrs Winsor, Beaworthy.
The pen leader for Norman and David Douglas of the Yarrow flock, Catslackburn, Selkirk made 5200gns. Yarrow Gladiator is sired by the Kelso purchase, Allanfauld Director, and out of a ewe by Knock Deacon. He sold to Gary Williams, Lampeter, Ceredigion.
Females sold the previous evening met a buoyant trade with averages rising on the year, and for more gimmers sold.
Top price in this section was 3000gns paid for the third-prized gimmer from Michael Turner, Okehall, Leek. A daughter of Haymount Earth Wind and Fire, she is out of a Charben Babe Magnet sired-ewe. She heads to Aberdeenshire with Messrs Green, Corskie, Keith.
The same home sold another gimmer down to Wales with Messrs Scott, Mold, Clwyd, for 2500gns. A Rhaeadr Entrepreneur daughter, she is out of a ewe by Haymount Earth Wind and Fire.
Keith and Andrew Campbell, Overburns, sold their fifth-prize gimmer for 2200gns to Messrs Roddan, Gretna. She is sired by Haymount Foremost and out of a Sportsmans A Star daughter.
Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.
Averages: 57 gimmers, £928.42 (+£211.65 for 34 fewer sold); eight ewe lambs, £925.31 (+£494.81 for two less); 146 shearling rams, £1728.90 (+£375.29 for seven less); 235 ram lambs, £1676.69 (-£132.80 for 14 fewer).
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