Auldhouseburn lamb tops Lanark Texel Premier sale at 100,000gns

However, with overall averages down just shy of £950 per head and almost a third of the lambs forward (91) failing to change hands, it was a far from rosy affair. Add in several full pens of lambs unable to find new homes, little if any atmosphere, and many breeders were left scratching their heads.

Granted, it was always going to be difficult matching up to last year’s flying trade which saw a 350,000gns world record price paid for the Boden family's Sportsmans Double Diamond, and an equally notable average of £4759 for 283. More worrying however was the fact that despite being a premier sale, several top flocks were unable to find a new stock ram of good enough quality.

It was nevertheless a cracking day for some and particularly those who had sons of Double Diamond to sell, which attracted three of the top four highest prices, with a total of 15 sons levelling at £20,804.

This included the day’s best at 100,000gns paid for Alan and Hugh Blackwood’s Auldhouseburn Expression, from Muirkirk, Ayrshire.

Backed by the best of genetics on both sides, Expression is the result of a flush from an Auldhouseburn gimmer by the 130,000gns Rhaeadr Best of the Best, that was sold after being flushed for 13,000gns at the Select Seven sale, with her two ET sisters selling for 40,000gns and 12,000gns at Ballymena. The sire is Double Diamond which in turn was a son of the 65,000gns Garngour Craftsman.

Expression sold in a two-way split with James Theyer, paying 50,000gns for a half share for his Clanfield flock from Oxon and Auldhouseburn paying the remaining 50,000gns.

“I saw him at home and have followed him all the way through to the sale," said Mr Theyer who has been breeding Texels for three years and now flushes 30 ewes, to include a full ET sister of the 70,000gns Auldhouseburn Boss, of which he bought a half share privately from the Blackwoods.

"He has great bone structure, and good white hair and colours. He’s a very modern lamb."

A full ET brother to Expression, Auldhouseburn Espirit, made 10,000gns selling to Nick Legge, buying for his Thornbury flock from Westwood Park, Hatfield Leominster, Hereford, to bolster the flock average to a whopping £24,507 for five.

Procters Farm’s 80-ewe flock, which also bought a share of Sportsmans Double Diamond, came up with the goods too, with their pen of seven, all by the record breaker and mostly bred from Sportsmans Batman daughters, cashing in at £22,905.

Top price from Procters at 80,000gns Procters El Presidente

Tops here at 80,000gns was the pen leader, Procers El Presidente, an ET bred from a flush from the show girl, Procters Cinderella, a Sportsmans Batman daughter that was breed champion at the Great Yorkshire as a ewe lamb and inter-breed at the Royal Welsh the same year. The dam is also a full ET sister to the 11,000gns Procters Candycrush and the 15,000gns Procters Chumba Wumba.

Producing a personal best for this noted flock managed by Jeff Aiken and his wife Jennifer, following a 46,000gns gimmer sale and two ram lambs at 16,000gns, El Presidente sold in a two-way split to the breeder of the sire, Charlie Boden buying for the Sportsmans flock from Stockport and Aberdeenshire breeder, Stuart Barclay, Harestone, Insch.

Another from Procters, Eureka sold for 52,000gns

Two others from Procters which runs alongside the 80-ewe Tattenhall flock, attracted five-figure bids, with the dearest at 52,000gns selling to four Irish breeders, Alastair Gault, Forkins; John Greene, Larahirl, Culdaff; Mark Priestley, Seaforde and Roger Strawbridge, Tamnamoney. Selling at this price was the No 2 lamb, Procters Eureka, which is also bred from a Batman daughter and from the same family as the 14,000gns January Gems gimmer and the 12,000gns Procters Cheeky Monkey.

The same genetics were behind the next lamb, Procters Eye of the Tiger, another ET that goes back to a 12,000gns Procters gimmer purchased by Sportsmans at the 2018 Select Seven sale, He was knocked down to Perthshire breeders, Kerr Jarvie, Duncryne, Muthill; Cammy Gauld, Cairnam, Auchterarder and Grant Reid, Cairney Brae, Dunning and Aberdeenshire enthusiast, Gillian Adams, Dee Valley, Banchory.

Best from the Boden family, Sportsmans Express realised 75,000gns

After dominating last year’s trade, team Boden – Charlie, his wife Steph; daughter Rosie and sons Josh and Tom – came back with another cracking pen which sold to 75,000gns to average £14,805 for eight.

Their pen were all sons of last year’s 38,000gns Castlecairn Doodlebug, bought at Carlisle in partnership with Lakeview, with the dearest, Sportsmans Express being the result of a flush from a gimmer by Garngour Craftsman. Express, shares the maternal grand-dam with Sportsmans Double Diamond and sold in a two-way split to the Campbell brothers – Keith, Allan and Roy – Cowal, Lochgoilhead and Rob Bennett of the Plasucha flock from Upper Hall, Meiford, Powys.

Minutes later, Paul Castle, of the Ulmus flock, Peterborough, went to 14,000gns for Sportsmans Eye Catcher, another ET, this time bred from a Blackstown gimmer by Auldhouseburn Black Magic, bought at Lanark last year for 5000gns.

Cressage Enforcer made 38,000gns for Matthew Ellis

It took a bus load of breeders to buy the best from Matthew Ellis’ Cressage flock from Kilchoan, Shropshire, brought out by Will McCaffrey, when Graham Morrison, Deveronvale; Kenny Pratt, Hilltop; Jim Innes, Strathbogie, Huntly; Willy Davies and Paul Rowlands, Usk Vale and Alan Powell and his daughter Sarah, Monohill, shared the cost of the 38,000gns Cressage Enforcer. He is bred from a ewe by Hexel Beast from the East, that goes back to an Arkle ewe, and sired by Mellor Vale Dakota, a tup bought last year for 12,000gns that also bred Rob Pierce’s £30,000 Oldfield lamb sold privately last month.

Gordon and David Gray sold Ettrick Earthquake for 26,000gns

Gordon Gray and son David’s Ettrick flock from Selkirk, enjoyed a cracking trade with sales at 26,000gns and 17,000gns. Star attraction here was the pen leader, Ettrick Earthquake, a son of last year’s Hope Valley Dazzler bought last year at Worcester for 3000gns, bred from a ewe by Midcombe Brigadier. Bred from the same family as the 6000gns Ettrick Ace of Spades and an 11,000gns gimmer, this big fella also boasts show ring success having stood reserve champion at the pre-sale show and first and male champion at both the Royal Highland Showcase and the Great Yorkshire. Earthquake was bought by Jeff Teward, New View, Darlington; Alan Clark, Garngour and Dye Clark, Clarks, both Lanarkshire; David McKerrow, Nochnary, now Ellon and Brian and Gavin Buchan, Clinterty, Fraserburgh.

Alex and Russell Gray, Langside, Kirkfieldbank; Peter and Lyn Gray, Scrogtonhead, Galston and Billy Graham, buying for Ruaridh and Isla Graham’s Craigdarroch flock from Sanquhar, then shared the cost of the 17,000gns Ettrick Everest. Another bred from a Midcombe Brigadier daughter, that sold for 7000gns, Everest is by the 34,000gns Claybury Dunkirk and is from the same family as Ettrick Van Gogh and a 17,000gns gimmer.

New View Electrifying made 24,000gns for Jeff and Stephen Teward

On the other side of the equation, Ettrick and Robert Cockburn, buying for the Knap flock from Errol, Perth, went to 24,000gns for New View Electrifying from Jeff Teward and son Stephen’s 40-ewe flock from Darlington. Another by 350,000gns Double Diamond, Electrifying is bred from a ewe by Teiglum Braveheart which goes back to an Eden Valley gimmer.

Myfyr Evans Rhaeadr Entrepreneur made 24,000gns

Matching that 24,000gns sale was Rhaeadr Entrepreneur from Welsh breeder, Myfyr Evans, Denbigh. This ET bred lamb is by last year’s 48,000gns Carlisle purchase, Sportsmans Dare Devil and bred from a ewe by Teiglum Younggun that is and ET sister to the 125,000gns, Rhaeadr Best of The Best. He was knocked down to Jack Arnott and his father Tom, Haymount, Kelso and Donald Macpherson and son Ross, of the Hexel flock from Berwick upon Tweed.

Top price for Jack Arnott was 22,000gns for Haymount Eye of the Beholder

More than paying for that transaction, Haymount had a cracking sale early on, with lambs at 22,000gns and 12,000gns twice. Tops for this 50-ewe flock which has only been selling lambs for the past three years, was the No 2, Haymount Eye of the Beholder, a son of the 50,000gns Sportsmans Dirty Harry. He is the result of a flush from a ewe by Clinterty Yuga Khan who’s full sister bred the 32,000gns Haymount Devine King. Sportsmans and Danny Sawrij, Kedzlie Farms, Earlston, were the final bidders.

Dirty Harry was behind the other two sales, with the first of the 12,000gns bids coming for the pen leader, Haymount Enter The Dragon, bred from a ewe by Plasucha Boss Man who’s full brother, Haymount crackerjack sired the 38,000gns Castlecairn Doodlebug. Enter The Dragon, goes out to work in Allan Campbell's Strawfrank flock from Carstairs with Hugh Jackson, Wolfclyde, Thankerton, later taking a half share.

His full ET brother, Haymount Earth Wind and Fire, made the same money selling to Ben Vernon of the Charben flock from Marston Bank, Rochester, Staffs and M Turner, Waterhouses, Stoke on Trent.

While George Howie, Knock, Peterhead, had a good sale, it was very much a poignant one, having sold all his females privately to concentrate on the arable and cattle side of the business at West Knock. However, he did sell two sons of the 6000gns Castlecairn Diamond Vision, bred from Knock Banker daughters for 22,000gns and 11,000gns.

Last Lanark tup lamb sale from George Howie, Knock Eastwood sold for 22,000gns

The former, Knock Eastwood, bred from the best gimmer in the flock that goes back to Knock Yardsman, was purchased by Allan and Karen Wight, Midlock, Crawford; Andrew Clark, Teiglum, Carluke and Malcolm Coubrough, Hartside Farms, Lamington.

Knock Eagle Eye then made 11,000gns selling to Cressage; D and J Dunlop, Holtridge, Norbury and Willy Davis and Paul Rowlands, Usk Vale.

Willy Davies' Usk Vale Eddie sold for 20,000gns

More than financing that shared purchase, Willy Davis’ Usk Vale flock from Glascoed, Pontypool, sold to 20,000gns for Usk Vale Eddie. He is bred from a Glenside ewe bought privately by Sportmans a Star and sired by Teiglum Cinnamon. The buyer was Eamonn Vaughan, Partridge Nest, Newcastle Upon Tyne.

On the debit side, Mr Davis and Paul Rowlands, Usk Vale; HillTop, Knap and Thomas Muirhead, Orchilmore, Comrie, shared the cost of the 18,000gns Lakeview Earn Your Keep, from Northern Ireland breeder, Gary Beacom. Another by Castlecairn Doodlebug, he is bred from a ewe by Arkle Awesome.

In turn, Lakeview and N Myles, Legaltion, Ballyshannon, bought the best from John Forsyth’s Glenside flock from Maybole, at 10,000gns. This was paid for Glenside Emerald King, bred from a gimmer by Fordafourie Big Ben, and sired by the 40,000gns Mellor Vale Déjà Vu.

Stuart Barclay’s 30-ewe Harestone flock also came up with the boys, taking 17,000gns from Robbie Wilson, Milnbank, Turriff and William Knox and sons Graeme and Andrew, Mid Haddo, Fyvie, for Harestone Eldorado. Another by Mellor Vale Déjà Vu, Eldorado is bred from a ewe by Teiglum Braveheart that is a full sister to the 20,000gns Harestone Central Bank, sold here in 2019.

Not far behind, on 12,000gns, David Preacher, Holylee, Innerleithen, sold Holylee Ewe Dancer, to Angus McColm, Crailloch, Port William and Danny Hair, Drumbreddan, Stranraer. The breeding behind this transaction includes Sportsmans Cannon Ball, onto a ewe by Auldhouseburn Billy The Kid, one of only six ewes in the flock that goes back to a 12,000gns Holylee shearling ram.

One of the last lots sold, Garngour Egor made 10,000gns for Alan Clark’s Garngour flock from Lesmahagow. This boy is by Procters Chumba Wumba, bred from a ewe by Knock Bantastic that is a sister to the £30,000 Teiglum Crackerjack bought privately by Paul Slater, and sold to Willie Dunlop and sons Quintin and William, Elmscleugh, Innerwick, Dunbar.

OTHER LEADING prices

Ram lambs – 8500gns – J and H Clark’s Garngour Ewe Nailer, by Procters Chumba Wumba, to JD Houghton, Isherwood, Affetside, Bury and CH Bellis, Llwyn-y-Cosyn, Holywell, Clwyd.

7500gns – C and J Nicolson’s Knockem Explosion, by Knockem Dennis The Menace to CR Raine and Son, Stanhopegate, Middleton in Teesdale.

7000gns – R Bradley’s Bradley Executioner by Craig Douglas Dancer, to W Dunlop, Elmscleugh, Dunbar; M Priestley’s Seaford Empire King, by Sportsmans Cannon Ball, to J Forsyth, Glenside; Sportsmans and Auldhouseburn.

6800gns ¬ J and H Clark’s Garngour Everton, by Procters Chumba Wumba, to AC Lee, Feurdies, Memsie, Fraserburgh and M Seed and Son, Auchry, Cuminestown, Turriff.

6500gns – PK Woof’s Stainton Ethos, by Craig Douglas Dancer, to IC Gilmour, Humeston, Maybole

6200gns ¬ S Barclay’s Harestone Everest, by Mellor Vale Déjà vu, to C Houldey, Kirtleton House, Waterbeck, Lockerbie.

6000gns ¬ R Cockburn’s Knap Emperor, by Sportsmans Cannon Ball to A Powell, The Hill, Marstow, Ross on Wye; G Gray’s Ettrick Eastern Promise, by Claybury Dunkirk, to JR MacGregor, Dyke, Milton of Campsie and S Renwick, Glenrath, Peebles; G Beacom’s Lakeview Expresso, by Castlecairn Doodlebug, to Usk Vale.

5500gns ¬ J Cullen’s Craighead Eyecatcher by Usk Vale Crackerjack to A Fyffe, Omagh and J and R Currie, Ballymena, both Northern Ireland; Boden and Davies’ Sportsmans Elite, by Castlecairn Doodlebug, to S Conway, Donemana, Co Tyrone and C and C Harkin, Loughash Road, Donemanna; M Evans’ Rhaeadr Edi John, by Sportsmans Dare Devil, to H Lawrence and H Vaughan, Llys Yr Awel, Tufton, Woodstock, Pembs.

5200gns ¬ J Arnott’s Haymount Every Which Way, by Sportsmans Dirty Harry, to M Ireland, Whalley, Clitheroe; Mrs K Wight’s Midlock Escobara, by Claybury Dunkirk, to J and H Clark, Garngour, Lesmahagow.

5000gns – D and S Macpherson’s Hexel El Macho, by Haymount Crackerjack, to TC and RL Adams, Ty Medi, Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan; M and C Millar’s Millars Excellence, by Hexel Diamond Joe, to J Garth and Son, Birk Knott, Keasdean, Clapham.

4800gns ¬ Boden and Davies’ Sportsmans Equinox, by Castlecairn Doodlebug, to B Lowe, Rue Wood, Shrewsbury; Boden and Davies’ Sportsmans Evoque, by Castlecairn Doodlebug, to S Renwick, Glenrath, Peebles and A Kennedy, Mitchellhill, Broughton, Biggar.

4600gns ¬ A Clark’s Teiglum Evolution by Wydden Ding Dong, to AD and JE Barnett, Gilside, Shieldhill, Haltwhistle.

Averages: 290 ram lambs £3818.20

FLOCK averages

Flock (No) Top (Gns) Average (£)

Ram lambs

Craighead (3) 5500 3010.00

Humeston (5) 1900 892.50

Haymount (4) 22,000 13,440.00

Tamnamoney (4) 2300 1299.38

Milnbank (7) 2400 1552.50

Procters (7) 80,000 22,905.00

Orchilmore (3) 1800 1400.00

Knap (6) 6000 2502.50

Teilo (3) 2000 1085.00

Knock (4) 22,000 9476.25

Samsar (3) 4200 2187.50

Deveronvale (5) 2400 1008.00

Usk Vale (3) 20,000 7805.00

Hexel (4) 5000 2677.50

Harestone (5) 17,000 5355.50

Teiglum (6) 4600 2432.50

Tullylagan (5) 700 609.00

Tophill (3) 2000 1050.00

Dalwyne (3) 650 490.00

Chedworth (3) 350 367.50

Auldhouseburn (5) 100,000 24,507.00

Glenside (6) 10,000 2458.75

Cowal (3) 3800 3045.00

Midlock (3) 5200 2870.00

Cambwell (6) 4500 1793.75

Mellor Vale (3) 3800 2780.00

Nochnary (5) 4200 2142.00

Hilltop (3) 2000 1592.50

Kingspark (4) 2400 1220.63

Rockwell (3) 750 577.50

Sportsmans (8) 75,000 14,805.00

Charben (3) 1000 612.50

Dronomby (3) 1400 770.00

Thacka (4) 1200 656.25

Stainton (5) 6500 2205.00

Ettrick (5) 26,000 11,235.00

Strathbogie (8) 3800 1332.19

Stonehills (3) 400 402.50

Millars (4) 4000 2598.25

Boghouse (3) 2000 1452.50

Garngour (5) 10,000 6300.00

Rhaeadr (5) 24,000 7434.00

Crailloch (4) 1500 971.25

Auctioneers: Lawrie and Symington