Texel sheep breeders were left scratching their heads following last week’s Scottish National show and sale at Lanark, where a lacklustre trade prevailed from the very start right through until the second last lot from the end when Donald and Ross Macpherson’s Hexel High Voltage made 70,000gns.
Hear what Archie Hamilton has to say on the Texel Sale at Lanark
Up until then, a dearth of spectators and commercial producers meant there was little if any atmosphere. Add in a distinct shortage of quality lambs and even those that should have made a pretty penny or two, failed to get the bids of previous years. In saying that, this year’s sale was never going to match the 2023 trade which saw a 170,000gns top and another two at six figures. Instead, some 224 lambs forward for sale, saw 172 change hands to average £3841 – down £1500 on the year and for 48 fewer sold, with a 77% clearance.
“The better end of sheep did get away, but there was not a lot of commercial buyers and no Irish trade when exports are banned,” said Archie Hamilton, head sheep auctioneer. “There were some quality sheep and bigger tups forward, but there was no buzz.”
There were however a few big prices, with 14 hitting the magical five-figure mark.
It was also a cracking good day for Berwick upon Tweed breeders, Donald and Ross Macpherson, when they topped the sale at 70,000gns and produced a personal best with Hexel High Voltage.
Watch Hexel High Voltage spark to 70,000gns at Lanark
Unshown at the pre-sale show when Donald was judging, this March-born ET is a son of Strathbogie Gladiator – a tup bought privately last year for £120,000 in partnership with Jack and Tom Arnott, Haymount, and bred from a ewe by Haymount Crackerjack.
Bred from the best female line in the 14-strong ewe flock, High Voltage is a grandson of the Flor Ryans ewe that bred Born to be Wild, Django and Diamond Joe, while the dam bred the 6500gns Fairfax. High Voltage sold in a four-way to three Aberdeenshire breeders, Kenny Pratt, Hilltop, Peterculter; Stuart Barclay, Harestone, Insch and Jim Innes Strathbogie, Huntly and Messrs Harkin, The Rock Loughash.
Earlier, Muirkirk-based breeders, Alan and Hugh Blackwood sold Auldhouseburn Hercules UK for 60,000gns in a two-way split to Staffordshire-based, Eamonn Vaughan, of the Partridge Nest flock and Ben Vernon, Charben. For their money they get an ET bred from a 12,000gns Knap ewe by Sportmans Cannon Ball that was bought at the Christmas Stars sale in 2022. The sire is the 16,000gns Scholars Governor, bought last year.
Another by the same sire but bred from a 7000gns Lakeview ewe by Castlecairn Doodlebug, made 20,000gns. Auldhouseburn Hanky Panky sold to a three-way consortium comprising Jack and Tom Arnott, Haymount, Kelso; Mike Turner, Okehall, Grindon, Leek and Barney Richardson, Fernyford, Newtown, Buxton.
Texels kicked off at Lanark, with Auldhouseburn Hercules UK making 60,000gns for Alan Blackwood selling to Ben Vernon, Charben
It was also a great day for young James Porter’s flock from Appleby, Penrith, when he took 45,000gns for Saltcotes He’s A Belter. Living up to his name, this lamb which stood reserve male at the Society’s 50th Anniversary Textravaganza National and champion at the pre-sale show, is bred from a home-bred ewe by Craig Douglas Dancer that is an ET sister to the 30,000gns Saltcotes E Class. Charlie and Steph Boden, and family of Josh, Rosie and Tom, of the Sportsmans and Mellor Vale flocks from Stockport were the final bidders on this son of the 24,000gns Hexel Geronimo.
Almost financing that transaction, the Bodens sold two from their Mellor Vale flock at five-figures, both of which were sons of last year’s 170,000gns Knap Grumpy. Dearest at 20,000gns was the No 2, Mellor Vale Hercules which is bred from a home-bred ewe by Castlecairn Doodlebug. He headed home with Auldhouseburn.
Shropshire breeders, Robert Evans, Hope Valley, and Tom Morgan, Morwood and Nick Legge, Thornbury, Leominster, Hereford, bought the pen leader at 17,000gns. This was Mellor Vale Huntsman bred from a ewe by the 80,000gns Procters El Presidente – one of 70 pedigree Texel ewes owned by the Bodens.
Danny Hair was another to produce a personal best when his Drumbreddan Hard Ass, from Ardwell, Stranraer, made 35,000gns to supersede his previous best of 32,000gns for a lamb sold in 2019. Steven Renwick’s Craig Douglas genetics were also behind this ET lamb, with the sire being Craig Douglas Gangster which was bought at Carlisle last year, while the dam, a Craighead ewe bought at Alan Cullen’s flock dispersal is a daughter of Usk Vale Crackerjack. Hard Ass also sold to the same big team of Aberdeenshire players – Harestone, Hilltop and Strathbogie, with Mark Priestley, Seaforde taking a quarter share.
Pre-sale champion hits 45,000gns for James Conor Porter’s lamb, Saltcotes. Watch to see who buys the champion
First time sellers, Sandy and Jim Hunter, Wedderburn, Huntly, also had plenty to smile about too when their two lambs made 12,000gns and 7000gns. Their dearest, Wedderburn Highlander which was reserve male champion at the Royal Show, is bred from a Teiglum ewe bought privately by Knock Yardsman and sired by the 4000gns Sadlerhead Fury. Highlander headed home with James Draper of the Claybury flock and David Dunlop, Holtridge, both Shropshire and Robert Pierce, Oldford, Cheshire.
Fellow Aberdeenshire breeder, Robbie Wilson, Turriff, also received 12,000gns from Keith, Allan and Roy Campbell of the Cowal flock, Argyll and William Knox and sons Graeme and Andrew, Mid Haddo, Aberdeenshire. Milnbank Hercules is sired by the 30,000gns Clanfield Golden, and bred from a dam by Harestone Eldorado.
Peter Gray, Scrogton, Galston; Billy Graham, Craigdarroch, Sanquhar and John Connell, Lauder, then teamed up to buy James Theyer’s Clanfield Han Solo at 12,000gns. A son of Rhaeadr First Choice from Hills Farm, Chedworth, Cheltenham, this lamb is the result of a flush from home-bred ewe that is a full sister to the 30,000gns Clanfield Golden, and goes back to the flock’s best Millhouse line.
On the debit side, Clanfield went to 12,000gns and 11,000gns for ram lambs. First was Okehall Hot Shot from Mike Turner, Leek. This son of Holtridge Golden Arrow which sold last year at Lanark for 1600gns, is bred from a dam by Haymount Earth Wind and Fire.
Selling at 11,000gns down to Hills Farm was David Dunlop’s Holtridge Honky Tonk from Norbury, Whitchurch, Shropshire. Bred from a ewe by Mullan Armani that goes back to a Milnbank foundation female bought from Robbie Wilson eight years ago, Honky Tonk is sired by the 5000gns Duncryne Geronimo.
The first prize Texelplus lamb from David McKerrow and sons James and David, Uppermill, Ellon, which also stood reserve male at the Great Yorkshire matched that 11,000gns sale when selling to Ewan MacTaggart, Rascarell, Castle Douglas. His pedigree features the 30,000gns Clanfield Golden, while the dam is by Ettrick Earthquake.
The first five-figure sale came early in the day when Andrew Clark’s Teiglum High Flyer from Blackhill, Carluke, made 10,000gns selling in a three-way split to Karen Wight, Midlock, Crawford; Keith and Andrew Campbell, Overburns, and Michael Coubrough, Hartside Farms, Lamington. The breeding behind this lamb which stood first at Biggar Show includes the privately purchased Brackenridge Fly Half and a dam by Teiglum Entertainer.
Other Leading Prices
Ram lambs – 7000gns – S Hunter’s Wedderburn Humdinger by Auldhouseburn Fancy Pants, to S Renwick, Craig Douglas, Glenrath; J Theyer’s Clanfield Hollywood, by Rhaeadr First Choice, to AM and L Sutherland, Carran, Crosskirk, Thurso and H Griffies, Intockhouse, Sandilands, Lanark
6500gns – J Arnott’s Haymount Humdinger, by Strathbogie Gladiator, to J Porter, Long Martin, Appleby and C Cornthwaite, Close Hall Farm, Clitheroe.
6000gns – J Arnott’s Haymount Heart Throb, by Strathbogie Gladiator, to K and A Campbell, Overburns; J and H Clark’s Garngour High Flyer, by Brackenridge Fly Half, to Ulmus Farms, Peterborough; K Pratt’s Hilltop Hudson, by Auldhouseburn Fancy Pants, to SW Cobbald, Actonhall, Sudbury, Suffolk.
Flock Averages
Flock (No) Top (gns) Average
Ram lambs
Orchilmore (3) 2600 1540.00
Allanfauld (5) 4200 2562.00
Teiglum (3) 10,000 4830.00
Strawfrank (3) 5000 2870.00
Sportsmans (4) 1300 682.50
Auldhouseburn (3) 60,000 28,670.00
Midlock (3) 3400 2240.00
Haymount (7) 6500 4215.00
Ettrick (5) 5000 2226.00
Morwood (3) 1400 1085.00
Duncryne (3) 2000 1400.00
Milnbank (4) 12,000 4593.75
Knockem (4) 2600 1575.00
Lower Reiss (3) 3000 1960.00
Haddo (4) 2400 1050.00
Garngour (5) 6000 2394.00
Glenside (4) 4500 2218.13
Cowal (4) 2400 1680.00
Clanfield (7) 12,000 4320.00
Elmscleugh (4) 1400 1050.00
Salcotes (3) 45,000 16,520.00
Hilltop (4) 6000 3622.50
Corskie (3) 1400 875.00
Strathbogie (3) 5000 2765.00
Claybury (4) 2200 1155.00
Cambwell (4) 2200 1627.50
Overburns (4) 5000 2283.75
Knap (4) 5500 2388.75
Uppermill (3) 11,000 5250.00
Hexel (4) 70,000 18,425.00
Auctioneers: Lawrie and Symington.
Averages: 174 ram lambs £3807.76 (-£1503.49 for 48 fewer sold).
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here