Texel ram lambs proved popular at Lanark, with the breed enjoying an 82% clearance and an increased average on the year boosted by a huge top price of 145,000gns, the second top price ever paid for a sheep in the UK.
In all, eight lambs reached five figures or more, but outwith the high fliers, the underlying quality was evident throughout the catalogue, according to auctioneer Brian Ross.
“Although there wasn’t a huge amount of superstars, there were lots of good lambs between £3,000 and £5,000, and a lot of new buyers here for them too,” he said.
The fireworks started fairly early in the day, with Crieff-based Robert Cockburn’s pen number one, Knap Vicious Sid, silencing a packed sale ring as the price tag continued to climb.
It was certainly a day to remember for Mr Cockburn, who has been breeding Texels since 2005.
Shepherd for the well-known Blackface flock at Connachan Farm, he runs his own 25-ewe Knap Texel flock along with girlfriend Dianne Wood, who is expecting the couple’s second child in October.
Their star of the sale ring is a son of the 7,500gns Tamnamoney Tuborg Gold, out of a home-bred Baltier Rascal-sired ewe which has won championships at Perth and Lesmahagow.
There was a lot of hype about Knap Vicious Sid leading up to the sale, from as far back as May, when he stood first in a strong class at Lesmahagow Show, and he did not disappoint.
From a kick-off bid of 5,000gns, the price quickly soared to six figures, before being knocked down at 145,000gns in a three-way split to Charlie Boden for his Cheshire-based Sportsmans flock, the Campbells of Drimsynie, Argyll, for their Cowal flock, and Hugh and Alan Blackwood, who run 20 ewes in their Auldhouseburn flock but are better known for breeding Blackface sheep, at Muirkirk.
It was far later in the sale that the second-top price was achieved, 85,000gns for another lamb that had created much hype.
That was Cornmore Velvet Jacket, from Northern Ireland brothers John and Charles Leitch, of Castlederg, Co Tyrone, who were selling at Lanark for the second time, having bought their first Texels just two years ago.
An AI son of the 42,000gns Tullylagan Tonka, he is out of a Cambwell-bred ewe that was bought as a lamb, by Sheeoch Ringmaster.
He sold to John Forsyth’s Glenside flock at Maybole, and Alasdair Beaton, Wester Crosshill, Slamannan.
A trio of North breeders teamed together to pay 52,000gns for Mullan Vivaldi, from Co Armagh breeder Brian Hanthorn, who runs 20 ewes in his Mullan flock and had previously sold to a top of 7,500gns.
An AI son of last year’s Blessington sale champion, Oberstown Usain Bolt, his dam is a daughter of Douganhill McFly.
He sold to Jim Innes’ Strathbogie flock at Dunscroft, Huntly, Graeme Morrison’s Deveronvale flock at Inchbruich, Cornhill, Banff, and Neil and Stuart Barclay’s Harestone flock based at Insch.
Before spending big later in the sale, John Forsyth received 42,000gns for his best, Glenside Valhalla.
This son of the 20,000gns Strathbogie Upping the Ante, is out of a ewe by Strathbogie Python.
He sold to the Milnbank flock of Robbie Wilson, North Dorlaithers, Turriff, and Jim Innes, Strathbogie.
On the other side of the coin, Robbie Wilson received 11,000gns for the best of his pen, Milnbank Vantastic, a March-born son of Strathbogie Untouchable.
Out of a ewe by Mossknowe Pudsey, he sold to Harry and George Wilkinson’s Arkle flock at Aspatria, Cumbria.
The Clark family from North Garngour, Lesmahagow, enjoyed a steady trade for their Garngour pen, topping at 13,000gns for Garngour Vintage.
This March-born lamb is by last year’s 38,000gns purchase Springwell Ulsterboy, while the dam, a Strathbogie Smokey Blue daughter, also bred the 32,000gns Garngour Upperclass, sold last year.
He was another to sell in a three-way split, going to George Howie, West Knock, Stuartfield, Peterhead, the Knox family’s Haddo flock at Mid Haddo, Fyvie, Turriff, and Sandy Lee’s Fordafourie flock at Feurdies, Memsie.
Another Crieff breeder, Kerr Jarvie, Cherryfield, Muthill, along with David McKerrow, Nochnary, Freuchie, Donnie Allan, Ballochneck, Buchlyvie, James Robinson, Dunkirk Avenue, Lancashire, and Mrs JS Lodge, Moseley Grange, Doncaster, forked out 11,000gns for the best from Peter Woof’s Stainton flock at Kendal, Cumbria. That was Stainton Vigilante, an Anglezarke Uno son which was first in his class at the Great Yorkshire. He is out of a ewe by Sportsmans Tremendous.
Last to hit five-figures, at 10,000gns, was Crailloch Vinnie, a Cambwell Union son, out of a ewe by Annan Okay Dokey, from Angus McColm, Crailloch, Portwilliam, Newton Stewart.
Taking this one all the way was Northern Ireland buyer Ian Millar, Templepatrick Road, Ballyclare, Co Antrim.
Overall, Lawrie and Symington sold 390 ram lambs to average £2,487.23, an increase of £160 on the year, for 21 more sold.