Demand for Beltex shearling tups almost matched supply at the two-day premier sale held at Carlisle, and breeders headed home more than happy with increased averages for more sold.
Topping the trade was 10,000gns for a ram lamb from Brian Matthews’ Quarrymount flock from Co Offaly.
Quarrymount William Wallace is by Ardstewart Mr Bow Jangles and sold to a trio of Lanarkshire breeders. Splitting the bill were Andrew Baillie, Carstairs Mains, the Taylor family of Heatherhall Farm, Thankerton, and Messrs Lawrie, Grangehall Farm, Pettinain.
Beltex Society president Jock McMillan, Carse of Clary, Newton Stewart, judged the show classes and chose as champion the first-prize shearling ram Artnagullion Tinky Winky ET, shown by Northern Ireland breeder Liz McAllister, Kells, Co Antrim.
He is by the 13,000gns Woodies Snoop Dog out of Artnagullion Kandy-Floss and was first in his class at this year’s Balmoral Show, and overall champion of the 2014 Irish National Beltex Show.
The final bid of 6,000gns was from Paul Slater from Macclesfield, Cheshire.
The first of the shearling day’s top deals came minutes into the sale when Liz McAllister joined forces with Co Donegal breeder Wade McCrabbe to secure Rathbone Tony ET, a shearling ram from the Rathbone pen of consultant vet Mike Davis, Austwick, Lancashire.
Their 9,000gns purchase is by Rathbone Leader out of Rathbone Jackie.
At 6,500gns Jock McMillan sold his pen topper Clary Talent ET to Brian Hall, Ainstable Hall, Carlisle. This ram is by Thimbleby Pegasus out of Clary Perhaps.
Andrew and Michael Dunlop, Corstane, Biggar, saw their 2014 Highland Show champion Skiddaw View Trapper knocked down at 5,000gns to Northern Irish breeders Fergus Harbinson and Patrick Brolly.
This ram is by Broughton Rafael out of Skiddaw View Ribena and was bred by auctioneer James Little.
Dyce airport fireman and Beltex breeder Stuart Wood, Woolhillock, Skene, paid 4,000gns twice for his selections from the Airyolland pen consigned by Neale and Janet McQuistin, from High Airyolland, New Luce, Wigtownshire.
First under the hammer was Airyolland T Rex, a Corstane Max son out of Airyolland Rhianna.
He was followed by Airyolland Thunder, sired by Bardnaheigh Ranger out of Airyolland Princess Peach.
Stuart later recouped some of his expenditure with the 3,800gns sale of Drumchapel Tiny Tempa, a Kingledores Rascal son out of Pentland Kylie.
Bred by the firm of A Alston, Chapelton of Menmuir, Edzell, this shearling was knocked down to RH Ireland, Whalley, Lancashire.
AVERAGES
Aged rams (7): £1,267.50 (-£629.50).
Shearling rams (556): £997.63 (+£100.63).
Ram lambs (162): £1116.90 (+£55.90).
Gimmers (219): £620.36 (+£40.36).
Auctioneers: Harrison & Hetherington.