Sheep sales round up: Texels to 30,000gns, Ryelands reach 1,300gns, Blue Texels to 12,000gns, Beltex reach 17,000gns twice

Ettrick flock leads Blue Texel sale

IT was the male champion which topped the Blue Texels at Carlisle when Ettrick Land Man, a ram lamb from Gregor and Molly Gray, sold for 12,000gns.

Bred by their parents, David and Clare Gray, Selkirk, Land Man is by the 10,000gns Caryl's Blues King of the Ring and out of a Ty Gwyn ewe by Matt's Hitman. It caught the eye of Messrs Borlase, Hertford.

Next at 9,000gns, was the reserve male champion, Knockmult Landman from Russell Millen and Seamus Killen, Coleraine, Co Londonderry. Selling to Messrs Mawer, Woodhall Spa, it is by Glyncoch Game Changer and out of the Derg Jackpot-sired Knockmult Khloe.

Selling in a two-way split to Messrs Mair, Lockerbie, and Messrs Dodd, Holmhead, both Dumfriesshire, was the supreme champion, the shearling ram Westwood Kaboom by Cairnrock Fully Loaded, from N. Legge, Leominster, for 6,000gns.

Three rams sold for 4,500gns apiece, the first of which was Dragon Kevin, a Jems Jackpot son from Rhys Williams, Lampeter, which sold to Messrs Roberts, Abergele.

Jack Whiteford, Brampton, paid 4,500gns for Messrs Gray's Ettrick Loud and Proud, which is by Show Winners Grand Slam.

Also at 4,500gns was Caryl's Blues Leader, a Quarry View Knockout son from Caryll Howells, Llangadog, Carmarthenshire, which headed to Derbyshire, with Messrs Hambleton.

Messrs Gray topped the females at 4,500gns with an Ettrick gimmer by Ettrick Jackpot bred from Knockmult Georgia, a Beili Blues Euphoric daughter. It sold to Messrs Scott, Orkney.

Averages - 53 shearlings rams, £1,375; 69 lamb rams, £1,789.26; 70 gimmers, £1,026.38; 13 ewe lambs, £932.88.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.

High of 1,300gns for Coloured Ryelands

THE Ryeland Flock Book Society show and sale topped at 1,300gns twice.

Making this money was the Coloured Ryeland overall champion, Snelson Earl Grey, an aged ram by Moss Rose Bouncer from Michele Varmen, Macclesfield. The buyer was H. Hunt for the Dever flock, Winchester.

Also selling for 1,300gns was the reserve overall and female champion, Lodgeway Flake, a shearling ewe by Lodgeway Benefactor from S. Briggs and M. Whitehurst, Stoke-on-Trent, which was knocked down to J. Wood for the Nene's flock, Bacup.

Coloured Ryeland ram lambs peaked at 1,100gns for Snelson Grand Design from Messrs Varmen which sold to V. Gumble, Marden.

The reserve male champion, Wonderland Frillseeker, a shearling ram by Malt Kiln Artemis from D. and D. Aindow, South Yorkshire, topped the section at 750gns to J. Webb, Ludlow.

Ewe lambs sold to 700gns for Valhalla G200 by Bryn Caffo Bill from S. and J. Wright, Llandovery, which went to A. Williams, Holywell.

Ewes topped at 350gns for Wonderland Elsa from D. and D. Aindow, South Yorkshire, which sold to N. Dixon, Norwich.

Ryelands

Ryelands topped at 1,050gns for Bryn Caffo Fred, a shearling ram from A. and E. Parry, Angelsey, which sold to D. Morris, Hundred House.

Ram lambs sold to 650gns twice. Firstly, for Hawthorns Glayva from A.J. Robinson, Wigton, which was bought by H. and G. Price-Davies, Llandovery.

The other ram lamb at 650gns was Ryeside Griffin from N. and A. Burton, Hawes, which sold to L. Dyke, Hundred House.

Aged rams topped at 900gns for Glenbryn Eagle from A. Davies, Brecon, which was knocked down to S. Archer, Hexham.

Females sold to 1,000gns for the reserve champion, Hawthorns G3, a ewe lamb from A.J. Robinson, Wigton. The buyer was D. Scottney, Hayfield.

Shearling ewes sold to 850gns for the same vendor, also selling to Messrs Archer. Breeding ewes topped at 300gns for Messrs Davies.

Averages – Ryelands – 43 shearling ewes, £356; 4 ewes, £270; 15 ewe lambs, £284; 15 shearling rams, £622; 12 ram lambs, £242; Coloured Ryelands – 56 shearling ewes, £319; 1 ewe, £368; 34 ewe lambs, £332; 2 aged rams, £683; 9 shearling rams, £459; 18 ram lambs, £303.

Auctioneers: McCartneys.

Lurg flock leads Beltex Beauties

TWO gimmers from the Miller family's Lurg flock shared the top price of 17,000gns at the Beltex Beauties sale at Carlisle.

First, when sold to the Taylor family, Heatheryhall flock, Lanark, was a daughter of the 21,000gns Faughhill Kealey. Its dam is the Buckles Dark Dawn-sired Buckles Gem.

The other at that price was also out of Buckles Gem, but this time by the 10,000gns Mellor Vale King Kong, which sold to the Wattie family, Tonley flock, Alford.

Stuart Wood, Skene, saw his Woodies Little Miss Sunshine sell to Messrs Shand, Aberchirder, Huntly, for 6,500gns with a half-share retained. It is also by Mellor Vale King Kong but out of Heatheryhall Heidi, a Woodies Storm daughter.

Selling in a two-way split to William McMillan, Carse flock, Port William, and Graham Allan, Glenturk flock, Wigtown, for 6,000gns, was Faughhill Lilibet, a Heatheryhall Fireman Sam daughter, from Grant and Katy Maxwell, Melrose, Roxburghshire.

Messrs Hutchinson, Kirkby Stephen, paid 4,500gns for Lakeview Love Bug, a daughter of the 20,000gns Logie Durno Jack Daniels, from Gary Beacom, Fivemiletown, Co Fermanagh.

Averages – Katie's – 3 gimmers, £2,590; Ardstewart – 7 gimmers, £907.50; Pager – 1 gimmer, £1,575; Kingledores – 5 gimmers, £1,932; Lakeview – 3 gimmers, £2,415; Buckles – 1 gimmer, £945; Woodies – 9 gimmers, £2,438; Lurg – 9 females, £4,620; Lipley – 5 gimmers, £882; Faughhill – 11 gimmers, £1,880.45.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.

Dutch Spotted sell to 4,500gns

A EWE lamb full of imported bloodlines sold for 4,500gns to top the Dutch Spotted sale at Carlisle.

Selling to Messrs Cornish, Buckfastleigh, Devon, was Merryboro Just Look At My Eyes, from Louise Nash, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire. A full sister to Merryboro Hercules and Hollywood Dream Girl, it is by Dutch Dominator and out of DKNY.

Derek and Cindy Steen, Moffat, Dumfriesshire, received 4,000gns from Messrs Rob, Mauchline, Ayrshire, for Coxhill Incandescent, a shearling ewe by Craigdoo Game Changer.

Messrs Cornish bought the next two highest-priced females for 3,500gns and 2,500gns.

Dearest was Mourneview Indigo, a Ty-Gwyn Diego daughter bred by G. McCabe and M. Quinn but consigned by G. Troup, Sauchen, Inverurie.

At 2,500gns was the Beech Hay Chancellor-sired Middlemoor Imelda, from J. Stead, Richmond, North Yorkshire.

Males sold to 3,200gns for Ali Jackson, Annan, with Tiptop Joss by Woodtown Ironic, which sold to Jack Whiteford, Brampton, Cumbria.

Geraint and Kim Williams, Lampeter, sold two shearlings for 3,000gns and 2,500gns. Messrs Nash bought the dearer entry, which was Dragon Im the Man, a Dragon Hari-sired shearling.

Selling to Messrs Pattinson, Carlisle, was Dansi Invincible, a Wedderburn Dancer son, bred by E. Jones.

Averages – 2 aged rams, £1,023.75; 24 shearling rams, £1,185.62; 28 ram lambs, £830.62; 67 shearling gimmers, £884.66; 40 ewe lambs, £802.72.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.

Joshua takes top price at Ballymena

A TOP of 30,000gns was paid at the Northern Ireland National Texel sale at Ballymena when Mark Priestley's ram lamb, Seaforde Joshua, went under the hammer.

Sired by the 15,000gns Hilltop Icon and out of a home-bred ewe by Auldhouseburn Gazza from Downpatrick-based flock. Joshua caught the eye of Alastair Gault for his Forkins flock, Newtownabbey.

Hitting 20,000gns when sold to four Scottish breeders – Stuart Barclay, Harestone; Andrew Clark, Teiglum; Kerr Jarvie, Duncryne; and Archie and John MacGregor, Allanfauld – was Cherrylea Johnny's Pride from Charlie Trimble, Newry. It is by Speenogue Ignite and out of a Garngour Challenger daughter.

Richard Henderson, Magherafelt, saw his Douganhill Gangster-sired Ballynahone Jagerbomb sell to Kenneth Wilson, Firgrove flock, Ballymena, for 15,000gns.

Martin and Cyril Millar, Millars flock, Coleraine, paid 12,000gns for The Rock Jock, a The Rock Icon son from the Harkin family, Strabane.

Shearling rams reached 7,000gns for Ballycoose Ignatus from Fraser and Helen Tweed, Ballymena. The Scolton Fieldmarshall son is out of a Duvarren Cantona-sired ewe and sold to the McAllister family, Artnagullion flock, Ballymena.

Messrs Tweed received a further 5,000gns from an undisclosed buyer for Ballycoose I6, another by the Fieldmarshall ram.

A Seaforde gimmer by Drumbreddan Hard Ass from Messrs Priestley led the gimmer entry at 3,800gns when sold to Patrick Grant, Craigdoo flock, Newry.

At 3,500gns when sold to Alan Clark, Garngour, Lanarkshire, was a Firgrove gimmer by Sportsmans Grand Slam from Kenneth Wilson, Ballymena.

Averages – 40 gimmers, £1,189; 89 shearling rams, £1,765; 207 ram lambs, £2,128.

Auctioneers: J.A. McClelland and Sons.

Badger Face Texels sell to 4,500gns

IT was the champion from the pre-sale show that went on to top the Badger Face Texel sale at Carlisle, when Silvermere High Voltage went under the hammer at 4,500gns.

The Powerful Irish son from Michelle Hanson, Keith, Banffshire, sold to Messrs Love, Sammax flock, Oban.

Three entries shared a 2,500gns price tag, with the first being Nikay Haud Yer Wheesht, a ram lamb by Nikay Gaun Yersel, from Nick and Kayley Gill, Barnard Castle, which sold to Messrs Davies, Nant flock, Conwy.

Russell Millen and Seamus Killen, Coleraine, Co Londonderry, sold their female champion, Knockmult Hope by Knochmult Got It All, for 2,500gns to Messrs Robertson, Birstol, Avon.

Also making 2,500gns was Miss Hanson's second-prize ewe lamb, Silvermere Hotshot, another by the Powerful Irish ram which sold to Messrs Simpson, Hope Valley, Derbyshire.

Messrs Owen, Newtown, Powys, paid 2,200gns for the reserve female, Knockmult Giselle, a Riverside Delboy daughter from Messrs Millen and Killen.

Averages – 12 shearling rams, £778.75; 14 ram lambs, £1,357.50; 20 shearling gimmers, £955.50; 12 ewe lambs, £1,036.88.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.

Shearling rams lead Worcester Texel trade

TEXEL shearling rams recorded a new centre average of £3,594 at the English National Sale at Worcester topping at 11,000gns twice.

First, for Jonathan Watson and family's Brijon flock, Berwick-upon-Tweed was Brijon Ignition, a Craig Douglas Gladiator son out of a dam by Meinspride Usain, which sold to Pilkington Farmers, Hartington, Derbyshire.

The other was from David and Tom Bradley-Farmer, Dumfries and Galloway. Their pen topper was Meonside Its My Destiny, a son of Meonside Duke and out of a dam Peacehay Ya Belter. It was shared by R. and B. Smith, Towcester, and Owen and Rachel Watkins, Caenantmelyn.

At 9,500gns from Llion Jones, Tywyn, was Pant Invincible by Peacehay Greatest Showman which sold Robert and Nesta Watkins, Hereford.

Three then traded at 9,000gns, the first of these being Loosebeare Imp II from the Quick family, Credition. The son of Loosebeare Foreman sold to Messrs Furness and Taylor, Buxton.

The next two at this price both came from Jim and Nicola Hartwright's Whitehart pen. First was Whitehart Instigator, a Loosebeare Five Star son which was knocked down to the judge, Peter Gray, Scrogtonhead.

Whitehart Impulse by the same sire was the other at this level from the Hartwrights. It sold to Messrs Watson.

Leading the ram lamb trade at 7,800gns was Knap Jingle Bells from Robert Cockburn, Crieff. The reserve male champion from the pre-sale show is by Duncryne Hakuna Matata out of a dam by New View Electrifying and sold to Hydes Farming, Thaxted.

Next at 6,000gns for Robert Laird and family, Biggar, was Cambwell Juggernaut, a son of Deveronvale Fastrac which was bought by Peter Gray.

Messrs Cockburn then took 5,500gns for Knap Joy Rider, also by Duncryne Hakuna Matata, which was knocked down to Mark Davis, Tiverton.

At the same money was one from Gordon Gray, Selkirk, was Ettrick Jeronimo by Ettrick Inferno which went to Frankie Kunica, Alfreton.

Topping the females at 4,800gns was the female and overall champion, a Duncryne Hakuna Matata daughter from Messrs Cockburn which sold to Nick and Huw Layton, Lyonshall.

Averages: 41 gimmers £1,552.72; 78 ram lambs, £1,738; 79 shearling rams, £3,594 .

Auctioneers: McCartneys.

Header: Flying trade at Tercrosset sale

THE annual production sale on behalf of the Whiteford family's Tercrosset flock, Brampton, saw the 145 shearling rams average £1,648, a rise of £532.80 on the year.

Texel shearling rams sold to £3,800gns, 3,000gns twice and 2,800gns twice.

Beltex shearling rams topped at £2,400gns, Suffolks at 2,600gns, Charollais at 1,800gns and Bluefaced Leicesters at 1,600gns.

Shearling gimmers peaked at 900gns for Texels, with Beltex to 700gns, Suffolks to 580gns, Charollais to 700gns, Blue Texels to 620gns and Dutch Texels to 550gns.

Averages – 201 shearling gimmers, £545 (+£121.40 on 2025); 145 shearling rams, £1,648 (+£532.80).

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington

High of 1,600gns for Dorpers

DORPERS topped at 1,600gns at Carlisle for the pre-sale show champion, the shearling ram, Knotlow Machine.

The Dell Rocky son from J.S. and M. Hollinrake, Buxton, was out of a Dell Dorpers ewe and sold to Messrs Harvey, Tavistock.

Two more from the same home, Knotlow Maximiser by Dumisa Mr Perfect and Knotlow Maghum by Dumisa Solstice, sold for 1,200gns apiece to Messrs Dae, Devon.

Females reached 800gns for Knotlow Miss, a Knotlow Kudos daughter which sold to Messrs Birch, Bakewell, Derbyshire.

Coloured Ryelands topped at 1,200gns when Messrs Irving, Ulverston, paid that for Snelson Galileo, a ram lamb by Little Cleaves Amadeus, from Michele Varmen, Macclesfield.

Rebecca Whitwell, Lealholm, Whitby, sold her second-prize shearling ram, Fryupdale Firebolt, by Snelson Buster Brady, for 700gns to Messrs Brownrigg, Wigton.

Messrs Woodhouse, Northumberland, paid 800gns for the dearest of the Ryelands, Hardgate Finn, a shearling ram by Hardgate Delius, from Stephen Hipps, Bishop Thornton, North Yorkshire.

A Langrigg shearling ram, from A.W. Rutherford, Gretna, topped the Oxford Downs when the Billesdons Braveheart son sold to Messrs Lamb and Sons, Seahouses, Northumberland, for 700gns.

The pre-sale champion, a Rose-Dene gimmer, from J.J. Richardson, Newton-on-Derwent, York, sold to Messrs Driver, Newton Stewart, for 600gns.

Messrs Knowles, Leeds, bought Honddu Kylie, the top-priced Clun Forest, for 400gns. The Trewrylod Glen-sired ewe lamb was consigned by I.T. Davies and Son, Brecon.

Averages – Dorper – 3 shearling rams, £1,400; 3 lamb rams, £840; 2 ewes, £367.50; 12 gimmers, £503.13; 2 aged rams, £315; Coloured Ryeland – 2 aged ewes, £294; 26 shearling gimmers, £342.06; 21 ewe lambs, £302; 3 aged rams, £413; 7 shearling rams, £352.50; 3 ram lambs, £787.50; Ryeland – 8 shearling gimmers, £312.37; 9 ewe lambs, £341.83; 9 shearling rams, £490; 4 ram lambs, £380.63; Oxford Down – 7 shearling gimmers, £444.44l 1 ewe lamb, £336; 1 aged ram, £367.50; 2 shearling rams £630; Clun Forest – 3 aged ewes, £238; 2 shearling gimmers, £278.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.

Breeding sheep rise on the year at Skipton

Skipton's opening show and sale of gimmer shearlings and breeding ewes attracted an increased turnout of 4,884 head, up almost 400 on the year. The 4,462 shearlings averaged £253.31, a rise of £19.40 on the year.

The Cheviot Mule section produced the day's top price of £400/head for home-breds from Joey and Rebecca Launders, Barden.

Last year's class victors, George and Henry Hamlet, Chipping, had to settle for second and third spots this year, their pens selling at £275 and £265. The section average was £212.94, down £21.29) on the year.

North of England Mules averaged £258.23, up £31.83 on 2025. Taking leading honours for the fifth year in succession were the Towler family, Grindleton. They sold at a section-topping £390/head.

Fox Farms, Clitheroe, had to settle for the runners-up slot, and were among five Fox Farms pens that hit £360/head, just bettered at £365 for the fourth prize pen from Thomas and Sheila Binns, Downham.

The Texel cross average was £268.79, up £19.33. Joint top call of £370/head went to two vendors - Thomas and Sheila Binns, with two pens, and a further two pens of Cheviot/Texel crosses from David and Susan Pinder, Newton-in-Bowland.

In the Suffolk section the first prize pen from Ben Harvey of H. Harvey and Son, Norwich, which were returning shearlings all bought of Skipton as gimmer lambs last year, made £280/head. The second and third prize pens both from R. Bradley and Son, Bishop Auckland, sold at £275/head and £270/head. Section top of £300/head went to E.B. Webster and Sons, Cracoe.

Outwith the continental show classes, Beltex shearlings sold to £390/head from Matthew Beckwith, Gargrave.

Chris and Claire Douthwaite of W.D. Douthwaite and Sons, Kirkby Overblow, took first and third places in the Masham Sheep Breeders Association (MSBA) show.

Their winning pen made £290/head, bettered by the third prize pen at £325 topping the section. The second prize members pen from David and Michelle Buck, Hornby, also made £290/head.

There was strong trade for ewes with one-crop Mules topping at £315/head from the Binns family, who also sold one-crop Texel cross ewes to £330/head.

Aged Texel ewes saw Chris and Christine Ryder, Blubberhouses, sell three-crop ewes to £250/head and Tony and Kay Kiernan, Preston, selling both correct and broken mouthed ewes to £225 twice.

Auctioneers: CCM.

Thackwood flock tops Charollais at Carlisle

CHAROLLAIS shearling rams form Messrs Wales' Thackwood flock, Raughton Head, Carlisle, sold to 1,700gns to Messrs Deighton, Appleby-in-Westmorland. This was a son of Thackwood Amazon, while Messrs Hodgson, Bishop Auckland, Co Durham, paid 1,500gns for another by Springhill Corker.

The first shearling ram on offer led the Dorset and Poll Dorset entry at 1,300gns when Clydesdale Highly Flamable from Halbeath Farm, Larkhall, Lanarkshire, sold to Messrs Rankine, Lochgelly, Fife. Overall champion at the pre-sale show, it is by Stobilee Firestarter.

Declan Rankine, Lochgelly, Fife, sold his Dun Eideann Iconic, a Ballytaggart Hummer-sired ram lamb, for 1,200gns to Messrs Robinsons, Yarm, North Yorkshire.

The Berrichon entry peaked at 1,200gns twice, firstly for the female champion which was Yarburgh Billion Dollar from Richard and Jade Bett, Louth, Lincolnshire. Selling to Messrs Wilsons, Barnard Castle, Co Durham, the shearling gimmer is by Yarburgh Wright.

Messrs Wilson bought the other at 1,200gns, a January-born Newark ewe lamb from Frances Barbour, Sanquhar, Dumfriesshire, which is by Janos Adventurer.

Averages – Charollais – 5 lamb rams, £682.50; 6 shearling rams, £1,295; 7 ewes, £1,080; 13 gimmers, £843.50. Dorset and Polled Dorset – 11 gimmers, £606.14; 4 ewe lambs, £341.25; 2 shearling rams, £1,207.50; 4 ram lambs, £997.50; 6 recipients, £297.50. Berrichon – 9 shearling rams, £653.33; 6 lamb rams, £643.13; 2 ewes, £787.50; 13 gimmers, £650.19; 5 ewe lambs, £787.50.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.

Crossing Crackers sell to £3,000

A SHEARLING gimmer from M. Allan's Cumbria-based Greenhow flock topped the Crossing Crackers online sale of Bluefaced Leicesters.

Selling for £3,000 to an undisclosed buyer from Yorkshire, the Greenhow V52 is by Dawyck Bullseye S18 and bred from a Hewgill ewe.

Next best at £2,500 was Spurring W5, a ewe lamb by the £22,000 Shitlington V1 from S. Procter, also Cumbria. Selling to Messrs Brackenbury, Leyburn, Yorkshire, it is out of a Carry House ewe.

Messrs Marston, Cockermouth, Cumbria, paid £2,100 for Rowan Tree W28 a ewe lamb from A. Butler, Co Antrim. Out of a home-bred ewe, it is by the £35,000 Glenrath Backjack V1.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.