Top call of 145,000gns at Lanark Texel sale

Trade topped 145,000gns at last week’s Scottish National Texel Sale, Lanark.

The sales 82% clearance rate for the ram lambs was the highest recorded at Lanark in the history of the breed and the sale was also the highest grossing Texel Breed Society sale.

British Texel Sheep Society chief executive John Yates said: “While the top end of the trade clearly drew the pedigree breeders there was a solid commercial demand right through the sale, with good lambs easily sold.

Sale leader and taking the second highest ever price for a sheep in the UK at 145,000gns was Robert Cockburn’s ram lamb Knap Viscious Sid, from his Crieff, Perthshire-based flock. He is a son of the 7,000gns Tamnamoney Tuborg Gold and is out of a dam by Baltier Rascal I. He had stood fifth in the pre-sale show and had previously been first prize ram lamb at Lesmahagow Show.

After some fierce bidding he was knocked down in a three-way split to Charlie Boden’s Sportsmans flock, Keith, Alan and Roy Campbell, Cowal, and Hugh and Alan Blackwood, Auldhouseburn.

Second best was an 85,000gns bid for Cornmore Velvet Jacket from young, first time vendor John Leitch, Castlederg, Co Tyrone. This Tullylagan Tonka son is out of a Sheeoch Ringmaster dam and was eventually knocked down to John Forsyth, Glenside and Alasdair Beatton, Wester Crosshill.

Northern Irish breeder Brian Hanthorn, Tynan, Co Armagh, made the third top of the day, when he sold his ram lamv Mullan Vivaldi for 52,000gns to Neil and Stuart Barclay, Harestone, Jim Innes, Strathbogie, and Graham Morrison, Deveronvale. This one is an Oberstown Usain Bolt son out of a Douganhill McFly dam.

Maybole, Ayrshire-based John Forsyth then recouped some of his outlay when he took 42,000gns for Glenside Valhalla. This son of the 20,000gns Strathbogie Upping The Ante is out of a dam by Strathbogie Python. He sold to Robbie Wilson, Milnbank, and Jim Innes, Strathbogie.

After that the next best of the sale was a 13,000gns bid for Garngour Vintage from Alan, Andrew and Dye Clark. This son of the 38,000gns sire Springwell Ulsterboy is out of a Strathbogie Smokey Blue daughter and sold with an index of 307. He went to Albert and George Howie, Knock, Sandy Lee, Fordafourie, and Willie Knox, Haddo.

Selling for 11,000gns was Stainton Vigilante from Peter Woof. This one had been first prize ram lamb at the Great Yorkshire Show and is an Anglezarke Uno son out of a dam by Sportsmans Trojan. He sold to a consortium consistig of Kerr Jarvie, Duncryne, Jennifer Lodge, Heyworth Lodge, David McKerrow, Nochnary, Donald Allan, Ballochneck, and James Robinson, Kaker Mill.

Also making this price was the best of the day from Robbie Wilson, Milnbank Vantastic. Sired by Strathbogie Untouchable he is out of a Mossknowe Pudsey dam which is also dam of the first prize gimmer at the Highland last year. Selling with an index of 276 he heads to the Arkle flock of George Wilkinson.

Taking the final five figure bid of the day 10,000gns was Crailloch Vinnie from the McColm family, Newton Stewart. Sired by Cambwell Union he is out of a dam by Annan Okay Dokey and sold to Ian Millar, Ballyclare, Northern Ireland.

Shearling ewes

Texel shearling ewes peaked at 7,000gns for one from the Ettrick flock of Gordon Gray and family.

The Ettrick sale leader, GGH1303204 is a Knock Papoose daughter out of a dam by Mitchelhill Paparazzi and with an index of 374. She sold to Archie Hamilton, Lanark for the Smyllum flock.

Selling for the evening’s second best call of 5,500gns was the pre-sale female and overall champion, Robbie Wilson’s gimmer, LYM1301012, a Teiglum Tornado. She’s out of a Millar’s Outstanding dam and also sold to Mr Hamilton.

Then making 4,500gns was the reserve female and reserve overall champion from the pre-sale show, Robert Laird’s LTC1301593. She’s a Cambwell Trademark daughter out of a dam by Cambwell Laird and went to Albert and George Howie’s Knock flock, Mintlaw, Aberdeenshire.

Averages: 54 gimmers, £1479.72; 390 ram lambs, £2487.23.

(Lawrie and Symington).