Beltex shearling record set at Carlisle
A breed record of 65,000gns was set by Neale McQuistin’s Airyolland flock, beating the two-year-old record by 5,000gns at Borderway, Carlisle, last week (16-17 August).
A larger show of 708 (+17) shearlings were back £14 on the year despite the phenomenal bid as averages were generally slightly behind 2017.
Ram lambs were back the most, with a drop of £206 reported on the year for 14 fewer sold, with lamb prices struggling to match last year’s eye-catching bid of 27,000gns for Kingledores Crusader.
See also: Beltex records smashed at Carlisle
New 65,000gns record
Record-breaking Airyolland Castro is a twin-born and home-bred son of Airyolland Asulam and Corstane Max daughter Airyolland Tramp and beats the 60,000gns record set by Grant and Gemma Anderson’s Topflite Al Pacino in 2016.
Neil McQuistin’s Airyolland flock set a new breed record of 65,000gns © Wayne Hutchinson
The record-breaking bidders in 2016 were the record-breaking bidders again, with Paul and Christine Tippetts, Shifnal, Shropshire, taking home Castro for use in their Hackney and Wilodge flocks.
Bringing “size, shape and character”, Castro will leave the New Luce area around Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire, for the flat country of Shropshire to provide new bloodlines to the Tippett flocks.
Next at 15,000gns was Black Jack Casanova from Ross and Kirsty Williams, Aberdeenshire, which sold to a two-way share of Messrs Hall, Carlisle, and the McQuistins. He is by Padkin Sugar Daddy and out of a Callacrag dam by Clary Navy.
Black Jack Casanova from Ross and Kirsty Williams made 15,000gns© Wayne Hutchinson
Close behind at 14,000gns was Ardstewart Coyote from Wade and Alison McCrabbe, Raphoe, County Donegal, sold in a two-way split between Messrs Whiteford, Brampton, Cumbria, and Messrs Little, Carlisle, Cumbria.
A two-way share took the leading Ardstewart shearling home for 14,000gns. © Wayne Hutchinson
He is a Langlands Trojan son out of Brought Pound Stretcher daughter Ardstewart Skindrella.
Elsewhere, shearling bids included 9,000gns, 7,200gns, 7,000gns, 6,800gns, and a brace at 6,000gns and 5,000gns.
Ram lambs
A brace of lambs hit 10,000gns as 184 lots made £1,256.23. First to hit double figures was Matt’s Ducati from Matthew Burleigh, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh.
He is an ET-bred Hackney Corker son out of Hackney Warrior daughter Matt’s Actress. Ducati’s paternal grandsire is the famous Topflite Al Pacino. He sold to Andrew Wood and family, Preston, Lancashire, for the Withy Trees flock.
Champion and top-price ram lamb on the day was Matthew Burleigh’s Hackney Corker son Ducati © Wayne Hutchinson
Also at this money was Highland Show ram lamb champion Clary Desperado from Jock McMillan. He is by Henry V/H Vrijbos and out of an Orkney Something Special daughter.
He sold in a five-way share between Messrs Burke, Angus, Messrs Wylie, also Angus, Messrs Wood, Aberdeenshire, Procters Farm, Lancashire and Messrs Baillie, Lanarkshire.
Gimmers
Leading gimmer trade at 7,500gns was Heber Park Carmen, from the Shuttleworth family, Gargrave, Skipton. She is by Plumtree Wonderful son Buckles Balmoral and out of Heber Park Ariettie, a Kingledores Walter dam. She also sold to Paul and Christine Tippetts, Shropshire.
Female trade topped with Yorkshire-bred Heber Park Carmen as 261 gimmers averaged £791© Wayne Hutchinson
Second best at 6,200gns was Todhall Cider from IA Wainwright. She is a Rathbone Alien daughter out of a Woodies Pride of the North daughter and went home with Messrs Cropper, Rossendale, Lancashire.
Averages: 708 (+17) shearling rams, £1,211.81 (-£14.11); 184 ram lambs, £1,256.23 (-£206.90); 20 aged rams, £1,333.50 (-£122.5); 261 (-40) gimmers, £791.89 (-£44.36) (Harrison and Hetherington).