Texel and Beltex sale tops at 4,300gns at Chelford
The annual New Year sale of pedigree Texel and Beltex females peaked at 4,300gns at Chelford on the weekend (Saturday 9 January).
Beltexes
Leading trade was the supreme champion, a ewe lamb from Stuart Wood’s Woodies flock, Skene, Aberdeen. This lamb, Woodies Aroma, by Airyolland Thunder and out of an imported ewe, attracted a flurry of bidding when it entered the ring from a large number of potential bidders. She was eventually knocked down to the pre-sale show judge Les Hewitt, for his Southern Acres flock, Chester.
Next best at 2,700gns was the reserve champion from the same home. Woodies Twilight, a February 2013 born ewe by Kingledores Rameses, and out of a Drumrash bred ewe, sold carrying twins to Airyolland Weapon. She ignited trade, selling early in the day to G and K Williams, Lampeter, Ceredigion.
Another ewe lamb from the same consignment, this time Woodies Almera, sired by Howcommon Romeo and out of another imported ewe, made 2,100 gns when selling to AJ Wood, Preston.
Another regular supplier of quality Beltex to the Chelford sale, Allan Jackson, saw the best of the ewe lambs from his Headlind flock, sired by The Gambler, make 1,300 gns to David and Matthew Prince, Chesterfield.
Mr Wood and his family, who have suffered severe flooding around their home in Aberdeen, generously offered another super ewe lamb from their Woodies flock to the Cumbria Flood Appeal. This lamb, Woodies Apostrophe, by Glenkeen Sanders and out of an imported Biesheuvel ewe, sold for 1,250 gns to S T Marsh and M Friend, Dover, Kent.
Beltex shearlings were also keenly sought after. Leading the pack was Rathbone Wooble, the best of the pen from MR and JE Davis, Austwick, Lancashire. By Holmebeck Tonto, and out of a Rathbone ewe by Dooley Nissan, this one sold carrying twins to Buckle Whizz Kidd, for 2,000 gns to Preston Farms, Co Tyrone
Texels
In the Texel lines the sale leader at 2,250gns was the reserve champion, a ewe lamb from Ben Vernon’s Charben flock, Rocester, Staffordshire, which sold for the day’s top price of 2,250 gns. By Glenside Valhalla and out of a ewe by Strathbogie Thunder, she went home with LA Lloyd, Knighton, Powys.
The supreme champion came from the Gray family, Selkirk. It was a Tima gimmer which took the championship. By Llyfni Usain Bolt and out of a ewe by Glenside Razzle Dazzle, she sold carrying twins to Glenside Wurzel, for 1,800 gns to CH Bellis, Holywell, Flintshire.
A consignment from the Meinspride flock of Angela Nairey, Blackburn, peaked at 1,450 gns for a Strathbogie Terminator daughter, out of a Glenside King ewe, which was sold carrying twins to Fachell Aussie. She went home with Gary Scott, Denbighshire.
The best from the Sportsman flock peaked at 1,050gns for a 2012-born ewe by Milnbank Special One, out a Baltier Panther-sired ewe. This one sold carrying twins to Mellor Vale Wildcat and was the pick of R Alderson, Barrowford, Lancashire.
The sale included the dispersal of the lambing portion of the Croston flock, on behalf of Bill Higham who is retiring, and he saw a leading price of 1,000 gns for another 2012 born ewe, this time by Stainton Ricochet, out of a ewe by Straidarran Maverick. This one sold carrying triplets to Anglezarke Uno and was bought by Steven and Janet Symes, of the Anglezarke flock.
Averages: Texels: 27 ewes, £350.39; 72 shearling ewes, £504.51; 35 ewe lambs, £331.80. Beltex: 38 ewes, £490.46; 28 shearling ewes, £615.19; 30 ewe lambs, £705.95.
(Wright Marshall).