Texels hit 23,000gns breaking mart records at Worcester

Temperatures soared, throughput rose to the highest point for more than ten years and breed centre records tumbled at the English National Texel Sale at Worcester on Monday (28 August).

Trade topped at 23,000gns with the Chave family’s Peacehay flock setting a new breed centre record and new record averages for shearlings and second highest average for ram lambs, as prices jumped £217.73 on the year.

See also: Lanark tops Texel National sales with 130,000gns call

Female trade came close to hitting last year’s record average as 92 gimmers levelled at £967.14, just £35 behind last year’s record average, which included a 16,000gns bid.

Trade topped with show-winning shearling Peacehay Ya Belter from Somerset, which was knocked down in a three-way split between Robin and Caroline Orr, Halbeath, Messrs Gray, Langside, and Drayton Farm Partnership, Meonside.

Ya belter is by the £35,000 Scrogtonhead U Stoater and out of a Sheeoch Tardis dam.

Shearling trade hit record levels seeing Peacehay Ya Belter making 23,000gns and the section levelling at £1298.50 © Catherine MacGregor

Ram lambs to 17,000gns

Next in the money at 17,000gns was ram lamb Usk Vale Albatross from Will Davis, knocked down to the Ettrick and Tima flocks of Gordon and David Gray, Selkirk.

Usk Vale Albatross was snapped up by Gordon and David Gray for 17,000gns © Catherine MacGregor

Albatross is out of a Castelcairn Vavavoom dam and by the 35,000gns Strathbogie Ya Belter.

Second ram lamb on the day was Ellen Valley Avici at 6,500gns from George Wilkinson, bought by Jim Innes, Strathbogie flock. He is by Midlock Yorkie and out of a Drumpark President daughter.

George Wilkinson saw a 6,500gns bid for Ellen Valley Avici © Catherine MacGregor

Gimmers to 4,500gns

Robert Cockburn’s Knap flock topped trade with a Ettrick Van Gogh daughter at 4,500gns, which was knocked down to Robin and Caroline Orr, Halbeath flock, Dunfermline.

Close behind at 4,200gns was a Duncryne UberCool daughter out of a Oberstown Usain Bolt daughter from Alastair Gault, Forkins flock. This was bought by young bidders Chaylee and Lorraine Greene, Co Donegal.

Averages; 57 shearling rams, £1298.50 (+£469); 190 ram lambs, £1194.57 (+£217.73); 92 gimmers £967.14 (-£35) (McCartneys).