Exceptional clearance rates at Welsh National Texel Sale

Saturday’s Welsh National Texel Sale, Welshpool, saw a new breed centre record with the top call of 6,200gns. The 82% clearance reflected the flying demand for ram lambs and saw buyers in eager mood.

Leading the prices at 6,200gns was the male champion and reserve overall champion from the pre-sale show, Richard Wilson’s Eden Valley Whizz Kid.

This son of the 11,000gns sire Sportsmans Tremendous II is out of a dam by the breed record holding 220,000gns Deveronvale Perfection. Selling with an index of 289 he was bought by Will and Liz McCaffrey for the Scholars flock, Malpas; Eldon Thomas for the Wydden flock; Robin Ellis for the Eglur flock; Wyn Jones for the Fferwd flock; and Daniel Jones for the Alden flock.

Second best call of the sale was a 3,100gns for Robert Cockburn’s Knap Waverly. This second prize winner is by Tamnamoney Tuborg Gold and out of a Baltier Rascal sired dam. He sold to G N Williams, Lampeter.

At 1,700gns was Ben Vernon’s Tullylagan Tonka son Charben Winne. His dam is a Castlecairn SAS Commander daughter that is maternal sister to Milnbank Special One. Buying him was Roy Hughes, Trefonen, Oswestry.

After that came a 1,400gns call for Kimbolton White Knight from Paul Philips and family. He is by Kimbolton Va Va Voom and out of a 1,200gns Tweed bred dam by East Middle Regardez Moi and sold to Duncan MacNiven, Glenfarg, Perth.

Racecourse Welsh National from M and S Jones then made 1,350gns when selling to I B Davies, Talsarn, Ceredigion. This fourth prize winner from the pre-sale show is by Sportsmans United III and out of a dam by Glenside Sexpistol.

Boden and Davies’ Sportsmans Wana Be then took a 1,050gns call when selling to Llanllwyda, Gwynedd. He is a son of the 145,000gns Knap Vicious Sid is out of a Tullylagan Tonka sired dam that also bred the 6,000gns Vincent.

Selling at the same money was Millend Wizard from Russell Watkins and family, with this Clun Sheriff son out of a Lochar Powerhouse daughter.

Taking the first of three 1,000gns calls was Procters Washington from Procters Farm. This son of the £35,000 Scrogtonhead U Stoater is out of a dam by Scholars Twenty Twelve and sold to an undisclosed buyer.

Second at 1,000gns was John Vaughan’s substitute lamb Vorn Walrus selling to P L Howells, Llanwenog, Dyfed. He is by Vorn Vaurus and out of an Avon Vale Real Deal daughter.

The reserve male champion, Sportsmans Wilson was the final lamb at 1,000gns, with this one from the Boden and Davies team being by Knap Vicious Sid and out of a Clougher President dam. Buying this one was G Deakins, Knighton, Powys.

Shearling rams

Leading shearling ram trade was the first prize entry from Cefyn Pryce at 3,200gns. This was PEC1400318, a son of Caereinion U R The One and out of a Caereinion Number One sired dam. He was purchased by Richard Lewis, Karven, Haverford West.

Making 2,800gns was the third prize shearling ram, Wollascott Vermount from Messrs S P and C P Williams and selling to an undisclosed buyer. He is by Cooilingel Thor and out of a Ballaglonney Dan Dare sired dam.

The Quick family’s Loosebeare pen sold to a top of 1,600gns for Loosebeare Visionary, a Loosebeare Rebel son out of a dam by Loosebeare Knight Rider that was interbreed champion at Devon Country and Cornwall Shows.  Buying him were Messrs Forrester, Whitchurch.

Messrs Lewis, Leebotwood, Shropshire, paid 1,500gns for Loosebeare Viscount II, a Whitehart Spot On son out of a Bettonfield Janitor sired dam.

Shearling ewes

Trade for shearling ewes was again tremendous, as seen at both the Northern Irish and Scottish National sales in recent days, with the entry achieving an 87% clearance rate.

Leading prices at 5,500gns was Robert Pierce’s overall champion PRE1400362 from the Oldford flock, Chester. This Sportsmans Tremendous II daughter is out of a Mullan Supremacy sired dam. She was purchased by Richard Lewis for Codd and Lewis, Treffgarne, Havorfordwest.

Second best at 4,400gns was the Reed family’s fifth prize winner from the pre-sale show RWS1400619 from the Scolton flock. She is sired by Whitehart Ultra and is out of a dam by Caereinion Rocket. She sold to an undisclosed buyer.

Gordon Gray’s third prize gimmer GGH1404218 then sold at 2,000gns to R Darlington, Hulme End, Buxton. She is by Baltier Thunderbird and out of an Ettrick Rob Roy daughter and from the same family at the Great Yorkshire Show 2015 female champion.

And making 1,500gns was Peter Woof’s second prize winner WPS1400581. Sired by Sportsmans Tremendous II she is out of a Fachell On Approval sired dam. She was purchased by W B Phillips, Ledbury, Herefordshire.

Averages: 108 ram lambs, £623.78, 27; shearling rams, £1,079.17, 84; shearling ewes, £638.13.