3200gns top call for Lanark Texel females

Texel breeders had a big selection of females to sort through at Lanark last weekend but it was the dispersal of Marina Gibb’s Haremoss flock that produced the strongest trade and the day’s top price of 3200gns.

The flock, established at Turrif, Aberdeenshire in 1994, was dispersed in total with the 3200gns bid coming for a 2005-bred ewe by the successful sire Craighead Hercules. This ewe, from one of the flock’s top families, is out of a Wartle Goliath dam and was bought by Alastair Beaton, Falkirk. She is in-lamb to Courthill Napoleon – a son of Hull House Ma Man that cost 2100gns in 2007.

The next lot in the ring made 3000gns to join John Forsyth’s Glenside flock in Ayrshire. This 2005-bred ewe is by Milnbank Klondyke and out of a ewe by Milnbank Glitter. The service sire was Glinterty Las Vegas – a son of the 50,000gns Baltier King – that has already produced a 14,000gns son.

 John Forsyth was in again at 2000gns to claim a 2006-bred ewe by Cornerstone Isaac. This ewe, which goes back to the flock’s foundation breeding from the Knock flock, is in-lamb to Garngour Noblemen that was bought at Lanark in 2007 for 16,000gns and has already produced a 20,000gns son.

A 2000gns call from Gordon Graham, Strathaven, secured the flock’s highest priced ewe lamb. By Courthill Napoleon and out of a Milnbank Klondyke ewe, the lamb was a show winner last season. Best of the Haremoss gimmers was one by Anglezarke Mr Bojangles that was also shown successfully last year and is in-lamb to the Courthill sire.  She made 1400gns to Acorn Farms, Sudbury, Suffolk.

Top call at the Scottish National show and sale was 1600gns paid by Andy Ryder, Moffat, Dumfries, for a gimmer from the Drumpark flock of Mr and Mrs R Scott, Moray. The gimmer, by Cowal Maverick, is in-lamb to Kelso Oxygen that cost 10,000gns in a private deal and is full ET-bred brother to the 42,000gns Kelso Ozone.

 Another gimmer from the Drumpark consignment made 1200gns and stood champion. The gimmer is also by Maverick and in-lamb to Oxygen. Buyer was T Shepherd, Dunlop, Ayrshire.

The dispersal of the Croft flock for the Howieson family at Biggar saw bidding reach 1700gns for a gimmer by Easterseat Minstrel and in-lamb to Llangwm Ollie Maguire. She goes to Donald Simpson, Co Antrim. Leading the Croft ewes at 1400gns was one by Whineray Lee and in-lamb to the Llangwm tup. The ewe heads for Selkirk with Norrie Douglas.

Averages: Haremoss – 26 ewes £981; 24 gimmers £561 and 25 ewe lambs £574. Croft – 22 gimmers £495 and 19 ewes £469. Collective sale – 60 gimmers £347; six ewes £217 and three ewe lambs £157. (Lawrie and Symington).