Suffolks sell to 20,000gns at Shrewsbury

Saturday’s National Show and Sale of Suffolks at Shrewsbury yielded a top call of 20,000gns for the pre-sale champion from Jimmy Douglas, Cairness. His sale leader was his first lot in the ring, a January-born smbryo-bred son of Cairness Just The Best out of a dam from the Whitestone flock  by Muiresk Zidane. Buying this one was fellow Aberdonian Charles Proctor for his Conveth flock.

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Next best on the day was a 6200gns sale for one from Chris Holmes Rookery flock, Worcestershire. This one was a son of 11,000gns purchase Rhaedr Obsession out of a dam by Stockton Sky’s the Limit. He sold to Pamela Lupton for her Kexbeck flock.

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Following closely behind this one at 6000gns was the best from John Sinnett’s Stockton flock. This triplet born lamb out of a dam by Cairness Impact was himself by Morris Les. He was taken home by the pre-sale show judge Ronnie Black, Collessie.

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Then at 4000gns was the best from Robbie Wilson’s Strathisla flock, Turriff. This one, which was in the first prize pen of three is an embryo bred son of 2008 sire of the year Strathisla Speed out of a dam by Strathisla Shirocco which was full brother to 14,000gns sale Strathisla Schumacher. Digging deep to secure this one was Victoria Snowdon, Devon.

Chris Holmes was back in the money next, taking 3500gns for a Stockton Temptation son. His mid-January born entry is out of the same Muiresk Farewell-sired dam as Rookery Jamaica Brother which sold to Belgium in 2007 for 3400gns and sold with an index of 2.36 to Viv Samuel.

Iain Barbour, Solwaybank, was late in the sale, but that didn’t deter buyers from hanging on to claim his best on offer, with Andrea Neil paying 3400gns for a son of 32,000gns sire Solwaybank Special One. He was out of a dam by Stockton Savannah which in turn is out of a Muiresk Powerpacker sired dam.

And at 3200gns was another from Rookery, this time a Stockton Temptation son out of a dam by Haddon Double Diamond. Going back to Muiresk McKelvey on his dam’s side and with an index of 2.17 he sold to Mr Laing, Derbyshire.

A brace then sold at 3000gns, the first of which was from Jonathan Hayward’s Flodden flock, Northumberland. This was a son of last year’s pre-sale show champion Sitlow Centurion out of a Pennan Playboy-sired dam and stood reserve champion at the Border Suffolk Club Show earlier in the year. He headed home with Charles Harding for his Bentley flock.

The other at this money was the best from the Park family, Drinkstone, Hawick. With what is believed to be the largest index ever recorded in the UK, this one is a son of Cockleby First Mate and out of  a ewe by Drinkstone Elite Supersire 06, which traces back to Drinkstone Supersire 2003. He was claimed by J S Dunn, Borders.

Topping the shearling ewes at 1000gns was the pre-sale female champion from John Sinnett. This was a  Gaval George daughter out of a Crosemanor Jubilee King sired dam and sold to Messrs Freeman, Northants. He also lead the shearling tup trade when he sold a Stockton Jackpot son for the same money. Out of a dam by Strathisla Scorpion he was taken by A Rowlands, Wales. 

Overall the auctioneers report a very solid trade including a strong commercial demand resulting in an overall clearance of 84%.

Average; 140 ram lambs £1075 (J Straker Chadwick and Sons with Halls).