Beltex Worcester sale tops at 1450gns

A big crowd and a strong demand for breeding females as well as rams produced a top price of 1450gns at the Beltex Sheep Society’s show and sale at Worcester.

And it was the first sheep into the ring – a 20006 twin-bred ram – that set the pace and ended the day as the top priced sheep for owner Dermot Costelloe, Market Drayton, Shropshire. His Bailey Brook Karanja is by Whatmore Handyman and collected the male championship. Buyer was S Clarke, Aylesbury.

Females sold well with the overall title taken by Leamington Spa, Warwickshire breeders V J and M L Rootes with a 2005-bred ewe from their Freckleton flock. By a Belgian sire, the ewe was third at this year’s Royal Show and her ewe lamb had been a winner at Staffordshire Show. She realised 1150gns to S Russell, Cheltenham.

Dooley Learner, a Belgian-sired shearling ram from David Thornley’s flock at Swadlincote, Derby made 1020gns after standing reserve male champion. He joins the Rootes’ Freckleton flock.

Llwynbrain Lazy, a shearling ewe from S and S Gibbons, Hay-on-Wye made 620gns. By Templand Jupiter she goes to Leominster buyer J T Pritchard.

“An extremely good sale with an enthusiastic crowd keen to buy sheep and some lively bidding for females,” commented McCartneys auctioneer Clive Roads.

Averages: 38 shearling rams £380; 13 ram lambs £253; 23 shearling ewes £405 and two ewe lambs £567. (McCartneys).