Lanark Texels sell to 70,000gns

Texel ram lambs were in exceptional demand at the Scottish National Texel Sale, Lanark, selling to a high of 70,000gns, with more than 78% of the entry finding new homes.

Heading trade at 70,000gns was Knock Will I Am from Albert and George Howie, Peterhead, Aberdeenshire. This son of the 13,000gns sire Garngour Vintage is out of a dam by Tophill Nockout and carries an index of 280.

After a spirited bidding war he was knocked down to Charlie Boden for the Sportsmans and Mellor Vale flocks, Cheshire.

Two lambs shared the next best call of 32,000gns. The first of these was Tophill Wall Street from David Houghton, Bury, Lancashire. This son of Procters Ventura is out of a dam by Milnbank Times Square and sold with an index of 302. He was knocked down in a two-way split to Messrs Knox, Haddo, and Buchan, Clinterty, both Aberdeenshire.

The other to make this money was Donald and Sarah MacPherson’s sole entry in the sale, Hexel Wildcard, from a son of Drumpark Unique out of a dam by the noted Douganhill McFly. He was bought by a team of four breeders; Andrew Neilson, Brackenridge, Richard Wilson, Eden Valley, Peter Woof, Stainton and Spiros Spyrou, Gib Farm.

The Knox family recouped some outlay when selling Haddo Wait-A-Minty for 24,000gns. This lamb is a son of Cowal Vogue and out of a dam by Strathbogie Smokey Blue. He sold with an index of 421 and was bought by Messrs Teward, Staindrop, Darlington.

Also selling for 24,000gns was Glenside Willie Winkie from John Forsyth’s pen, from Maybole, Ayrshire. This son of the 85,000gns Cornmore Velvet Jacket is out of a dam by Mellor Vale The One and carries an index of 258. He sold to Keith, Alan and Roy Campbell, Cowal, Alan Blackwood, Auldhouseburn, and Messrs Barclay, Harestone.

Selling for 19,000gns was Graham Morrison’s lead lamb, Deveronvale Warrior, Banff, Aberdeenshire. This son of the 52,000gns Mullan Vivaldi is out of a dam by Glenside Razzle Dazzle and sold to the Ingram family, Logie Durno, Messrs Wight, Midlock, and Messrs Gilmour, Humeston.

A brace then shared the next best call of 16,000gns, with the first of these being Farmhill Wizz Kid from Northern Irish breeder Brian Williamson. Sired by Springwell Viera and out of a Knock Travis daughter he sold to a trio of breeders; Gordon Gray, Ettrick, Archie Hamilton, Smyllum, and Robert Cockburn, Knap.

John Forsyth then sold another of his strong pen at the same money, with this being Glenside Willy Nilly. This one is another by the 85,000gns Cornmore Velvet Jacket and is out of a Strathbogie Terminator dam. He sold to Robbie Wilson, Milnbank.

Another from the same home then went at 15,000gns. This was Glenside Whiskey Galore, another by Velvet Jacket and out of a dam by Strathbogie Python. Successful bidder was Procters Farm, Clitheroe, for the Procters flock.

And two then took a 14,000gns call, with the first being Duncryne Wladimir from Kerr Jarvie, Muthill, Perth and Kinross. This son of Stainton Vigilante is out of a dam by Ettrick Strongbow and sold to Keith, Alan and Roy Campbell, Argyll, for the Cowal flock.

Also trading at this level was the Knap Vital Spark son Millar’s Windbrook from Cyril and Martin Millar, Coleraine, Londonderry. He sold to Messrs Innes, Strathbogie.

Following that came two lambs at 8,000gns, with the first of these being Arkle War Lord from the Wilkinson family, Aspatria, Cumbria. This son of Halbeath VIP sold to Messrs Sutherland.

The second to trade at this level was Robbie Wilson’s best of the day, the reserve male champion Milnbank Wisconsin. He’s by the 42,000gns Glenside Valhalla and was bought by the Dunlop family, Elmscleugh.

Gimmer shearlings

A feverish desire for females saw two shearling gimmers make 7,500gns.

First to make the money was Robbie Wilson’s reserve female champion from the pre-sale show LYM1401335, a Strathbogie Terminator daughter, out of a Glenside Razzle Dazzle daughter. She sold to Michael Mennie, Turriff.

Second at this was the Springwell gimmer from Henry Gamble, a daughter of Bradleys Underworld. This one was GRS1401520 and is out of a dam by Derryvore Ranger and sold to Archie Hamilton, Smyllum.

Then making 7,000gns was James Robinson’s fourth prize gimmer from the pre-sale show. This was RBO1400025, an ET bred Baltier Thunderbird daughter out of a dam by Garngour Onyx. This one sold to Paul Tippetts, Shifnal, Shropshire.

Averages: 384 ram lambs, £2313.64; 65 gimmers, £1,348.04.

(Lawrie and Symington).