New record of 13,000gns set for Blue Texel breed at Carlisle

A new record was set for the Blue Texel breed when a ewe from Steve and Sara Gibbons’ Brecon-based Whatmore flock went under the hammer for 13,000gns at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, on the weekend (27 September).

Record breaker was the one crop ewe Whatmore Vaneer, sired by the 2013 Royal Welsh Show breed champion Whatmore Siren, and out of the Whatmore Reg daughter Whatmore Topaz.

She took the female and supreme championships under judge Rhys Cooke, Nantyderi Texels, Abergavenny.

After fierce bidding she sold to P Tippetts and C Williams, Shifnal, Shropshire. The Gibbons’ shattered the previous breed record of 5,500gns set by their ram lamb Whatmore Woodpecker in 2013.

Next best at 2,800gns was a second prize ewe lamb from the Blue Stone flock of Nina Smith, Ledbury, and Herefordshire. Sired by a Blue Stone ram she is out of the Milliside sired daughter Millenium Hetty. Buyer was S McGuinness, Eglington, Co Londonderry.

Judge Mr Cooke paid 1,800gns for the first prize ewe lamb and reserve female champion from the Pistyll flock of GA and HM Francis, Abergorlech, Carmarthen. Sired by Turbo Wonder Boy she is out of a Pen-Y-Bec dam.

Males

Topping the ram section at 1,600gns was the male champion and reserve overall ram lamb from the Pistyll consignment. Again, sired by Turbo Blue Wonder Boy this one was out of a homebred dam by a Beili Blues Dutch imported ram. Buyer was CB Parsons, Sutton on Trent, Nottinghamshire.

Heading to Gwynedd with M Jones was a third prize, aged ram from the Turbo flock of Jan Rodenburg, Llandysul, Ceredigion. This one is out of a Van Milligen Dutch import ewe.

Averages: One ewe, £13,650; three aged rams, £595; 28 shearling gimmers, £564; 22 shearling rams, £562.23; 17 ewe lambs, £823.32; 16 ram lambs, £467.25.

(Harrison and Hetherington)