Northern Lights Texel females top 3,300gns at Hilltown

A daughter of Kilcoan Popeye from Henry Gamble and family led the prices at last week’s Northern Lights collective Texel female sale at Hilltown Mart, Northern Ireland, which saw a strong demand resulting in a 92% clearance.

The Gambles led the sale at 3,300gns, with this price paid for a Springwell gimmer. This was GRS 1100442 a gimmer out of a dam by Waen Maraddona and in-lamb to Cornerstone Tin Tin. She sold to Adrian Liggett, Fintona, for the Corbo flock.

Jim Wilson’s Blackstwon flock enjoyed a good following too, taking the next highest call of 2,800gns for an ET bred gimmer, WWB1100168. She is a daughter of Millcomb Powerhouse out of a Mellor Vale Masterpiece dam and was offered in-lamb to Haddo Ringleader. She was knocked down to Richard Reynolds, Ballywalter, for the Killyvolgan flock.

Then making 2,000gns was a Tullagh gimmer by Kelso Oxygen from the Currie family. This one, CJT1100208, is out of a dam by 18,000gns sire Cherryvale Nijinsky and sold in-lamb to Cwmcerrig Topper. Buying her was Thomas Kelly, Ballina, Eire.

The Gambles were back in the money at 1,750gns, taking this money for a Springwell gimmer by the same sire as the sale leader, Derryvore Ranger. This gimmer, GRS1100439, is out of a dam by Rams Lighthouse and sold in-lamb to Cornerstone Tin Tin. This one heads to Scotland with John Sutherland.

At just 50gns less, 1,700gns, was another from the Currie family’s Tullagh draft, a full ET bred sister to the 2000gns Tullagh gimmer. This one, CJT1100224, is in-lamb to Strathbogie Stud. She was taken by Frank McNally, Draperstown, for his Tullybrick flock.

The best of the ewe lambs then sold at 1,600gns, with this being a lamb from Jim Wilson’s Blackstown entry, WWB1200229. She is by Carmavy Striker and is out of a dam by Halley Pathfinder. Buying her was Norman McLeary, Augher.

And at 1,500gns was a gimmer from the same home, WWB1100164. This daughter of homebred sire Blackstown Rambo is out of a Clynnog Joe Tex daughter and sold carrying to Haddo Ringleader. This one was bought by Roland Gallagher, Sligo. After that came a  1400gns call for the best from Austin Shaw’s Fairmount entry, a gimmer by Haddo Ringmaster and out of a dam by Glenside Malibu. This was SAF1100762 and sold to Thomas Kelly in-lamb to BallyCoose Tornado.

The final bid above 1,000gns was a 1,050gns call for another of the Blackstown ewe lambs, WWB1200200. Sired by Blackstown Rocky, she is out of a dam by Milcomb Monarch and sold to John Sutherland.

An embryo pregnancy from Brian Hanthorne’s Mullan flock was eagerly sought after, selling at 850gns. This pregnancy is sired by 4,400gns Mullan Supremacy and out of the flocks 2012 show gimmer, a daughter of Mullan Royal Flush and going back to Loosebeare Imp and Muiresk Forever. This was bought by Philip Crowe, Co Cavan, Eire.

Average; 72 lots £720 (Hilltown Mart).