Texels at Worcester sell to 7800gns

Texel buyers were ready to spend on the best on offer at the breed’s English National show and sale at Worcester this week and paid a top price of 7800gns – but the trade was selective with around 50% of rams sold.

Two well known names from the north and south joined forces to secure the most fancied shearling ram when Bill Quick and Sons from Devon and Jim Goldie from Dumfries paid 7800gns for Peacehay Masterpiece.

Consigned by Frank Henry Chave and Son, Wellington, Somerset he was breed champion and stood reserve for the inter-breed title at this year’s Royal Show. His sire, Lyonshall King of Clubs, was champion at the Royal Show in 2006. Masterpiece – an ARR/ARR tup – is out of a Douganhill Ferrari sired ewe.

Masterpiece was way ahead on price in the shearling section – the next highest was 1650gns paid by R Fitton, Bolton, Lancashire for a tup from Mrs A Nairey’s Meinspride flock at Blackburn that was champion at the Cheshire Show.But there was a more sustained demand among the ram lambs with new buyers Trinidad Investments, West Sussex giving most with a 7500gns call for the reserve champion Claybury Nightrider from the Draper family’s flock in Shropshire. He is by Claybury Millreef and from a family that has bred tups to 14,000gns.

Fellow Shropshire breeder Stephen Williams gave 6500gns for Bill Quick’s Loosebeare Number One – a son of Loosebeare Knight Rider and another much admired entry bred from a Douganhill Ferrari sired dam.

Clive Ponting, Faringdon, Oxon claimed the champion Garngour Notorious at 5200gns. He was consigned by the Clark family from Lesmahagow and is by Tamnamoney Lynbrook while his dam was inter-breed champion at Kilbride Show this summer.

The female champion – also claimed by Trinidad Investments – realised 1900gns. By Glenside Lumberjack, she was from the Peacehay flock’s pen.

Averages: 49 shearling ewes £491; 131 ram lambs £648 and 40 shearling rams £695. (McCartneys).