Texels reach 6,000gns at Ballymena
A robust commercial demand for well fleshed, well grown Texel rams was the driving force behind the trade at the Northern Irish National Texel Sale, Ballymena, yesterday.
Leading the trade was a bid of 6,000gns for Murray Annett’s pen leader from his Milestonehill flock. This was Milestonehill Utah Jazz a son of Ballygroogan Ronaldo out of a dam by Tullagh Legend, which sold to Ian and Alistair Smith for their Feddal Road flock, Greenloaning, Perthshire, with Mr Annett retaining a third share.
Following that at the day’s second best call was a bid of 3,400gns for Gareth Fyffe’s Botera Unstoppable. This lamb is by Knock Papoose and out of a dam by Millcomb Monarch and was knocked down to James Young, Castlederg, Co Tyrone.
Alastair Gault then continued his run of form from the previous evening’s gimmer sale, taking 2,800gns for his pen leader, Forkins Forkins U Beauty, a son of 21,000gns sire Knock Travis out of a Douganhill McFly dam which is also dam of Alastair’s 11,000gns gimmer from 2011. Taking him home was John Gilmour for the Humeston flock, Ayrshire.
Making the same money was Mary Clarke’s best lamb of the day Ballyrussell Ukka. This one is sired by homebred tup Ballyrussell Storm and is out of a Maineview Pledge-sired dam. He sold to The Beacom family, Ballywater, Co Down.
Society vice-chairman Henry Gamble then sold his best at 2,600gns, taking this money for Springwell Ustinoff. He is by Springwell Triathlon and out of a Teiglum Outlaw daughter. Buying this lamb was a four way syndicate of Adrian Liggett, James Wilson, John Foster and Brian Williamson.
And a brace also sold at 2,100gns, with both of these coming from John Trimble’s Curley pen. Mr Trimble’s first at this money was Curley Uproar, a son of Mossknowe Pudsey out of dam by Mellor Vale Masterpiece. This one sold to W J Cubitt, Ballymena.
Second at 2,100gns was male champion from the pre-sale show, Curley United, a Strathbogie Smokey Blue son out of a dam by Kelso Oxygen. He found a new home with B Kirkham, Navan, Co Meath.
Two lambs then sold at 1,900gns, with the first to make this price being John Foster’s Springhill Upwell. Sired by Langlands Samson he is out of a Blackstown Milo-sired dam and sold to Brian Dooher, Strabane, Co Tyrone.
The other at this price was Andrew Fyffe’s first lamb of the day from the Fairywater flock, Fairywater Ultra. Sired by Kelso Pavarotti he is out of a dam by Monalto Lucky Boy and is from the same family as the reserve champion from last year’s Ballymena sale. This one sold to Josephine Burns, Rathfriland, Co Down.
A total of four ram lambs then shared a price tag of 1,800gns, with the first of these coming from the Warnock family’s Straidarran flock. This was Straidarran Ulysses, a son of Knock Travis out of a dam by Duncryne Ringmaster. He was knocked down to Pauric Farragher, Donegal, Co Donegal.
Second to make this price was the first from the Springhill pen of John Foster, Springhill Unstoppable. He is sired by Langlands Samson and is out of a dam by Ballynadrenta Nicefella. This one was bought by J Kerr, Comber, Co Down.
And another from the same vendor also sold at this money, with this being Springhill Utopia, a twin bron son of Samson out of a dam by Crawfordlands Outlook. He went to McKinney Bros, Maghera, Co Londonderry.
The final lamb at 1,800gns was Owen Donohoe’s Derryvore Unbelievable. This son of Crailloch Trigger is out of a dam by Cherryvale Nijinksy and sold to Mary Clarke, Massey Avenue, Belfast.
Another of Gareth Fyffe’s lambs then made 1700gns with this being Botera Universal, a full ET brother to the 3,400gns Botera Unstoppable. He was bought by John Foster, Castlederg, Co Tyrone and James Wilson, Crumlin, Co Antrim.
Then at 1,650gns was David and James Boyd’s lamb from the Crawfordsland flock. He is sired by Beechvale Superior and out of a dam by Kerryhill Revelry. Taking him home was Ian Millar, Ballyclare, Co Antrim.
Paul O’Connor then sold his reserve male champion at 1,600gns, with this being Drumgooland Unleased. He is sired by 5000gns sire Braehead the Real McCoy and is out of a dam by Clougher Physical. Buying him was P Niland, Kinvara, Co Galway.
At 1,550gns was Ballyhivistock Unique from Messrs Simpson and Calvin, with this son of Hull House Schnapps being out of a dam by Redford Ollie and selling to G MacFarland, Trillick, Co Tyrone.
Selling away at 1,500gns was Nathan Armstrong’s lamb, the first of day, Derryhoney Unbeatable. Sired by Glenside Razzle Dazzle he is out of a dam by Ballynahone Rissoto and was bought by John Foster.
Making the same price was Tamnamoney Upton from Roger Strawbridge. He’s by Knock Travis and out of a dam by Ballynahone Oscar. This one headed home with Michael Tumelty, Downpatrick, Co Down.
Averages; 175 ram lambs £723.78, 105 shearling rams £578.80