Thruston Grand Diamond son leads Borderway ram sale at 2,600gns

The long haul north from Devon to Carlisle paid a handsome dividend for Suffolk sheep breeder Ross Lawrence when he topped the Carlisle and Northern Counties Suffolk Sheep Society show and sale at Borderway Mart at 2,600gns with an entry from his Roundacre flock.

His embryo-bred shearling by Thurston Grand Diamond had taken the championship at this event last year as a ram lamb and had continued his run of success this year being unbeaten in several show outings. But while he had to be content with a class win under judge David Inman of Melton Mowbray in the pre-sale show, he had enough supporters around the ring to produce the day’s most competitive spate of bidding.

With a good set of performance figures – and Terminal Index of 1.41 – this stylish shearling has some good Cairness breeding behind him being out of a Cairness Creation sired dam that goes back to Cairness Scot. He topped the trade at 2,600gns selling to M J and R H Wallbank, Settle, North Yorkshire.

Ram lambs lifted their average by £35 to level just short of £600 and it was a ram lamb from local breeder Darren Jones’ Thurston flock at Carlisle that produced the day’s second highest bid of 2,200gns. The single-born ram lamb had stood second in its class and is by Cairness Stirling – a son of Baileys Bacchus – and out of a Thurston Chieftain sired ewe that goes back to Collessie Cut Above. The lamb heads for Aberdeenshire with buyer A M Henderson, Peterhead.

Jimmy Douglas and Humberside-based R M Robinson and Son Ltd joined forces to pay 2,000gns for a ram lamb from Lincolnshire breeders J M Robinson and Son Ltd’s Crusoe flock. This lamb is by Hazeltree Return and out of a ewe bred in the Campbell family’s Thrunton flock sired by Birness Kauto Star.

Mr Henderson was back in the action to secure the reserve male champion at 1,600gns. Consigned by Mark Evans and bred in his Jubilee flock at Keighley, West Yorkshire, this ram lamb is by Strathisla King of Kings that was bought for 9000gns at the breed’s main sale at Stirling last year. He’s out of a ewe by Strathisla Shirocco.

Forkins Figo is proving a successful sire and it was another of his sons that impressed judge David Inman enough for him to award it the supreme championship. Bred in William Borthwick’s Ballochmyle flock at Mauchline, Ayrshire the lamb has a Terminal Index of 1.43 and is out of a ewe by Glenhead Golden Wonder that goes back to Laurelbank Dexter. And Mr Inman conclusively confirmed his championship choice when he made a winning bid of 1,500gns to secure him for his Lindum flock.

Best for Dumfriesshire breeder Tom Fitzsimon was a ram lamb from his Sunnyhills flock that made 1,150gns. Claimed by Northumberland breeders Messrs Clark from Morpeth, this ram lamb is by Burnview Mr Brightside and out of a ewe by Rookery Revenge.

Leading the females at 1,000gns was a shearling gimmer from Scott and Gavin Brown’s Capielaw flock at Gorebridge, Midlothian. This twin-born daughter of Pennan Finale – whose first pen of five lambs sold at Kelso last year averaged £805 – is from one of the flock’s most successful families and goes back to Stockton Smooth Operator. The gimmer is out of a dam by Howeburn Captain. She heads back to Midlothian with buyers J B Pate and Sons.

Ripon, North Yorkshire vendor P Lupton sold a gimmer from his Kexbeck flock at 700gns. Bound for Ardudwy, Gwynedd with buyer Aled Shenton, she is by Rookery CK One and out of a ewe by Westcarse Wallace. Another from the same pen and by the same sire also made 700gns to A and J Riley, Carlisle.

Averages: 13 shearling gimmers £532 and 14 ewe lambs £274; 19 shearling rams £672 and 87 ram lambs £596.

(Harrison and Hetherington)