Welsh Texels hit 12,000gns

Despite the weather which kept many commercial buyers at home on the delayed harvest, pedigree Texel buyers were out in force supporting the Welsh National Sale of Texels.

Cefin Pryce from Welshpool achieved the top price of 12,000 gns with his shearling ram Caereinion Number One which took a first at this year’s Royal Welsh Show and was placed reserve champion in the pre sale show judged by Irishman Alistair Gant.

Sired by Douganhill Landmark out of a homebred ewe by Cambwell Governer 2 it was purchased in a four-way split by Danny Creer, Ballaglonney, Isle of Man together with Robert Laird, Cambwell and Stephen Phillips, Phenjai with Cefin Pryce retaining quarter share.

Topping Robert Laird’s strong pen of five ram lambs to average 2,425gns, was a fisrt prize lamb at 5500gns sired by Cambwell Laird. Purchasers were D J J Watkins and Co for their Cwmcerrig Flock. At 2700gns Marlsbrough Farms, Haverfordwest, secured another Cambwell Laird son and Colin Ponting paid 2600gns for another.

The champion ram lamb came from the Claybury flock of James and Hannah Draper. Sired by Castlecairn Keltic Star out of a Muiresk Forever Dam, it sold for 2500gns to W and A Jones’ Divlyn flock, Llandovery.

The Tynewydd flock of Deri Morgan which was the top flock in Wales in 2007 produced the champion female. This Haddo Lucky Strike daughter out of ewe by Lyonshall Irish goes back to Glenside Drum Major, selling at 850gns to John Forsyth, Glenside.

Averages: 30 ewes £264; 24 shearling rams £1142.33; 44 ram lambs £781.18 (Clee, Tompkinson and Francis).