Charollais ewe subject of record-breaking bid
Charollais ewe subject of record-breaking bid
By Jeremy Hunt
A NEW female record price for Charollais sheep was achieved when a shearling ewe from the Findatie flock made 5000gns at a special sale in Scotland to commemorate the breed societys 21st anniversary.
Findatie Classic is bred from a long line of top winners. Her dam, Findatie Majorette, was female champion at the 1993 Royal Highland Show and her grand-dam topped the breed twice at the same show in 1987 and 1988 as well as taking the Royal Show title in 1988.
Classic, from James and Irene Kinnairds Tayside flock, is by Cairnhill Commander and was scanned in-lamb to Crogham Leader.
Ringside bidding was intensified by a potential buyer over the telephone but the ewe was finally claimed by Huntly, Aberdeenshire-based auctioneer Blair Dufton.
And the money went round when Mr Kinnaird reinvested the bulk of his takings paying 4500gns for a shearling from Dumfries breeder Herbert Kennedys Parkgate flock. This ewe, a show winner by Parkgate High Flyer, had recently topped the ewe section under Mr Kinnaird when he judged the South of Scotland flock competition.
But the Scots did not have it all their own way. Rutland flock owners Mary and Richard Tulloch had entered their well-known show gimmer Rutland Pampero which had won the shearling class at this years Royal Highland, Royal and Three Counties Shows and went on to stand breed champion at the latter.
Pampero, by Netherallan Envoy, was bought by Mr Hazelby for his wifes Felin flock in Carmarthenshire at 2100gns.
Another Commander-sired ewe which had been interbreed champion at this years Lincoln Show for owner Charles Sercombe, Grantham made 2000gns to Russell Grey, Lanark.
A strong consignment of gimmers from Northern Ireland breeders was headed by one from Drew Cowan, Banbridge which made 1300gns to Malcolm Reid, Ballygawley. Mr Reid also paid 1000gns for a ewe from Coventry breeder Malcolm Thomass Wolston flock and sold one of his own ewes at 1200gns to Robert and Maimi Paterson, Dunblane.
The sale, which was held at Drimsynie, was conducted by Willie McCulloch of auctioneers Lawrie and Symington who donated the commission to the York Hill Scanner Appeal at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow.
The total raised for the appeal over the celebration sale weekend was £2300. The 13 gimmers averaged £1930. *