Sale Reports 2006

FOSTER TEXEL TOPPER IN OMAGH

Castlederg breeder John Foster swept the boards at the NI Texel Club’s Omagh Show and Sale on Thursday October 5th 2006, taking top prizes and prices!

Judge Phillip Hammond of Cookstown awarded the Smyth Daleside Feeds Championship to John’s shearling ram, which then topped the sale at 820gns. From the ram lamb class John Foster produced the reserve overall champion sold for 480gns at an event where all, but four of the rams presented were sold before a packed ringside.

Shearling ram results and prices; J D Hazelton, Dungaoon, second prize, 400gns, Murray Annett, Rathfriland, sixth, 350gns, David McCabe, Antrim, 220gns, 210gns, A & J Young, Castlederg, 260gns, Barclay Bell & Sons, Rathfriland, third, 220gns, 420gns, John Foster, 820gns, 400gns, 520gns, 380gns, 320gns, L Young, Castlederg, fifth, 300gns, Alan Elliott, Cookstown, fourth, 340gns, 300gns, Herb Magowan, Rathfriland, 280gns.

Ram lamb results and prices; Ernest Hogg, Fermanagh, fifth, 350gns, B Bell & Sons, 200gns, 180gns, WJ & J Wilson, Crumlin, third, 350gns, 300gns, 220gns, Adrian Liggett, Fintona, sixth, 270gns, 240gns, P Hammond, 220gns, Norman Reid, Ballygawley, second, 350gns, J Foster, 480gns, 320gns, 350gns, 280gns, John McBride, Toome, fourth, 460gns, 290gns, 400gns, John McFall, Ballymena, 220gns.

TRIUMPHANT TEXELS T0 500GNS AT LISAHALLY
Lisahally mart, on the banks of the River Foyle downstream from Londonderry, hosted its best ever annual Texel Club Show and Sale on Thursday evening, September 21st 2006.

Two ram lambs made the top price of 500gns a piece for Gary Henderson, Bushmills and Cyril & Martin Millar, Coleraine. Other leading ram lamb prices included Stanley & Martin Warnock, Limavady, 320gns, Anthony McCloskey, Garvagh, 305gns, Victor Chestnutt, Bushmills, 290gns and Des Tosh, Limavady, 235gns.

In the shearling rams best bid of the day, 500gns, was accepted by Chris & Martin Mullan, who also sold fast at 430gns and 420gns. Equally pleased was Patricia McDevitt, Limavady, who sold for 480gns, 420gns, 410gns and 370gns.

Another happy lady vendor was Leona Young from Castlederg when her ram lamb made 250gns. Roger and Barbara Strawbridge sold three ram lambs for 360gns, 300gns and 230gns. John Foster, Castlederg 300gns and Anthony McCloskey. 220gns.

Sponsored by Fort Dodge Animal Health the Cydectin Championship went to Chris and Martin Mullan from Drumsurn for their shearling ewe. The reserve Cydectin Champion was a ram lamb shown by Stanley and Martin Warnock, Limavady. Prizes were presented by Des Ferguson, Fort Dodge Animal Health, following judging by Adrian Liggett. Auctioneer Alex Gourley & Sons Ltd, Derry & Limavady.

MULLAN MONEY SPINNER 6,000 GNS TEXEL TOPPER

Brian Hanthorn of Tynan topped the Northern Ireland Texel Club Main Show and Sale in Dungannon on Saturday, September 9th 2006, when his aptly named ram lamb Mullan Money Spinner sold for 6000gns.

Bought by a consortium of four breeders, D A & N Simpson, Cornerstone, Ballyclare, David Warwick, Braehead, Ballymena, Alec & John Minnis, Mossvale, Comber and W & S Mackey, Dunore, Aldergrove this ARR ARR ram lamb attracted bidding from several other noted flock masters, including WJ & J Wilson, Blackstown, Crumlin.

However, a visit to Brian Hanthorn’s Mullan Flock at Abbey Lodge, Tynan earlier in the year had left the successful foursome with a determination to acquire this ram from a very good Ballydonaghy Flashy Boy daughter, which has already produced sons sold for 1200gns and daughters making up to 800gns.

A spokesman for the successful bidders described this ram lamb as having great character and being very correct in every way. It is also clear they sought a new blood line in a ram sired by Annan Jewel, a Tapanui Indigo son.

With buyers from North Wales and the Irish Republic also in buying mode the Northern Ireland Texel Club’s main sale proved more buoyant than expected at a time of declining commercial ewe numbers. Some suggesting more progressive commercial flock owners, especially those selling through lamb groups, are starting to look for figures to back what the eye can see when narrowing their choice of ram to bid on.

The judge, Ronnie Edwards, from Ramelton, Co Donegal in the Irish Republic awarded the Cydectin Championship to a shearling ewe from the Duvarren Flock of John W Watson, Annacloy, Co Down. A decision with which James Smyth, Forthill, Banbridge clearly agreed as he paid 1300gns for this gimmer sired by Tamnamoney King of the Mountain.

Over all the results were as follows;
Cydectin Champion, Laymore Cup winner; and female champion, John W Watson, Reserve Cydectin Champion and male champion, Greenmount College’s Rams Major, a recorded ram lamb with an index of 222. This Hillhead Kevin son is out of a Rams Flashman ewe and made 800gns paid by Ian Martin, Rathfriland.

However the reserve female champion made 2200gns from G Fleck, Ballymena for over all sale topper Brian Hanthorn. This is a gimmer by Loosebeare Imp out of a dam by Muiresk Forever.

Robin Kennedy, Maineview, Ballymena produced the reserve male champion, a Cornerstone Jethro son sold at 580gns to Ian Olphert, Bushmills.

Ronnie Edwards, Donegal judging	Supreme Champion from John Watson's Duvarren flock
Rams Major exhibited by David Jones was the Reserve Supreme Champion	Maineview Majestic exhibited by Andrew Kennedy
Breague Legacy the top Shearling Ram

Class Results
Shearling Ewe 1. John W Watson 2. B Hanthorn 3. Mary Clarke, Ballyrussell, Belfast 4. Robert Ervine, Millburn, Banbridge, 5. Roger Strawbridge, Tamnamoney, Coleraine, 6. M & J Watson, Hillhead, Dundonald.

Shearling ram 1. John & Sandra Middleton, Hollywell, Londonderry, 2.John Watson 3. A & J Minnis 4. Murray Annett, Milestonehill, Rathfriland 5. Mary Clarke.

Open Ram Lamb 1. Robin Kennedy, 2. John Currie, Tullagh, Ballymena 3. Henry Gamble, Springwell, Bangor, Co Down 4. Austin Shaw, Fairmount, Larne, 5. Graeme Martin, Burnside, Broughshane 6. Roger Strawbridge, Tamnamoney, Coleraine 7. Robt Boyd, Sheepbridge, Newry 8. Maurice Coburn, Cappagh Mills, Banbridge.

Recorded Ram lamb 1. Greenmount College, RAMS, Antrim 2. A & J Minnis, Mossvale, Comber 3. Henry Gamble 4. D Chestnutt, Bushmills

PRICES
Ram lambs; WJ & K Wilson 340gns to F Hutchinson, Ballygowan, Melvyn Annett, Kilkeel 260gns to Ivor Skillen, Ballymartin, D McElroy, Dromore, Co Down 220gns to Sean Murray,
J Ferguson & Sons, Comber 500gns to Ann Murphy, Gorey, Co Wexford, ROI, John Currie 450gns to J H Thomas, Bryn Garth, Anglesey, Wales, 300gns to Emmet McCabe. Blaney, Co Fermanagh, Barclay Bell, Rathfriland, 340gns from Gareth Oliver, Tregarth, Wales. Robt Mulligan, Banbridge, 200gns to Robt Ervine, Banbridge, H Gamble 520 gns paid by Ivor Skillen, 320gns by Liam McPollin, Mayobridge, Victor Chestnutt 300gns paid by R Allison, Limavady,

The Greenmount College RAMS Flock enjoyed a complete pen clearance of recorded lambs at 300gns to G Lynch, Claudy, 800gns to Ian Martin, Rathfriland, 300gns to W A Speer, Castlederg and 240gns to Alex Ferguson, Aughancloy, a regular Texel tup buyer at Dungannon.

P Girvan, Warrenpoint sold at 580gns to J M McDermott, Omagh, Norman Reid, Omagh made 210gns, sold to Gareth Sloan, Ballygawley, and 300gns from Gary Sproule, Castlederg. P Hammond, 210gns bid by Noel Doherty, Castlederg, 400gns paid by P Millar, Dungiven, N & D Hamill, Crumlin, 210gns, paid by S & J Kerr, Moira. Robin Kennedy, 580gns from Ian Olphert. B Hanthorn 6000gns, Edna Corbett, Banbridge, 380gns, bid by Gary Sproule, Graeme Maybin, Ballymena, 380gns from M McNeal, Emyvale, Co Monaghan, ROI. K & L Beacom, Newtownards, 200gns paid by John McNamee, Draperstown, A Haw, Larne 260gns from G Sloan, 200gns from Eric Spiers, S & M Warnock, Limavady, 200gns from Alec Ferguson, twice, Gary Henderson, Bushmills, 480gns, from C Lynch, Claudy,

Des Tosh, Limavady 200gns from W Martin, Kilcoo, Maurice Coburn 320gns, from Robin Kennedy, H & R Wilson, Newtowncrommelin, 300gns from Gareth Oliver, Wales, Evan Allan, Richhill 240gns from Mary Clarke.

Shearling rams; Evan Allan 300gns from B McAllister, Kells, who also paid 200gns to H & R Wilson. J & S Middleton, Londonderry, 580gns from Ivor Skillen, Robt Boyd sold at 280gns to Derek McFarland, Omagh, 240gns to Jas O’Connor, Limavady and 280gns to Jim McShane, Newtown Stewart.

Warrenpoint breeder Eoghan McAnulty sold at 460gns to George Megarry, Quigley Point, Co Donegal, ROI. John Trimble, Newry, 300gns to B McAllister, P Garrivan, Warrenpoint 220gns to B McAllister, John Watson 500gns to K Telford, Fintona, Murray Annett, Rathfriland at 400gns to B Stanley, Downpatrick, 240gns to Raymond Warrington, Newtowngore, Co Leitrim, ROI.

J Watson 500gns to Raymond Boden, Newtownstewart, Ivor Skillen to J M McDermott, Omagh, 450gns, 500gns to Jas McCloskery, Claudy, 320gns to P Devine, Omagh and 380gns paid by Cormac Dooley, Jerretspass.
John Foster, Castlederg sold at 360 gns and 280gns to J Cambridge, Balllycastle and for 300gns to C McCarney, Dromore, Co Tyrone Alan Elliott, Cookstown, 400gns to J Graham, Bellevue, Enniskillen. Mary Clarke 460gns to Ian Olphert. D & M Tumelty, Downpatrick 200gns paid by John McFarland, Omagh, W H D McCabe, Muckamore 260gns to B McAllister, 220gns to K Tubman, Maguiresbridge.

M & J Watson 260gns to J Graham, 300gns to Ronnie Black, Moneymore, Jonathan Hazelton, Dungannon 280gns to Seamus Gormley, Omagh, who then paid 370gns for a shearling tup from A & J Minnis. And 260gns to W & S Mackey. Mrs Cynthia Aiken accepted 400gns from S McCullough, Banbridge.

Shearling ewes; Mary Clarke, 500gns from A Martin, Belfast, M & J Watson, 200gns paid by J Trimble, 260gns from S Leeman, Limavady, M Annett, 200gns rom A Montague, Omagh,

John Watson, 1300gns from Jas Smyth, Banbridge, R Strawbridge, 300gns paid by J Ferguson, Comber, 280gns from A McCartney, Cloughmills, 220gns bid by Mark Irwin, Ballymena, B Hanthorn 900gns from A McCartney, Cloughmills, 450gns paid by G Fleck, Ballymena and 2200gns from S Murray, H Gamble, 210gns from A Cassidy, Enniskillen, N & D Hamill 200gns from S Keenan, Enniskillen, 240gns paid by Mark Irwin, Newry,

BALLYMENA TRUMPS FOR TEXELS
Ballymena Mart with its ease of access and modern facilities came up trumps for Texel breeders on Saturday 2nd September 2006 when over 200 quality sheep sold in a brisk trade.

“The support from vendors and buyers from as far distant as Fermanagh, Newry and Castlederg proves that a good mart, with good road access, does the business,” veteran auctioneer Tom Symington commented. “Once a farmer is on the road he will drive an extra 15 minutes to a modern venue with decent numbers of stock forward.

Judge Frank Morrison from Downpatrick awarded the Growvite championship to a ram lamb from W & S Mackey, Aldergrove with Mary Clarke of Belfast taking the reserve champion’s rosette for an eye catching shearling ram.

Mary also exhibited the first prized ewe with R & J Currie winning the important MLC recorded ram lamb class. Sponsored by Tullyvin Growvite the Ballymena NI Texel Club event was organised by voluntary convenors Robin Kennedy, Nigel Ross and Maura Hill.

Stuart Mackey from Aldergrove headed north with this impressive ram lamb to take the Growvite championship. John Gribben, left, from sponsors Tullyvin Growvite presented the awards watched by judge Frank Morrison from Downpatrick.

A smiling Mary Clarke with her Growvite Reserve Champion. John Gribbin, left, from sponsors Tullyvin Growvite made the prize presentations watched by auctioneer Graham Loughry, right.

SHEARLINGS
Shearling rams sold at the Ballymena Growvite Show and Sale to 650gns received by Austin Shaw, Larne, who sold another for 350gns.

Other leading shearling tups were away as follows;
Mary Clarke, Belfast, 520gns for her Growvite Reserve Champion, A & J Minnis, Comber, 520gns, John Trimble, Newry, 500gns, Wilson Kennedy MRCVS, Ballyclare, 480gns, Al Gault, Newtownabbey, 470gns, Murray Annett, Rathfriland, 460gns, 360gns. Martin Cromie, Banbridge, 460gns, M & J Watson, Dundonald, 420gns, 380gns, 340gns. Jim Wilson, Crumlin, 400gns, Nigel Ross, Larne, 400gns, D McCabe, Muckamore, 380gns, Sam Chesney, Kircubbin, 380gns, John McBride, Toome, 380gns, Mervyn McKinney, Maghera, 360gns, Alex Thompson, Islandmagee, 360gns, Phillip, Whyte, Ballymena, 360gns, Simpson & Calvin, Ballymoney, 350gns, Phillip Hammond, Cookstown, 320gns, 280gns, Chris Mullan, Drumsurn, 320gns, Malachy Morgan, Kilcoo, 320gns. Robt Mulligan, Banbridge, 310gns, A McCartney, Cloughmills, 300gns, Leona Young, Castlederg, 300gns, Graham Martin, Broughshane, 280gns, W & S Mackey, Aldergrove, 270gns, T Rea, Glenarm, 260gns.

LAMBS
Newtowncrommelin breeder Hamilton Wilson had the top ram lamb price of 620gns, amongst the other leading prices in a sale described by auctioneer Tom Symington as ‘excellent despite difficult times for many elsewhere in the pedigree sheep business’ were;

John Currie, Ballymena, 520gns, 460gns, Austin Shaw, Larne, 430gns, John Watson, Annacloy, 420gns, Richard Currie, Ballymena, 420gns, Jim Wilson, Crumlin, 420gns, 280gns, 280gns, Robt Mulligan, 380gns, Henry Gamble, Bangor, 380gns, 280gns, W & S Mackey, Aldergrove, 350gns, Emma Shaw, Larne, 350gns, Irene Brown, Antrim, 320gns, Adrian Liggett, Fintona, 320gns, Nigel Ross, Larne, 310gns, Graham Martin, Broughshane, 300gns, Chris Mullan, Drumsurn, 300gns, M & C Millar, Coleraine, 290gns, Victor Chestnutt, Bushmills, 280gns, Sharon Bothwell, Maguiresbridge, 280gns, C McAuley, Antrim, 280gns, John Watson, Annacloy, 280gns, John McFall, Ballymena, 280gns, Wilson Kennedy MRCVS, Ballyclare, 280gns, Alex Thompson, Islandmagee, 270gns, Al Gault, Newtownabbey, 260gns, V Chesnutt, 260gns, P Hammond, Cookstown, 260gns, Emma Shaw, 260gns.

EWES
Mary Clarke of Belfast topped the shearling ewe prices with 400gns twice at the Ballymena Growvite Texel Show and Sale. One of these sale toppers being first in class as judged by Frank Morrison, Downpatrick Others home happy with the female trade included, M & J Watson, 380gns, Jonathan Kerr, 230gns, Paddy Kinney, Crumlin, 220gns, K McAfee, Aghadowey, 200gns.

SAINTFIELD SALE
Edna Corbett took the Cydectin Championship at the Saintfield Texel Shearling Sale on Tuesday evening, August 8th 2006 with a Ballynahone son bought by Alan Watt for 380gns.

Champion with judge Robert Calvin, left, with Des Ferguson from sponsors Fort Dodge Animal Health

Mrs Corbett’s Fedney, Banbridge based Laganbann Flock also producing the first placed shearling ewe, a Hatcliffe Kendal daughter sold for 250gns.

However top price of the night from a packed ringside was 740gns paid by Frankie Reid for the seventh placed shearling ram from Murray Annett, Miletstonehill, Rathfriland.

The first placed shearling ewe with, from left, judge Robert Calvin, Stephen Adair, Richard Corbett and Des Ferguson from Fort Dodge Animal Health

Overall results were as follows;
Cydectin Champion, Edna Corbett
reserve champion, John Foster, Springhill, Castlederg.

Shearling ram class
1. E Corbett
2. J Foster
3. W J & B Wilson, Blackstown, Crumlin.

Shearling ewe class
1. E Corbett
2. John Watson, Duvarren, Annacloy
3. Mary Clarke, Ballyrussell, Belfast.

Sponsored by Fort Dodge Animal Health the NI Texel Club show and sale at Saintfield Livestock Mart was judged by Robert Calvin, Ballymoney, who described Mrs Corbett’s ram as ‘well balanced.’

Auctioneer Geoffrey Murphy conducted a fast moving sale with bidding brisk for those sheep suited to today’s farming free from ewe premia distortions.

Typical prices included; R & I Edwards, Carrowdore 200gns from Jack Davidson, WJ & J Wilson 240gns paid by John Bassett, Mary Clarke accepted 240gns from Ian Robinson for a Seneirl JR son.

Regular Saintfield success story John Foster made the trek from Castlederg worthwhile with shearling rams sold at 410gns, 400gns and 250gns. Sale topper Murray Annett enjoying a complete pen clearance at 740gns, 400gns, 380gns to William King and another at 380gns to Ivan Killen.

Moneyreagh breeders Marshall and Sarah Riley taking 410gns from Roger Stevens for a Fairmount Kentucky son out of their best Tullyhubbert ewe and selling a second shearling ram, a Hatcliffe Kaiser son, at 310gns. John Watson, 210gns, Ivor Skillen, Kilkeel, 370gns, 300gns to John Reid, 300gns, 280gns, 270gns and 220gns.

Alan Elliott, Cookstown, sold a half Dutch Texel for 340gns to Ian Robinson followed into the ring by John Trimble, Rathfriland, who sold at 410gns to Roger Stevens with a fifth placed tup making 310gns. The sixth placed Kildarton ram from Evan Allen, Richhill fetching 280gns. Two aged rams from Ivor Skillen sold fast for 400gns and 310gns.