Northern Ireland Texel Sheep Breeders Club

Strong Texel Trade Continues

NI Texel Club members enjoyed the success of the breed at their Main Sale in Enniskillen Mart with a dozen sheep over the 700 guinea mark and average prices slightly up on the same sale last year.

The new venue for the sale, which boasts the largest entry of sheep at Club sales, didn’t deter buyers as they travelled to ensure they got the pick of the crop. Topping the Sale at £1630 was the Farmcare Products Reserve Champion, a ram lamb shown by Rodger & Barbara Strawbridge, Tamnamoney. Following on his heels in this price bracket was a Douganhill McFly son which sold for £1420 from the pen of Pat Garrivan, Warrenpoint. The Hanthorn family from Tynan also had a successful day with a Ballynahone Oscar son realising £1450, while his pen mate a Tima Rob Roy son sold to £1210.

John Foster, Springhill with his Overall Champion at the Texel Main sale, also included are John Stewart, judge and Ian Crawford, Farmcare Products, sponsors of the event.

In the Show ring John Foster’s Springhill flock took the honours, as judge John Stewart, Ramelton, picked his first placed shearling, a Cambwell Laird son bred by K Cassidy, as his Farmcare Products Champion. This super shearling later sold to £1050.

Denis Taylor, handler of the Reserve Champion, with breeder Rodger Strawbridge, judge John Stewart and sponsor, Ian Crawford, farmcare Products

Standing second in the shearling class was a Duvarren One to Watch son from the Duvarren flock of John & Dera Watson, while third place went to brother Michael Watson for a Durvarren Nicon son, Hillhead Royce.

John Stewart, Judge and Ian Crawford, Sponser, Farmcare, congratulate George and Brian Hanthorn on winning the gimmer class at The NI Texel Club Main Sale, Enniskillen

In the Ram Class John Stewart selected a Strathbogie Python son from the Fairywater flock of Andrew Fyffe as his second place to the Tamnamoney lamb with Mullan Sumo from the Hanthorn Family in third.

James Adams with the first prize winner in the Young Breeders Class with John Stewart, Judge and sponsor Ian Crawford, Farmcare Products

Yet again the Young breeders brought out a strong class of sheep; the judge placed James Adams, Kerryhill, in first place while the Corbo flock of Adrian Liggett took second with young Jack Gault and James McCombe, third and fourth respectively.

The Hanthorn Family dominated the gimmer class with a Knock Powerhouse daughter which realised £945 in the sales ring, while the second placed gimmer, from the Fairywater pen, a Cornerstone Isaac daughter sold for £1050. Third place in this class went to the Curley flock of John Trimble for a Ballynahone Percy daughter.

Over all there was a good clearance of sheep with 94 ram lambs selling to an average of £430, 26 shearling rams selling to an average of £481 and 26 gimmers selling to an average of £348.

Leading Prices

Ram Lambs
R Strawbridge, 1550gns
Hanthorn Family, 1380, 1150, 780, 460 gns
P Garrivan, 1350 620 gns
A Gault, 1200, 650gns
A Fyffe, 1100, 600, 500, gns

Shearling Rams
J Foster, 1000, 700, 580, 400gns
J Gault, 680gns
J Watson, 580gns
A Liggett, 580gns
R Robinson 520gns

Shearling Ewes
A Fyffe, 1000, 500, 300 gns
Hanthorn Family, 900, 500, 440gns