NORTHERN BANK PREMIER SHOW & SALE 2004
At Dungannon Farmers’ Mart
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Texel Sale Makes History at 13,000 gns
Records were smashed at the Northern Bank Premier Texel Show & Sale when the Supreme Champion sold for a staggering 13,000gns. This was the highlight of a remarkable sale, with a feast of rams bound for breeder’s flocks making four figured sums. But it wasn’t just a few top prices that made this sale special, it was the highest recorded average for ram lambs since the first Official Sale 25 years ago. 215 tup lambs cashed in to average a mighty £549 apiece, making it clear that Texel are without question the most popular terminal sire available.
There was little doubt as to what lot attracted the most attention, with a massive crowd following W & S Mackey’s Champion to the sale ring. It was standing room only as both Irish and Cross Channel syndicates competed to secure this terrific lamb. However it was Robert & Kim Mulligan who were unable to pass on an opportunity like this, securing the Parkview Judge son for their noted Brague prefix. This duo have a keen eye for stock, and described the February born lamb as “well bodied, with tremendous character and style”. The dam is considered to be the best in the Dunore flock, and is out of Carrowdore Highlite who was purchased by a consortium including Brague several seasons ago. The package was made complete by a desirable genotype, recorded as group one. This achievement will bring the recently formed Dunore flock of Stewart Mackey to the fore, and will be a day that he won’t forget in a hurry with his pen of ram lambs averaging an amazing £4778. In addition to the sale ring returns, Stewart also picked up the Northern Bank Supreme Championship Award, presented by David Workman and John Henning.
It was fitting that the Reserve Champion position was filled by Robert & Kim Mulligan, who returned £1675 for a mighty good pen of 6 lambs. Their top return was for a super group one lamb sired by Boat Jetsetter, who was snapped up by Robert Irvine for 4600gns. The Reserve Champion lamb is also a son of Jetsetter, who was purchased for 2400gns at Lanark in 2003. This February born lamb is a group two genotype, and sold for 2300gns. His dam is by the noted Annan Daktari, who also can be found in the extended pedigree of the 13,000gns sale topper.
The Fairmount flock of Austin Shaw, Larne enjoyed a successful days trading, with his stylish group one ram lamb realising 4200gns. This was paid out by Henry Gamble, Springwell and David Simpson, Cornerstone. The sire is last year’s Champion at this sale, Brague Jethro who was purchased as part of a syndicate at 6,400gns.
Another from the same stable attracted 2100gns, paid by Vincent Keenan, helping result in a pen average of £2450.
Frank & Avril Morrison travelled from Crossgar with a quality pen of ram lambs sired by their stock ram Irish Hill Jessie James, averaging £1197. There was good interest in this entry, with prices reaching 4,000gns paid for a group one lamb out of a Duvarren Golden Eye dam. Michael McHugh selected this lamb, supported by promising weight recording data including a muscle score of 33.6mm.
Demonstrating the buoyant trade throughout was the fact that high returns were evident right up until the end of the sale. Supporting this was a 3,100gns transaction just a few lots from the finish, this time from the Clonallon prefix of Eoghan McAnulty, Warrenpoint. WJ & J Wilson, Blackstown and John Foster, Springhill joined forces to secure this February born group one ram lamb. The dam of this ram was purchased at a production sale from the Springhill flock, and traces back to a strong line noted for breeding consistent quality.
The Springhill flock commanded the top returns in the shearling ram ring, with a team of 8 averaging £741. This was topped by a group one son of Brague I.O.U securing 1100gns. His pen mate by the same sire changed hands at 1000gns.
FEMALE SECTION
Alastair Gault was a worthy winner in the female section, collecting the Female Championship with a powerful gimmer from his Forkin’s flock based at Newtownabbey. This is not the first time that this entry has caught the eye having notched up second prize at Balmoral as a ewe lamb. Bred to perfection, this February born shearling is sired by Glenside Idol and out of a Springhill Expert dam. Alastair secured the top female price of 850gns for his Champion, forked out by Eamon Walsh, Co Mayo. He also recorded a commendable pen average of £390 for 8 gimmers.
Robert & Sam Chesney are no stranger’s to success at the Premier event, and this year saw them collecting a handful of ribbons in the female section when their Lindstair Honky Tonk daughter chalked up the Reserve Championship. Bidding was brisk in the sale ring for this flock builder, with the hammer falling at 500gns.
The female sale, conducted by auctioneer Trevor Wylie, was on fire right from the word go with a total of 127 gimmers changing hands out of a possible 130 at an average of £306. Several lots changed hands at 650 guineas, the first being a classy entry from Brian Hanthorn, Tynan. This comes right from the heart of the Mullan flock, with three maternal brothers selected as stock rams in pedigree units. Selling with an attractive group one genotype, this daughter of Muiresk Forever was snapped up by Pat Lyons for 650gns.
Barclay Bell travelled from Rathfriland with a quality pen of gimmers, topping at 650gns for a Crailloch Galaxy daughter. This also sold to Pat Lyons, and helped result in a pen average of f385.
Also securing 650gns was Victor Chestnutt, Bushmills. This was paid by Eamon Walsh for a Haddo Hat Trick Parkview Fennel blend. There was good interest in the Clougher pen, reflected in an average of £476.
Martin & Cyril Millar enjoyed a successful journey from Coleraine with an entry of six gimmers peaking at 600gns. This was paid for a Muiresk Forever daughter going back to a Clougher Dominator dam.
One of the first exhibitor’s to hit the sale ring was Karen & Leslie Beacom, Ballywalter. They presented three super gimmers sired by Stonefield Inch Perfect to return a mean selling price of £469. This included two similarly bred females both out of Rams Flashman dams, which sold at 520 and 500gns.
The powerful demand for females highlighted the popularity of Texel, as new breeder’s joined forces with established flocks to secure new bloodlines.
Top 10 Pen Averages – Ram Lambs
W & S Mackey Dunore 3 @ £4778
Austin Shaw Fairmount 3 @ £2450
R Mulligan Brague 6 @ £1675
TN Reid Beechvale 3 @ £1418
R Strawbridge Tamnamoney 2 @ £1339
F Morrison Cluntagh 5 @ £1197
R Kennedy Maineview 2 @ £1050
Wilson Kennedy Irish Hill 2 @ £998
James Adams Kerryhill 2 @ £934
M & C Millar Millar’s 4 @ £900
Top 10 Pen Averages – Shearling Rams
Alastair Gault Forkins 2 @ £866
John Foster Springhill 8 @ £741
Alan Elliott Cookstown 8 @ £479
John Watson Duvarren 3 @ £455
David McCabe Ballyarnot 9 @ £445
R & S Chesney Balligan 4 @ £415
WJ & J Wilson Blackstown 6 @ £413
Murray Annett Milestonehill 2 @ £410
Ivor Skillen Glenhill 5 @ £407
Victor Chestnutt Clougher 7 @ £381
Females -Leading Prices In Guineas
Alastair Gault, Newtownabbey 850, 500, 380
Brian Hanthorn, Tynan 650, 380
Mr & Mrs Barclay Bell, Rathfriland 650
Victor Chestnutt, Bushmills 650, 400
Martin & Cyril Millar, Coleraine 600
KA & LA Beacom, Ballywalter 520, 500
Henry Gamble, Bangor 500, 380
Robert Kennedy, Ballymena 500, 500
Robert & Sam Chesney, Kircubbin 500
Mary Clarke, Belfast 480
M & J Watson, Dundonald 450, 360
Richard Henderson, Tobermore 450, 440, 380
S & J Mc Collam, Crumlin 420
John Mc Fall, Broughshane 420, 380
Wilson Kennedy, Ballyclare 400
Reginald Annett, Kilkeel 360
Results From The Judging Ring
Class One: Shearling Ewe
1st Alastair Gault, Newtownabbey
2nd Robert & Sam Chesney, Kircubbin
3rd Michael & James Watson, Dundonald
Class Two: Ram Lamb
1st W & S Mackey, Crumlin
2nd Robert Mulligan, Banbridge
3rd Norman Reid, Omagh
Class Three: MLC Ram Lamb
1st Henry Gamble, Bangor
2nd Karen & Leslie Beacom, Ballywalter
3rd Wilson Kennedy, Ballyclare
Class Four: Shearling Ram
1st David Chestnutt, Bushmills
2nd Alastair Gault, Newtownabbey
3rd John Foster, Castlederg
Northern Bank Supreme Champion & Male Champion W & S Mackay
Res Supreme & Res Male Champion Robert Mulligan
Female Champion Alastair Gault
Res Female Champion R & S Chesney
Sponsorship kindly provided by the Northern Bank.
Overall Averages
215 ram lambs averaged £549
138 shearling rams averaged £400
127 gimmers averaged £306
Auctioneers: Dungannon Farmers' Mart
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