30th ANNIVERSARY VIDEO SALE – CRIEFF HYDRO

Report by Patsy Hunter - Scottish Farmer

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Black ties and kilts combined with some real classy evening gowns proved an outright winner for Texel breeders selling at a special in-lamb video sale at Crieff.

Hailed as a roaring success, the dinner dance and sale — staged as part of the Texel Sheep Society’s 30th anniversary celebrations weekend at Crieff — attracted more than 280 breeders from throughout the length and breadth of the country. And, to add to the glamour, the evening sale pulled in some cracking prices.

With only 23 select in-lamb gimmers up for grabs at this one-off event, the competition for the cream of the crop was steep from the outset, which, as a result, saw prices hit 11,000gns, 10,000gns and 9000gns.

It wasn’t just the vendors who benefited from this celebratory event either — the auctioneers, Lawrie and Symington, donated all commission to the Marie Curie charity.

A 1985 Border Fine Art limited edition Texel tup lamb then sold for 2000gns with a Texel headed crook, made by Jimmy MacKenzie, and donated by Keith and Margaret Jamieson, Annan, also making 2000gns with all proceedings going for charity.

Taking the sale by storm, however, was Jock McKerrow’s in-lamb gimmer from Grougfoot, Linlithgow, which sold for the top price of 11,000gns to John and Linda Mellin, buying to establish a new flock for their young family from Hullhouse, Hellifield, Skipton.

Securing a personal best for this 30-year-old show flock was an ARR/ARR scrapie genotyped daughter of the 17,000gns Glenside Hot Shot. Backed by some of the best bloodlines in the breed, her dam’s line includes the 1989 Highland Show champion. This flashy gimmer out of a Haddo Ever Ready-sired ewe sold with a scheme index of 272 and in lamb to the 18,000gns Haddo Kerfuffle, the champion winner at Worcester earlier in the year.

Archie Clark, Woodlands, Lesmahagow, was also well rewarded for bringing his best ever too, when his type one gimmer by Doon Valley IQ attracted a 10,000gns bid, complete with a huge cheer from a packed audience. His top lady, which had already made her mark at Strathaven and East Kilbride shows earlier in the year, standing first and second respectively, is out of a home-bred ewe by Tophill El Santo. She changed hands in lamb to the 6000gns Watchknowe Kingfisher, bought at Lanark, to Mrs Margaret Lyon, who owns the Turriff-based Milnbank flock.

Archie’s brother, Jim, and wife Helen Clark, North Garngour, Lesmahagow, were also in the money selling their reserve overall champion from Dunblane Show at 4000gns to Mrs Margaret Perrings of the Perrgill flock. The service sire on October 19th, was Castlecairn Hadrian, a 7000gns purchase in 2001 that has bred progeny to 5200gns.

The sale opened with a bang when the third gimmer from John Forsyth’s noted Glenside flock from Maybole, came under the hammer for 9000gns selling to Suffolk and Texel breeder, Mrs Laine Daff, Greenside, Uplawmoor.

Another with the looks and the figure, this classy gimmer stood female champion and reserve overall at the 2004 Highland Show. Her pedigree is equally impressive being the first daughter sold off Claybury Istabraq, the former record priced Texel at 88,000gns out of Milnbank ewe by Annan Elation. Adding to the package, this type two gimmer sold in lamb to the 13,000gns Castlecairn Keltic Star.

Lancashire breeders, Steven and Janet Symes, were also well rewarded for their trip north, receiving 4200gns from Bruce Renwick, who runs the Castlecairn flock at Legars, Kelso. This one, an ARR/ARR from the Anglezarke flock at Chorley, includes Knock Impulse onto a home-bred ewe by Tophill Flamenco. Sadly, she was not served until November 5, to the 30,000gns Haddo Knoxie, however, should she not be in lamb, the sale becomes nullified.

Tops for Jimmy Warnock’s Watchknowe flock, from Lanark, was 3500gns for a type two grand-daughter of the top show ewe Watchknowe Lady Madona. Her sire, Cornerstone Isaac, is equally worthy of a mention, having bred sons to 48,000gns at Carlisle, and 22,000gns at Lanark. The buyer of this female served to Tarradale Java, was Duncan Currie, Beautry, Yorkshire.

Other Leading prices — 3500gns — J Warnock, Watchknowe, by Cornerstone Isaac, to S Currie, Beautry. 3200gns — J Cullen, Craighead, by Ettrick High Jinks, to A Barr, Parkhouse, Biggar. 2400gns — CG Mair and Partners, Muiresk, by Craighead Hercules, to G Morrison (Deveronvale); T and A Laird, Cambwell, by Crailloch Galaxy, to R Wilson; Ms ME Gibb, Haremoss, by Muiresk Forever, to an undisclosed bidder.

Auctioneers — Lawrie and Symington

Averages — 20 in-lamb gimmers, £3491.25