Quality Dominates at English National Sale, 2005

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Worcester Livestock Market
Tuesday 30th August 2005

A record 21,000 guineas was the top price paid at the AMC National Texel Show and Sale at Worcester on Tuesday 30 August 2005. Bruce Mair of the Muiresk flock said John Forsyth’s ram lamb, Glenside Lieutenant, was easily the best sheep in the market, where trade was dominated by quality.

Record top price of 21,000gns was paid for ram lamb Glenside Lieutenant (FPG05077) from John Forsyth.

Mr Mair who farms with his son Colin at Everton Farm, Turriff, thirty miles north of Aberdeen, bought the February born Group One genotype ram in shares with Mrs Margaret Lyon of Milnbank, Aberdeen. The partnership bought the record breaking Tophill Joe for 122,000 guineas at Lanark two years ago.

“I’ve learned to trust my judgement since then”, said Mr Mair. “He’s delivered the goods. His first 20 sons averaged 11,000 guineas and the top price for one of his sons this year was 16,000 guineas”.

Glenside shepherd, Jeffrey Aitken, said he knew that Glenside Lieutenant was a star ‘from the moment I saw him’. He was sired by Castle Cairn Keltic Star, a young ram purchased at Carlisle last year for 13,000 guineas.

“Glenside Lieutenant is a superb example of the breed, with tremendous character, a great carcase, lovely head, good legs, good skin”, enthused Mr Aitken. “He’s just a good example of the breed.

“He’s always been one of the favourites. Just when you walk into the field he would come looking for you. He just had that glint”

John Forsyth added that the ram lamb was very correct and a good breeder’s sheep. He added that six of his sheep had sold for an average 14,000 guineas at Lanark last week, with a top price of 36,000 guineas.

Glenside Logic (FPG05055) took second top price of the day for John Forsyth, selling for 17,000gns.

Glenside also produced the second highest price ram, Glenside Logic. Also a February born lamb and Genotype One, he was sired by Watchknowe Jimmy’s Pride whose sons have sold to 24,000 guineas and 13,000 guineas.

He was purchased by Stephen and Carolyne Williams of Great Woollascott, Shrewsbury. Mr Williams had judged the Texel classes at the Royal Show where John Forsyth won in all five of the classes in which he exhibited. .

“The sheep were a sight to see”, added Mr Williams. “He had an outstanding team of sheep with such quality throughout the team. That’s when I decided to see if I could acquire a ram from his flock.

“It’s a great female line and it was the ewe family we wanted to buy into. I’ll be using him on the daughters of the great star, Dan Dare, who won at all three Royals in 2000. It had never been achieved before. I’m hoping for great things with this combination.”

Glenside Live Wire (FPG05100) sold for 6,000gns for breeder John Forsyth.

Another good price was paid for Glenside Live Wire, selling for 6,000gns for breeder John Forsyth, of Maybole, Ayrshire. Recorded as ARR/ARR, he is sired by Castlecairn Keltic Star and out of a Houghton dam. He was snapped up by

Supreme Champion from PK Woof, Stainton (WPS04016) sold for 2,800gns, to P & J Vaughan.

The overall championship at the pre sale show went to a shearling gimmer sold by PK Woof of the Stainton Flock, Kendal, Cumbria. She was sired by Cornerstone Isaac and was Group Two genotype.

Peter and Janet Vaughan of Leominster, Herefordshire, who were also selling at Worcester paid 2,800 guineas for her. Peter Vaughan praised her ‘stunning Texel looks’.

“She will be a good combination with our tup, Haddo Jogger”, he added. “We achieved 10,000 guineas with a son of his at Lanark last week.”

Vaughan Farms who have only been in Texels for two years also had some success selling, making a top price of 2,000 guineas at Worcester.

Haddo Leduc (KWJ05620) sold for 11,000gns for AW Knox.

Haddo Leduc sold for 11,000gns for WJ Knox of Mid Haddo, Fyvie. He is sired by Claybury Kruger and out of a Haddo dam. He is also ARR/ARR scrapie genotyped. The successful bidder was

Reserve Supreme Champion and Male Champion Hull House Le Mouton (MJH05359) sold for 2,500gns for breeder John Mellin.

Judge John Davies’s choice of male champion, Hull House Le Mouton, was sold by John Mellin for 2,500 guineas. The February born lamb was Scrapie Genotype Two and was sired by Springwell Jaguar.

Peacehay Knicker Bocker (CFP04077) took the first prize in the Shearling ram section for FH Chave & Son.

The best pen of three ram lambs went to John Forsyth of Glenside. The first prize shearling ram, Peacehay Knicker Bocker – ARR/ARH - was owned by Frank Henry Chave & Son of the Peacehay Flock, Wellington, Somerset, and sired by Lochar Jester.

Loosebeare Kasanova (QEL04125) took top price in the Shearling ram section, and sold for 3,400gns for EW Quick & Sons.

Top price in the Shearling ram section went to Messrs E W Quick & Sons, of Loosebeare Manor, Zeal Monachorum, who sold Loosebeare Kasanova, a Muiresk Forever son, out of a Loosebeare dam, for 3,400gns. He is recorded as ARR/ARH, and he was knocked down to

The first prize novice ram lamb, Haltcliffe Luke – ARR/ARR – was sired by Douganhill Jeronimo and owned by Messrs Ridley of Wigton, Cumbria. He sold for 2,000gns.

First prize recorded lamb, Callerton Leopard (SRC05063) sold for 600gns for RM Sym.

The first prize Signet/MLC ram lamb, Callerton Leopard – ARR/ARH – was owned by R M Sym of Newcastle and sold for 600gns. The female reserve was from the Beautry Flock- ARR/ARQ – and sired by Brague Jodami. She was sold by Stuart Currie of Settle in North Yorkshire.

Texel Society Chairman Keith Campbell of Argyle said the dominating factor at the sale had been the need to produce to exacting quality standards. There was a bigger divide than ever between the quality and the poorer end of the market.

“With the Single Farm Payment people have to concentrate on buying the best they can afford”, he added. “The message now is that there is no scarcity value in Texels so people have to concentrate on quality.

“And with more choice, people are being more selective and the better sheep are making a good trade, while it’s obvious that no one really wants the poorer end”.

Texel Society chief executive, Steven McLean added that with nearly 600 sheep at Worcester, the market had been filled to capacity. The severest restriction at any of the Society sales had been implemented with a cutback ration of one entry per 42 birth notifications.

Top 10 Leading Prices (Guineas): Ram Lambs

John Forsyth Glenside 21,000; 17,000; 6,000; 4,500; 1,100.

WJ Knox Haddo 11,000; 2,000; 900; 780; 500.

NE & JA Gibbs Bettonfield 4,200; 1,000; 650.

Bruce Renwick Castlecairn 2,800; 850; 700.

CG Mair & Partners Muiresk 2,100; 650; 480; 380; 220.

Messrs Ridley Haltcliffe 2,000; 500; 380.

Vaughan Farms Ltd Kingsland 2,000; 500; 380.

John Mellin Hull House 2,500; 2,000; 400.

GK Jamieson Annan 2,000; 1,400; 650.

SC Currie Beautry 2,000; 550; 300; 200.

Top 10 Pen Averages – Ram Lambs

John Forsyth Glenside 5 @ £9,920.00

WJ Knox Haddo 5 @ £3,036.00

NE & JA Gibbs Bettonfield 3 @ £1,950.00

John Mellin Hull House 3 @ £1,633.33

Bruce Renwick Castlecairn 3 @ £1,450.00

NBJ Layton Lyonshall 3 @ £1,366.66

GK Jamieson Annan 3 @ £1,350.00

Vaughan Farms Ltd Kingsland 4 @ £1,250.00

Messrs Ridley Haltcliffe 3 @ £960.00

WH Sinnett & Sons Stockton 2 @ £850.00

Top 10 Leading Prices (Guineas): Shearling Rams

Messrs E W Quick Loosebeare 3,400; 1,100; 1,100; 900.

Mrs A Nairey Meinspride 3,000; 1,400; 1,100; 480; 420.

CG Mair & Partners Muiresk 1,600; 800; 500; 380.

R & B Smith Slapton 1,200; 600; 420; 400; 400; 380; 340.

CS Ponting & Co Penstones 1,200; 400.

B & EA Gutteridge Eastham 880; 350.

SP & CP Williams Wollascott 850; 320; 300.

CDM Lewis Edingthorpe 820.

AE Williams & Son Clun 700; 650; 500.

TW Helyer Langford 750; 550; 550.

10 Pen Averages – Shearling Rams

Mrs A Nairey Meinspride 5 @ £1,280.00

EW Quick Loosebeare 4 @ £1,625.00

CG Mair & Partners Muiresk 4 @ £820.00

CS Ponting & Co Penstones 2 @ £800.00

TW Helyer Langford 3 @ £616.66

AE Williams & Son Clun 3 @ £616.66

B & EA Gutteridge Eastham 2 @ £615.00

TJ & JH Prentice Woolney 2 @ £560.00

Alex Brown Stonefieldhill 2 @ £550.00

R & B Smith Slapton 7 @ £534.28

Top 10 Leading Prices (Guineas): Females

PK Woof Stainton 2,800; 850; 460.

Messrs E W Quick Loosebeare 1,200; 1,100; 620; 500; 460.

JB Joseph Waen 850; 200.

K.A & R Campbell Cowal 820; 380; 325; 130.

Gordon Gray Ettrick 680; 500; 450; 450; 320.

FH Chave & Son Peacehay 600; 460; 420; 300; 290.

SP & CP Williams Wollascott 520; 160; 160; 160; 130.

RS & J Bradley Far Hey 500; 400.

CG Mair & Partners Muiresk 500; 320; 300; 260.

DI & L Gray Tima 480.

Overall Averages:

96 shearling rams averaged £583.19

135 ewes averaged £312.94

174 ram lambs averaged £1004.68

Results from the Judging Ring:

Judge: Mr John Davies, Pen Yr Heol, Rhydaman, Sir Gaerfyrddyn

Class One: Shearling Ewes

1st Mr PK Woof Stainton

2nd SC Currie Beautry

3rd Mr Frank Griffies Tushingham

Class Two: Shearling Rams

1st Mr FH Chave & Son Peacehay

2nd Mr EW Quick Loosebeare

3rd Mr & Mrs WR Williams Garth Lwyd

Class Three: Novice Ram Lambs

1st Messrs Ridley Haltcliffe

2nd Messrs T & A Laird Cambwell

3rd Carl Henry Bellis Cosyn Texels

Class Four: Ram Lambs

1st Mr John Mellin Hull House

2nd Messrs A & G Howie Knock

3rd SC Currie Beautry

Class Five: PRT Ram Lambs

1st Mr RM Sym Callerton

2nd HJ & JR Draper Claybury

3rd Mr & Mrs TW Helyer Langford

Class Six: Pen of Three

1st Mr John Forsyth Glenside

Male Champion:

Mr John Mellin Hull House

Male Reserve Champion:

Mr FH Chave & Son Peacehay

Female Champion:

Mr PK Woof Stainton

Reserve Female Champion:

SC Currie Beautry

Overall Champion:

Mr PK Woof Stainton

Reserve Overall Champion:

Mr John Mellin Hull House