Scottish National Texel Show and Sale 2005

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Wednesday 24th & Thursday 25th August

Lanark tops a 44,000gns lead call

Report by Patsy Hunter, Scottish Farmer

Averages — 355 ram lambs, £2203.64

DESPITE PRE-SALE nerves, Texel breeders went home in a relatively confident mood following the Scottish national show and sale at Lanark, which witnessed a 44,000gns lead call complete with a further 16 five-figure prices.

As the country’s most successful breed society at present, it is the Texel breed that has enjoyed the best of trading, both in the pedigree and the commercial sheep rings.

However, with the society boasting in excess of 2700 members complete with a record breaking 70,000 birth notifications this year alone — making it bigger than the four top beef breed cattle societies put together — the mass influx of new members eager to sell was always going to cause problems.

Infact, such was the initial entry — and not just for Lanark, but for all the main sales — that most breeders had to cut flock entries more than normal according to birth notifications. Not surprisingly, prior to the sale, there was a huge demand for a two-ring policy which would allow the top breeders to sell their usual quota while enabling new breeders to trade.

However, by the end of the day, fewer sheep than last year changed hands, which again highlighted the fact that only the best breeders sheep boasting that all important size, shape and breed character, were in demand.

“We were genuinely pleased the way the sale went, especially when you bear in mind the huge increase in new vendors,” said Steven McLean, Chief Executive of the Texel Sheep Society.

“We were well aware that there would probably be fewer real breeders sheep forward because entries were based on birth notifications, but as a result, we also introduced a number of new policies to drive up the quality of sheep for future years,” added Mr McLean pointing out that these included increasing the onset price for ram lambs from 200gns to 280gns.

“Overall, we are very pleased. There were a lot more new buyers with a large number selling into Ireland.”

Commenting on the format of next year’s sale Mr McLean said: “It’s up to the vendors and the sales committee to put forward proposals as to how we go forward in the future. But, my gut feeling is that the two-ring option is still the least favoured.”

But while the mass number of new breeders caused hiccups, it was the shortage of new genetics that proved just as big a problem. In all, more than a quarter of the lambs entered were grand-sons, or from the same line as, the 122,000gns record priced Tophill Joe, sold in 2003 to the Baltier, Milnbank, Haddo, Fordafourie and Muiresk flocks. Another large consignment went back to Cornerstone Isaac, a lamb bought privately in Northern Ireland, in 2002 by Jimmy Warnock, Watchknowe.

Nevertheless, it was a combination of this esteemed breeding that produced the day’s 44,000gns lead bid when Lanarkshire breeder Jimmy Warnock sold his number two lamb to John Forsyth, who enjoyed the best of the day’s trading for his Glenside flock. Glenside took half with the remaining halfselling to Jimmy Douglas for his Cairness flock at Fraserburgh and Bruce Renwick, Legars, Kelso.

One of the best bred lambs in the catalogue, this ARR/ARR scrapie genotyped lamb is by Fordafourie Kracker, the Tophill Joe son which stood champion at Lanark last year, and later sold for 32,000gns, to the Watchknowe and Garngour flocks. Equally notable is his mother, a Cornerstone Isaac daughter, is a descendant of the noted show ewe Lady Madonna, that scooped numerous breed championships including no fewer than three top awards at Lesmahagow.

Mr Warnock, who runs 200 Texel ewes along with a herd of 120 Holstein Friesians, at Sandilands, also received 20,000gns for his number one lamb. This was a direct son of Isaac, which has bred tup lambs to 48,000gns and 22,000gns, while the dam, by Watchknowe Ferocious, was a former show gimmer in 2000.

Final bidder was John Mellin, who also enjoyed a great trade for his Hull House flock from Skipton, North Yorkshire, selling to a top of 10,000gns for Hull House Luvly Jubbly, another type one lamb this time by the 2600gns Springwell Jaguar out of a home-bred ewe by Hull House Hill Billy — which goes back to a Noresk gimmer. Coming up with the readies were Cornhill-based breeders, Robbie Scott, Ashvale and Graham Morrison, Inchbruich.

John Forsyth’s 120-ewe Glenside flock from Lochlands, Maybole, is never far away from the headlines, and this year was no exception with the team of John and his shepherd Jeff Aiken, bringing out three five-figure priced lambs to secure the day’s lead average of £14,822 for six. Notably, Cornerstone Isaac was at the backbone of these sales, with the entire pen either being by sons or grandsons. Glenside also took the award for the second prize pen of three.

Dearest of the bunch at 36,000gns was Glenside Lord of the Rings, a son of 13,000gns Castlecairn Keltic Star, bought last year at Carlisle, out of a ewe by Turin Fantastic. He was bought by three of the big guns from south of the Border selling to the Draper family’s Claybury flock from Shrewsbury; the Stockton flock owned by John Sinnett, Worcs and Ben Baggott’s Coley flock from Staffs.

The sire of Keltic Star, Watchknowe Jimmy’s Pride, which has already bred sons to 24,000gns, then produced a 22,000gns sale in the shape of Glenside Loneranger. This one, out of a Glenside His Nibs daughter was purchased by the Knox family — William and sons Graeme and Andrew, Mid Haddo, Turriff.

Glenside’s third prize winner at the Highland, Limelight, also made his presence felt, realising 16,000gns to Irish breeder Pat Lyons. Another, by Keltic Star, he is a maternal brother to the 8000gns Glenside JP, being out of a Muiresk Forever-sired ewe.

The quest for new bloodlines also enabled many of the new kids on the block to hit the limelight, including Archie and John MacGregor, who are better known in pedigree Charolais and Limousin cattle, show calves and Blackface sheep circles, at Allanfauld, Kilsyth, Glasgow.

Taking this father and son team straight to the top was Allanfauld Limited Edition, a son of the 36,000gns Ettrick Jackpot got by AI, onto a home-bred ewe by Castlecairn Hadrian, one of 35 ewes in the flock established just six years ago. Placed second in the novice class at the pre-sale show, he was knocked down at 30,000gns, to Jimmy Warnock, Watchknowe and Tom and Robert Laird, Cambwell, Skirling, Biggar.

There were smiles all round too when Angus Mackay Sutherland, not only scooped the overall championship, but also a 26,000gns cheque, for his fifth year selling the 50-ewe flock at Carran, Thurso. His topper Carran Lee, selected by the pre-sale judge, Jim Clark, North Garngour, Lesmahagow, is by the 48,000gns Douganhill Jeronimo out of a home-bred ewe by the 50,000gns Craighead Hercules that stood champion at Caithness Show as a ewe lamb. Another, with an ARR/ARR scrapie genotype, as most of the top priced lambs were, he sold in a three-way split to Peter Woof of the Stainton flock, Kendal; Spiros Spyrou, Hebden, West Yorkshire and Robert Bradley, Far Hey, Salterforth, Lancs.

Two lots came under the hammer for 22,000gns including the much talked about Tamnamoney Lynbrook, a tup lamb by the 10,000gns Castlecairn Kennedy from Roger Strawbridge, Coleraine, Co Londonderry, Northern Ireland, which stood fourth in the open class. Providing a personal best for this 80-ewe flock was the red ticket holder from Coleraine Show, which sold to Jim Clark and sons Alan, Andrew and David, North Garngour, Lesmahagow and the Campbell brothers, Keith, Allan and Roy, who run the Cowal flock at Lochgoilhead.

Later in the day, Robert Hamilton’s third prize winner, Crewburn Lorenzo, from High Crewburn, Strathaven, matched the 22,000gns call selling to Sandy Lee, Fordafourie, Fraserburgh. An outcross to many of the more popular sires, this one is by Duvarren Kingpin, an 850gns purchase at Lanark, by Duvarren Jack of Diamonds. Placed first in his class at Craigie, the breeding on his mother’s side includes a 2500gns Annan gimmer.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the equation, Fordafourie received 16,000gns for Fordafourie Lee, the top priced Joe forward, out of a home-bred gimmer by Durisdeer Instructor. Placed male champion at New Deer, his mother is a twin sister to a 6000gns gimmer sold at Carlisle, last year. He travels back north purchased by John Mackie, Milton of Noth, Huntly; Robbie Randal who owns the Westray flock on Orkney and fellow breeder, Alton Copeland of the Overhouse flock.

There were more big bucks to come too, when the Aberdeenshire team of Mrs Margaret Lyon, Milnbank, Haddo, Jim Innes, Dunscroft, Huntly and Bruce and Colin Mair, Muiresk, went to 18,000gns for Clougher Lincon, from Northern Ireland breeder, Victor Chestnutt, Bushmills, Co Tyrone. The breeding behind this transaction includes the 750gns Haltcliffe Knock On that goes back to Ettrick High Jinks, onto a ewe by Glenleary Garni.

The father and son team of Keith and John Jamieson, who own the Annan flock at Woodhead, Annan, also had due cause for celebration. Following the devastation of losing their flock due to a foot-and-mouth cull in 2001, they proved they were back in business, securing the reserve overall championship and a 16,000gns price tag with Annan Lionheart. But then, this classy lamb boasts some real classy bloodlines with the sire being the 52,000gns Baltier King onto a home-bred ewe by Ettrick Glenmorangie, whose grand-dam is a maternal sister to Annan Braveheart. Placed first Signet recorded lamb at the Royal he was knocked down to Allanfauld and High Crewburn.

Having sold the two top priced lambs at last year’s sale, Robert Forsyth, Baltier, Whithorn, also got in on the action buying the best from Albert and George Howie’s 65-ewe Knock flock from Peterhead, at 14,000gns. This was Knock Lionheart, the dearest type two sold, which is by the 12,000gns Anglezarke Krug out of a ewe by Milnbank Flair.

Just behind, on 13,000gns, John Gilmour and son Gilmour, Humeston, Maybole, bought this year’s second prize tup lamb at the Highland, Milnbank Lyon King, from Mrs Margaret Lyon, Milnbank. This one, brought out by Robbie Wilson, is by Joe and out of a ewe by Glenside Gurka.

The end of the sale also witnessed a few crackers with two lots coming under the hammer for 10,000gns. First on this list was Steve and Helen Smith’s Penparc Lexus, a son of the 8000gns Clougher Irishman, a tup that stood first prize aged ram at last year’s Royal Show and also bred the Welshpool champion the same year. Bred from the Penparc flock, Welshpool, he is out of a Dutch-bred ewe by Ravensmoor Garibaldi. Neighbouring breeder, James Ruggeri, Gyrhos flock, forked out the cash.

Minutes later, Peter and Janet Vaughan and sons James and Nickolas, of Vaughans Farms, Leominster, Herefordshire, who were selling for the second time at Lanark, received the same money for Kingsland Lion, a Haddo Jogger son out of a ewe bought privately from Colin Pontin, by Alwent Flint. The buyers were the Quick boys, Paul, Andrew and Mark, of the Devon-based Loosebeare flock.

OTHER LEADING PRICES

Ram lambs — 9000gns — Clinterty Las Vegas, by Baltier King, from B Buchan, to K Pratt, Hilltop, Oldtown, Peterculter; Denty Lightning, by Denty Kinsman, from Mrs L Stuart, to G Gray, Ettrick, Selkirk, and A Cullen, Craighead, Carluke; Arkle Legend, from GH and GG Wilkinson, by Royel Kaiser, to A Barr, Parkhouse, Biggar.

7500gns — Tophill Leonardo, by Haddo Knoxie, from JD Houghton, to SR Symes, Anglezarke, Chorley, Lancs

6500gns — Midlock Lionheart, by Skiddaw Justice, from Mrs K Wight, to K and R Buckles, Buckles Farm, Barras, Kirkby Stephen; Straidarran Legacy, by Castlecairn Kennedy, from S and M Warnock, to D and S MacPherson, Hexel, Berwick upon Tweed.

6200gns — Tullagh Legend, by Cornerstone Isaac, from J Currie, to D McKay, Rathkenny, Ballymena, Co Antrim,

6000gns — Clinterty Leader, by Den Burg Kicker, from B Buchan, to J Mellin, Hull House; Glenside legend, by Douganhill Jeronimo, from J Forsyth, to G Devlin, Newry, Co Down, Northern Ireland.

5500gns — Claybury Legacy, by Humeston Juniper, from HJ and JR Draper, to A and G Howie, Knock.

5000gns — Templand Limited Edition, by Thacka Keepsake, from K Gill and Co, to P Longdon, Wellingley Grange, Tickhill, Doncaster, Mrs JS Lodge, Moseley Grange, Moss, Doncaster and J and EP Headly, Red Mile, Thorn, Doncaster; Tophill Landmark, by Haddo Knoxie, from JD Houghton, to A Cullen, Craighead, Carluke.

4500gns — Aviemore Likely Lad, by Tophill Joe, from Mrs D Mair, to J Douglas, Cairness, Fraserburgh.

4200gns — Knock Lawman, by Anglezarke Krug, from A and G Howie, to J Adamson, Swaites, Lanark; Garngour Lionheart, by Brague Kings Pride, from J and H Clark, to EJ Dunlop, Searigg, Carrutherstown, Dumfries; Fordafourie Leader, by Tophill Joe, from AC Lee and Co, to D McKerrow, Nochnary, Freuchie, Cupar, Fife; Ettrick Lion King, from G Gray, to N Layton, Lyonshall, Hereford; Tophill Ludo, by Haddo Knoxie, from JD Houghton, to Messrs Thomas, Anglesey, Wales; Cairness, by Tophill Joe, from J Douglas, to C Oag, Oldtown, Wick.

4000gns — Claybury Lion Heart, by Humeston Juniper, from HJ and JR Draper, to PA Kermode, Orrisdale, Ballasalla, Isle of Man; Callerton Lawman II, by Callerton Jaguar, from RM Sym, to GM Taylor, Springfield, Thirsk, RM and EA Payne, Carr Head, Hunshelf Bank, Staffs, P Jewitt and Son, Mountpleasant, Hutton, Scarborough, J and R Lucas and Son, Valley Farm, Fimber, Yorks; Haddo Limited Edition, by Tophill Joe, from WJ Knox, to G Richards, Tegfryn, South Wales; Halley, by Stonebridge Kudos, from E Eunson, to Messrs Steff, Higher Micklehurst.

3800gns — Haddo Lucky Strike, by Craighead Hercules, from WJ Knox, to Messrs Morgan, Tyrrewydd, Brecon; Annan Lion King, by Baltier King, from GK Jamieson, to H George, Crumlin, Co Antrim; Hexel Live Wire, by Glenside Jackpot, from D and S MacPherson, to MJ Lawson, Kirkland Green, Mealsgate, Wigton.

Auctioneers — Lawrie and Symington.

Averages:

Show Results:

Judge: Mr J Clarke, North Garngour, Lesmahagow, Lanark

Class One: Gimmers

1st Mr Gordon Gray Ettrick

2nd Jennifer Susan Lodge Heyworth Lodge

3rd Mr John Adamson & Son Swaites

Class Two: Shearling Rams

1st Iain Struthers Craigend

2nd Mr Gordon Gray Ettrick

3rd AC Lee & Co Fordafourie

Class Three: Novice Ram Lambs

1st Elaine Eunson Halley

2nd A MacGregor Ltd Allanfauld

3rd Mr WH Sinnett & Sons Stockton

Class Four: Ram Lambs

1st Angus Mackay Sutherland Carran

2nd HJ & JR Draper Claybury

3rd Robert Hamilton & Sons Crewburn

Class Five: PRT Ram Lambs

1st GK Jamieson Annan

2nd HJ & JR Draper Claybury

3rd Mr RM Sym Callerton

Class Six: Group of Three: 1st HJ & JR Draper Claybury

Male Champion: Angus Mackay Sutherland Carran

Reserve Male Champion: GJ Jamieson Annan

Female Champion: Mr Gordon Gray Ettrick

Reserve Female Champion: Jennifer Susan Lodge Heyworth Lodge

Overall Champion: Angus Mackay Sutherland Carran

Reserve Overall Champion: GJ Jamieson Annan