Scottish National Sale 2009

Breed, UK and world sheep records were smashed at Lanark last week, when a Texel tup lamb sold for a phenomenal 220,000gns at the Scottish National show and sale, eclipsing the previous world peak of £205,000, or AU$450,000 paid for a Merino ram in Australia, in 1989, was Graham Morrison’s Deveronvale Perfection, from Inchbruich, Cornhill, Banff, which almost doubled the previous UK breed record of 122,000gns paid for the Texel ram lamb, Tophill Joe, in 2003.

However, in contrast to the majority of previous bumper five-figure transactions and just four other six-figure priced rams sold in the UK, the new record priced sheep was knocked down to just one man – to Jimmy Douglas, who runs the Cairness flock at Woodhead of Cairness, Fraserburgh.

"He’s the best tup I’ve ever seen – just what the breed needs. He’s got great spring of rib, top line, character and good legs. I just hope I’ve got good enough Gimmers to put him to," said Mr Douglas, who later said he’d sold a share back to Graham Morrison.

"He’s the best lamb I’ve ever bred and he has been the best from day one," added Mr Morrison, who bought his first Texel females in 2001. "I think he’s the best champion there’s been here for six or seven years, but I never ever dreamt he’d make that sort of money. I thought he’d make something more like 70-80,000gns."

It wasn’t only Graham – a pallet dealer to trade with 35 pedigree ewes in his flock – who thought highly of the lamb though. Auctioneer David Lowry, who sold the lamb within a breath-taking couple of minutes, later said: "The bids came thick and fast up to 30-40,000gns, and up to 60-70,000gns it was between three or four people. From 70,000gns until it was knocked down at 220,000gns it was just between two men."

The bidding went up in 5000gns bids from 95,000gns up to 190,000gns with the final three being 10,000gns jumps.

The under-bidders were new breeders Tom and Sue Bagan, Watersland, Stewarton – who run a Woodburning stove business and have already purchased a select number of Gimmers from John Forsyth’s Glenside flock – and Mr Forsyth himself.

Setting the trade alight, which ultimately resulted in hearty sound of applause, was the pre-sale champion, a son of the 1600gns Kelso Oxygen – a lamb used on loan from neighboring breeder Robbie Scott, of the Drumpark flock, and a grand-son of the 40,000gns Garngour Nirvana. Equally notable is his mother, a home-bred ewe by Knock Magnum II, which is a half sister to Mr Morrison’s previous best seller, sold last year at 12,000gns.

Outwith the record breaker, which added £650.70 to the day’s average, trade was buoyant throughout, with the majority of vendors leaving for home in a confident mood. In all, eight lots hit the magical five-figure price bracket, with a further 22 changing hands between 5000gns and 10,000gns.

"Any breed likes to see a breed record, but we’re also seeing higher clearance rates and good averages which is more important," said the breed society’s chief executive, John Yates.

"We’ve seen a good commercial trade throughout here today and that’s all down to the membership who have such confidence in the breed."

Malcolm Reid’s much talked about lambs from Stichill, Kelso, most of which were by the privately purchased Castlecairn Nile God son, Mellor Vale Officer, also sold well, despite turning out his pen leader unsold at 45,000gns.

However, his fourth lamb, Kelso Pavarotti, almost matched that, selling for 40,000gns to the Campbell brothers, Keith, Allan and Roy, who own the Cowal flock at Lochgoilhead, and Alasdair Beaton, Wester Crosshill, Falkirk. This one, an Officer son, is out of a Glenside ewe by Castlecairn Keltic Star.

Minutes later, Peter Sutton, manager of Trinidad Investments, a Brazilian company, which owns the Colwood flock, in Sussex, went to 14,000gns for another Officer son, this time out of a home-bred ewe by the 110,000gns Newhill Major.

The Clark family – Jim and Helen and sons, Alan, Andrew and David – from North Garngour, Lesmahagow, were also in the money, receiving 14,000gns for their pen leader, Garngour Playboy, which stood fourth in the recorded ram lamb class.

One of the best bred lambs in the catalogue, he is by the 20,000gns Knock Oregano, which in turn is by the 16,000gns Garngour Nobleman, and out of a home-bred ewe by the 22,000gns Tamnamoney Lynbrook that was shown as a ewe lamb. Bred from the flock’s strongest line, Playboy’s grand-dam is a full sister to a 9000gns Garngour gimmer and to the best breeding ewe in the flock.

He sold to North-east buyers, Willie and Carole Ingram, for their Logie Durno flock, at Pitcaple, Inverurie, and Albert and George Howie, West Knock, Stuartfield, Peterhead.

Matching the 14,000gns call was past society president, Victor Chestnutt, Bushmills, Northern Ireland, who sold Clougher President to Charlie Boden and David and Jane Houghton, of the Sportsman’s and Tophill flocks from Stockport, Cheshire, and Bury, Lancs, respectively.

Again, some first class genetics are behind him, with the sire, Ballybrooney Orlando – a lamb purchased for €2400gns that stood second in the performance recorded class at the Southern Ireland pre-sale show – being out of a former All Ireland ewe. His mother, a home-bred ewe is by Haltcliffe Knock On, which has bred sons to 18,000gns.

Mr Boden earlier forked out 11,000gns for a half-share in Robert Forsyth’s top lamb from Baltier, Whithorn.

A son of Kidston Olympian, a Cornerstone Isaac-sired tup bought privately here last year from Kenneth Watson, Baltier Panther is out of a home-bred ewe by Watchknowe Jimmys Pride, which goes back to a former inter-breed sheep champion at Stranraer. Mr Forsyth and his daughter in law, Alison Johnstone retained a half-share for their 40-ewe flock.

Having given Graham Morrison a loan of the 1600gns Kelso Oxygen, neighbouring breeders Robbie and Rosetta Scott, who run a mineral business and own 30 ewes in their Drumpark flock at Cornhill, Banff, came up with a big price for their own Oxygen-sired lamb at 12,000gns.

This was Drumpark President, a lamb out of a home-bred ewe by Wartle Goliath that has bred sons to 1100gns for the flock, established in 2000. President sold in a four-way split to Matt and Craig Ridley, Haltcliffe, Hesket New Market; George Wilkinson, Arkleby, Aspatria, Carlisle; Steven Nesbitt, Alwent, Winston, Darlington and S and S Richardson, Mount Pleasant, Barnsley, South Yorks.

Another Oxygen son, this time from Brian Buchan and son, also Brian, Clinterty, New Aberdour, who own a small share of the tup, made 10,000gns to Welsh breeder RJ Pierce, Llwyn-y-Coed-Isa. Clinterty Pegasus, is out of a home-bred ewe by Milnbank Invincible.

The last of the five-figure priced lambs at 10,000gns, Wester Crosshil Prody, from Alasdair Beaton, sold in a two-way split to John Campbell, Thrunton, Alnwick, Northumberland and Jack Arnott, Haymount, Kelso. Their purchase, the second prize ram lamb at the Great Yorkshire Show, is by Clinterty Las Vegas and out of a Garngour-bred show female that sold to David Walker, Galcantray, two years ago, but was last year purchased by Alasdair Beaton, at the Galcantray Texel dispersal at Dingwall for 900gns as an in-lamb female.

Garngour bloodlines were also behind the best from Banchory sheep shearer, Rodney Blackhall, who sold Sheeoch Perfection for 9000gns to Malcolm Coubrough, Hartside, Biggar; John and Richard Wood, Kingledores, Tweedsmuir; Karen and Allan Wight, Midlock Crawford; and Dougie Fleming, Elvanfoot. He is by the 16,000gns Garngour Nobleman and out of a Knock-bred ewe by Anglezarke Krug that bred last year’s 12,000gns Deveronvale Oddie.

Matching the 9000gns transaction, Jim Innes, who runs the 50-ewe Strathbogie flock, at Dunscroft, Huntly, sold Strathbogie Phython, a son of the 29,000gns Millar’s Outstanding to John Forsyth, for his Glenside flock. A full brother to the first and second prize ewe lambs at the Highland, Python is out of a home-bred ewe by Castlecairn Kung Foo Fighter.

Six lambs came under the hammer for 8000gns, including the best from Albert and George Howie’s Knock flock, which sold to a trio of flocks – Bruce Renwick, of the Castlecairn flock at Legars, Kelso; Willie Knox and sons, Graeme and Andrew, Mid Haddo, Turriff; and Peter Vaughan’s Kingsland flock, fromLeominster, Herefordshire.

Knock Powerpacker is a son of the 2100gns Tophill Nockout that last year produced sons to 12,000gns, out of the mother of last year’s 20,000gns Knock Oregano, a home-bred ewe by Anglezarke Krug.

Lancashire breeders David and Jane Houghton, Bury, received the same money for Tophill Proclaimer, a lamb from the flock’s top breeding line that has bred several high four-figure priced tups.

His sire is Knock Orion – a Garngour Nobleman son and full brother to Knock Oregano, which was bought privately for £10,000 as a three-month-old lamb from the Howies – while his mother is home-bred by Tophill Leonardo.

The remaining four 8000gns lambs came late in the day. Isle of Man breeders, Mrs and Mrs PA Kermode, sold Orrisdale Paradise, a son of the Dungannon purchase, Braehead Old Testament out of a ewe by Seneirl Guy, at this price to Welsh breeder, James Ruggeri, Gwaelod-y-Rhos, Llanfair, Welshpool.

Deveronvale, Strathbogie and Drumpark joined to pay 8000gns for Bradleys Pure Gold, the second prize novice lamb from Lancs breeder, Ryan Bradley, Far Hey Farm, Salterforth, Barnoldswick. This one, a March-born lamb that was seventh at the Great Yorkshire Show, is by Fachell on Approval and out of a Glenside ewe by Glenside His Nibs.

Living up to his name, Cowal Powerhouse, from the Campbell family from Lochgoilhead, also sold for 8000gns to Tom and Robert Laird, Cambwell, Skirling, Biggar; McCosh Bros, Culterallers, Coulter, Biggar and Ballaglonney Ltd, Crosby, Isle of Man.

The breeding behind this cracker, which stood second in the recorded class at the Highland and is full ET brother to 8000gns and 3000gns gimmers, includes Castleknowe Matchmaker onto a ewe by Baltier Kracker.

The Clarks, from Garngour, and Gordon Graham, Sandford, bought the last of the 8000gns lambs. This was Proctors Playboy, a Kerryhill Oliver son out of a home-bred ewe by Douganhill Masterpiece, brought out by flock manager, Geoff Aitken, of Proctors Farm, Slaidburn.

A small sale of shearling rams peaked at 2500gns twice.

First at that was the Quick family’s show tup, Loosebeare Outstanding, from their flock at Zeal, Monachorum, Crediton, Devon. Sired by the past Royal Show winner, Lyonshall King of Clubs, he was inter-breed champion at the Royal Cornwall, champion at Mid Devon and reserve male at the Royal.

Out of a ewe by the home-bred tup, Loosebeare Flash, Outstanding sold to fellow consignors, M and T Pritchard, Rhydwith, Llanymynech, Oswestry, for their Crickheath flock.

Also hitting 2500gns was the breed champion from Peebles Show, Tima Orlando, from David, Isla and Lisa Gray, Sunnycroft, Lindean, Selkirk. A son of the 1500gns Teiglum Nevada, out of a daughter of Crookholm Golden Millar, he sold to Welsh buyer E Hughes, Plas Uchaf.

Other Leading Prices:

Ram Lambs

8000gns – The Campbell family’s Lochgoilhead-based Cowal flock sold four rams to 8000gns – MORE DETAILS TO BE ADDED SHORTLY

7000gns – W Fleming’s Mossknowe Pudsey, by Teiglum Outlaw, to J Innes, Dunscroft, Huntly; GK Jamieson’s Annan Pop Star, by Teiglum Outlaw, to P Gray, Cowgrove, Galston and Mrs K Wight, Midlock, Crawford; T and A Laird’s Cambwell President Obama, by Straidarran Obama, to E Pugh, Glanllyn, Bala, Gwynedd and Claybury Texels, Ensdon House, Shrewsbury; Claybury Texels’ Claybury Powerpacker, by Millar’s Olympian, to J and C Hastings, Rosehill, Holywood, Dumfries; Douganhill Farms, Palnackie, Castle Douglas and R and J Osborne, Castlehill, Durisdeer, Thornhill

6000gns – A Johnstone’s Bogend Perfection, by Kittagh Ottis, to WJ Case, Plumpton Cottage Farm, Ulverston, Cumbria. 5800gns – R Peterkin’s Barnyards Performer, by Mellor Vale Masterpiece, to DI Corfield, Dairy Farm, Duxford, Faringdon.

5200gns – B Renwick’s Castlecairn Phoenix, by Castleknowe Matchmaker, to D Chave, Sampford Arundel, Wellington, Somerset

5000gns – A Gault’s Forkins Powerpacker, by Teiglum Magnum, to R Scott, Ashvale, Drums of Park, Cornhill, Moray and G Morrison, Inchbruich, Cornhill; M Reid’s Kelso Planet, by Mellor Vale Officer, to PK woof, Storth End, Stainton, Kendal; M and C Millar’s Millar’s President, by Cambwell OBE, to W Dunlop, Elmscleugh, Innerwick, Dunbar.

3800gns – A and G Howie’s Knock Powerhouse, by Tophill Nockout, to J and B Goldie, Townfoot, Dumfries; A and G Howie’s Knock Pegasus, by Tophill Nockout, to A Fyffe, Dunwish Road, Omagh, Northern Ireland; JD Hougton’s Tophill Pele, by Knock Orion, to C Ponting, Foxfield, Oxfordshire.

3500gns – A and G Howie’s Knock Papoose, by Garngour Nobleman, to M Hardy Bishop, Grey Peel, Jedburgh; J and H Clark’s Garngour Patriot, by Kiltariff Osprey, to Mrs M Perrings, Rathmell, Yorks.

3400gns – J Forsyth’s Glenside Powerplus, by Glenside Olympian, to D and I Angus, Oldfield, Thurso; AM Sutherland’s Caran Perfection, by Mellor Vale Masterpiece, to G Pyman, Parkview, Stainton.

3200gns – R and E Forsyth’s Baltier Principal, by Templand Oscar, to RM Sym, East Town, Milbourne, Ponteland; J and H Clark’s Garngour Pioneer, by Craighead Masterpiece, to W Boyd, Dechmont, Cambuslang, J Currie, Carlinside, Lanark, Messrs Ballantyne, Auchenheath, Lanark with a quarter share retained by the Clarks; WJ Knox’ Haddo President, by Haddo O Neil, to GE Allan and Sons, Alton of Bandeath, Throsk, Stirling.

Auctioneers: Lawrie and Symington

Reports by Patsy Hunter and Lynsey Clark

	(225) Deveronvale Perfection from Graham Morrison, world record price of 222,000gns
	(120) Drumpark President – of Robbie Scott sold for 12,000gns
	(378) Kelso Pavarotti – from Malcolm Reid, Second top of the day, sold for 40,000gns
	(438) Clougher President – from Victor Chestnutt, sold for 14,000gns
	(202) Garngour Playboy – sold for 14,000gns
	(105) Baltier Panther – sold for 11,000gns for a half share
	(504) Clinterty Pegasus – sold for 10,000gns
	(8) Glanlyn flock – Top price Gimmer – from Edward Pugh, sold for 2400gns
	Judge Chave in the mix
	Packed ring at Lanark