Scottish National Show & Sale - Lanark

25th - 26th August 2010

Sale Report

Courtesy of The Scottish Farmer

Texel sheep breeders enjoyed a flying trade at the Scottish National show and sale at Lanark, where a top price of 65,000gns, complete with a further 14 ram lambs selling at five figure prices, and 22 selling at between 5000gns and 10,000gns, ensured overall averages improved on the year.

More impressive, however, was the fact that an increased demand for breeders and commercial sheep, saw averages improve on last year’s world record breaking 220,000gns sale, which added £650 a head to the 2009 average alone. Clearance rates were also noteworthy compared to other terminal sire breed sales, with the 2010 sale witnessing a 77% clearance despite more than 100 lambs turned out unsold.

Taking this year’s sale by storm at 65,000gns was the best from Alastair Gault’s Forkins flock from Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, which only three years ago produced a 28,000gns pen leader. His topper this time sold to the Brennand family, owners of Trinidad Investments, who run 120 pedigree Texel ewes at Warninglid, Haywards Heath, West Sussex.

"He’s all size and he’s one of the longest sheep here," said flock manager Peter Sutton, who together with his wife Dawn run the High Weald Texel and Lleyn ewe flocks established just three years ago on this 180-acre farm

"He’s got a good tight skin, a great back end and he’s still good on his legs with a good head. I know he’s not got the flashiest of heads – his head is smaller but a lot of Texels are getting too big of the head," Mr Sutton said, explaining the purchase for Cornelio Brennand and his seven sons, who own various industries in Brazil to include ceramics and glass.

No strangers to the high fliers, Trinidad Investments have founded their flock on many top priced gimmers at in-lamb sales up and down the country along with several of the highest priced females at last year’s Muiresk dispersal. They also bought another two ram lambs at the sale, in a bid to breed and bring out some of the best breeding sheep in future years to come.

Their 65,000gns purchase should do the job too, having a cracking pedigree behind him. Forkins Rocksolid, which stood inter-breed champion on his sole previous outing at Ballymoney, is a direct son of the noted 5200gns sire, Tamnamoney Ned, a tup sold at Dungannon in 2007 which bred the second top priced lamb there last year in the shape of the 5800gns Livery Predator, and has since been sold on for further pedigree use.

Just as impressive is the dam, a home-bred ewe by Clynnog Joe Tex that bred the reserve Texel at Balmoral this year for Alastair, who runs just 20 Texel ewes alongside 20 pedigree Suffolk ewes in his Forkins flock.

Next in the bidding stakes at 50,000gns, the Knox family – William and sons Andrew and Graeme – Mid Haddo, Turriff, produced their best ever trade in the shape of Haddo Ringleader, purchased by Jeff Aiken, flock manager of the Proctors Farm flock from Slaidburn, Lancs.

Described by Jeff as "the most correct lamb in the yard," this cracker, which stood fourth at the pre-sale show and first at Turriff, is another with an impressive pedigree behind him, being bred from the most successful line in the flock and by the 8000gns Knock Powerpacker. The mother, a home-bred ewe by Cowal Maverick is maternal sister to the 32,000gns Haddo Inquirer and dam of the 11,000gns Haddo Knockout. A show winner into the bargain, she was also reserve champion female at the Highland in 2006 and has twice secured the inter-breed championship at Turriff.

John Forsyth’s much talked about Glenside pen from Lochlands, Maybole, was another in the money, producing no fewer than three five-figure prices, a pen top of 40,000gns and the lead flock average of £9332 for eight.

Star of the show here was the number three lamb, Glenside Razzle Dazzle, reckoned to be "the best headed lamb in the market", which made 40,000gns, selling to Robbie Wilson, new owner of the Milnbank flock from Turriff; Graham Morrison, Inchbruich, Cornhill, Banff; Jim Innes, Dunscroft, Huntly and Ian Farquhar, Silverleys, Duncanstone, Insch.

Again top breeding is behind this eyecatcher, with the mother, Glenside Lulu, by Castlecairn Keltic Star, being the flock’s star show ewe which not only scooped the breed honours at the Highland this year but also at the Highland and the Royal as a gimmer. The sire is the 9000gns Strathbogie Python, bought here last year from Jim Innes.

His full brother, Glenside Ring A Ding, which also stood third at the Highland, was another in the frame, selling for 10,000gns to better known Blackface sheep breeders, Angus Kennedy, Mitchellhill, Biggar, Malcolm Coubrough, Hartside, Abington; the Renwick family, Craig Douglas, Yarrow and John and Richard Wood, Kingledores, Tweedsmuir.

Matching the 10,000gns bid, John and his shepherd Brian Robb, saw Glenside Rocket, another the same way bred, but out of a different Keltic Star daughter, sell to John McKerrow, Grougfoot, Linlithgow and David Milne, Balbinny Farms, Forfar.

The reserve champion at the pre-sale show, Cambwell Rob Roy, from Tom and Robert Laird, Cambwell, Biggar, was another hitting a big five-figure price, selling for 40,000gns in a three-way split between Kenny Pratt, Oldtown, Peterculter, Aberdeen; Albert and George Howie, Knock, Stuartfield, Peterhead and Cumbrian breeder, George Wilkinson, Arkle House, Aspatria. The breeding behind this first prize MLC lamb at the Highland with an index of 299, which also stood first at Lesmahagow, includes the 8000gns Cowal Powerhouse out of a home-bred ewe by Cambwell Laird that bred the 2800gns Pioneer.

Later in the day, Welsh breeder, Iolo Prys Jones, received his best ever trade too selling Llangwm Rocky from his 60-ewe flock from Denbighshire, for 32,000gns. His pen leader, by the 4600gns Kelso Picasso and out of a Cowal Monarch of the Glen home-bred daughter, was bought by the breeder of the sire, Malcolm Reid, who now farms at Grassmainston, Alloa.

On the income side, Mr Reid sold to a top of 9000gns for Kelso Referee, a son of Kelso Prostar, the tup retained for breeding last year after having been turned out of the sale ring at 45,000gns. He is out of a Baltier embryo ewe by Baltier Mercedes and sold in a three-way split to Orkney. Keith Hourston, Orphir, who bought half while the remainder sold to R Rendall, Longhouse and A and V Copeland, Overhouse.

Much, much later in the day, Jimmy Douglas, Woodhead of Cairness, Fraserburgh, sold a son of the world record priced 220,000gns Deveronvale Perfection, bought from Graham Morrison, last year, for 30,000gns to John Sinnett, Stockton Court, Worcester. The mother is by Baileys Money Maker.

Lambs from the Campbell brothers – Keith, Allan, and Roy – who own the Cowal flock from Drimsynie Estate, Lochgoilhead, proved extremely popular, securing the award for the second prize pen of three, along with a top price of 22,000gns for Cowal Rob Roy II.

Selling at this mark was the pen number two, a son of last year’s 40,000gns Kelso Pavarotti, out of a ewe by Muiresk Northern Dancer that is also the mother of the 8000gns Cowal Powerhouse, the sire of Cambwell’s 40,000gns lamb sold earlier and the dam of the best gimmer up for grabs and the in-lamb sale at Carlisle, in November. Forking out the cash for this topper was Charlie Boden, buying for the Sportsmans flock from Mellor, Stockport, Cheshire.

Another Pavarotti son out of one of the best ewes in the 45-ewe Cowal flock which also made up part of the second prize pen, then sold for 9000gns to William and Carole Ingram, Logie Durno, Pitcaple, Inverurie, and Angus Howie, Millhouse, Dunning, Perth. Cowal Rising Star, out of a show ewe by Ettrick Jackpot was also fourth prize in the performance recorded class at the Great Yorkshire.

There were plenty of celebrations too when father and son team of Archie and John MacGregor, Allanfauld, Kilsyth – better known for breeding pedigree bulls and Blackface sheep – received 18,000gns for Allanfauld Rockafella, a Livery Predator son, boasting one of the highest index in the catalogue at 389.

Equally well bred on the female side, this lamb which stood reserve at Campsie Show is out of the best ewe in the flock by Baltier Nailer which stood first at Biggar as a ewe lamb and third at the Highland as a gimmer. Four breeders came up with the goods for this cracker, including the Lairds at Cambwell; Doug Nesbitt, Alwent, Winston, Darlington; Steven Richardson, Mount Pleasant, Great Houghton and Jennifer Lodge, Moseley Grange, Moss, South Yorkshire.

Keeping the Irish to the fore, Darren McKay, who runs the Rowandale flock at Rathkenny, Ballymena, sold his best at 14,000gns to the Ingrams at Logie Durno and Angus Howie, Millhouse. Rowandale Rocky, which stood third in the open class at the pre-sale show, is by the Cornerstone Isaac son, Tullagh Legend and out of a bought-in ewe by Brague Jethro.

George Howie, who judged the pre-sale show, and his father, Albert, West Knock, also had a good day selling Knock Ronick, a son of the 14,000gns Garngour Playboy, for 11,000gns to Trinidad Investments. Maternal brother to the 20,000gns Knock Oregano, the 10,000gns Knock Orion and a 12,000gns gimmer, he is out of a home-bred ewe by Anglezarke Krug.

Three other lambs came under the hammer for 11,000gns including the first prize MLC lamb from the Clark family – Jim and Helen and sons, Alan, Andrew and David – Garngour, Lesmahagow. Their sale leader, Garngour Rob Roy, a March-born substitute is by Rascarrel Panther and out of a home-bred ewe by Craighead Masterpiece that stood inter-breed champion at East Kilbride this year. He sold in a two-way split, to Tom and Sue Bagan, Waterlands, Stewarton, and Archie and John MacGregor, Allanfauld, Kilsyth.

Later, the pre-sale champion, Clinterty Ronaldo, from Brian Buchan and son Brian, Clinterty, New Aberdour, Fraserburgh, attracted the same money in a joint bid from John Forsyth, Glenside and Bruce Renwick, of the Castlecairn flock at Legars, Kelso. A full brother to the £9000 ewe lamb sold privately earlier in the year to Deveronvale, he is by Clinterty Par One, a tup retained for breeding by Kelso Oxygen, the sire of the 220,000gns Deveronvale Perfection, out of a ewe by Ettrick Mighty Mouse.

Another breeder with plenty to smile about was Peter Woof, who has been breeding Texels for the past 20 years at Storth End, Stainton, Kendal. He produced his best ever sale for a tup lamb at 11,000gns and also topped the gimmer trade the previous night.

His lamb, by Fachell on Approval, a tup that has bred sons to 8000gns, is out of a home-bred ewe by Cambwell Mountain. Forking out the cash this time were a quintet of Irish breeders to include Victor Chestnutt, Clougher; A and J Thomson, Bush Valley; A McCartney, Grieg Lane, Cloughmills; L Linton, Armoy, Ballymoney and I Olphert, Bushmills.

Not far behind, on 9000gns, John Gilmour and son John, Humeston, Maybole, sold their best to D Rankin, Kilmaluag House, Duntulm, Isle of Skye. Their Humeston Rarity, the number three lamb, by the 2800gns Kelso Personality, if out of a home-bred ewe by Baltier Nailer that stood 10th at the Highland as a gimmer.

Leading the shearling trade at 3200gns was Ettrick Polaroid, from Gordon and David Gray, Lindean, Selkirk, purchased by J Leitch, Evie, Orkney. A son of the 7000gns Ellen Valley Nightrider, he is out of a ewe by Hewerhill Mr Big and a grand-son of the Royal Show champion Ettrick ewe in 2004.

Gimmers -
Texel females from Peter Woof, who runs the 60-ewe Stainton flock at Storth End, Stainton, Kendal, proved the star attraction at the gimmer sale staged the previous night at Lanark, securing both the female championship and the two top prices at 7000gns.

First to hit the 7000gns mark was a daughter of Fachell on Approval, a tup bought at Carlisle in 2008 that has bred sons to 8000gns and 11,000gns, out of a home-bred ewe by Skiddaw Lion, which in turn is an ET out of a 3000gns Stainton female.

The buyers were Tom and Sue Bagan of Waterlands Texels, Stewarton, who also bought Mr Woof’s second gimmer, the female champion at the same price.

She is by Gib Farm Mouchie and out of a home-bred ewe by Hilltop Jupiter that has bred sons to 4000gns.

Reserve female came from the firm of KD and DE Millar, Crookholm, Canonbie, Dumfriesshire, shown by Andrew and Kay Watson. This was a Millar’s Olympian daughter out of a 1600gns bought in ewe by Crookholm Montys Pass. The buyer at 2000gns was David McKerrow, Nochnary, Freuchie, Fife.

Overall, 45 gimmers cashed in at £837.67.

Lot 412 FORKINS ROCKSOLID – GAF1000046 – Mr Alastair Gault - Highest priced Ram Lamb - sold for 65,000gns to Trinidad Investments

Lot 258 HADDO RINGLEADER – KWJ1000063 – William J Knox – 4th Ram Lamb class - sold for 50,000gns

Lot 168 GLENSIDE RAZZLE DAZZLE – FPG1000055 – John Forsyth – sold for 40,000gns

Lot 303 CAMBWELL ROB ROY – LTC1000028 – T & A Laird – Reserve Male Champion – 2nd Ram Lamb class - sold for 40,000gns

Lot 570 LLANGWM ROCKY – JLI1000060 – Iolo Prys Jones – sold for 32,000gns

Lot 587 CAIRNESS RANGER – DJV1000110 – Jimmy Douglas – 6th Ram Lamb class - sold for 30,000gns

Lot 510 COWAL ROB ROY II – CKC1000214 – K, A & R Campbell – sold for 22,000gns

Lot 554 ALLANFAULD ROCKAFELLA - XMM1000014 – A MacGregor – sold for 18,000gns

Lot 486 ROWANDALE ROCKY – MKR1000007 – Darren McKay – 3rd Ram Lamb class - sold for 14,000gns

Lot 133 STAINTON – WPS1000031 - Mr P K Woof – sold for 11,000gns

Lot 222 KNOCK RONICK – HAK1000053 – A & G Howie – sold for 11,000gns

Lot 429 CLINTERTY RONALDO – BBY1000050 – Brian Buchan – Supreme Champion – Best Male – 1st place Ram Lamb – sold for 11,000gns

Lot 1386 CJN1000050 – GARNGOUR ROBROY – J & H Clark – 1st Place Performance Recorded class sold for 11,000gns