Carlisle Club Sale Report

Carlisle - Thursday 1st & Friday 2nd September 2011

Courtesy of Lynsey Clark – Scottish Farmer

After A slow start to the day, trade picked up towards the end of the Solway and Tyne Breeders’ Club sale of Texels at Carlisle, with five ram lambs and one shearling eventually hitting the five-figure mark.

In all, 272 lambs were sold, with averages down by £20 on the year, but for 25 more sold, while the shearling trade rose by £78 a head, for 34 more sold. Prices peaked at 38,000gns, for the best from Bruce Renwick’s 18-ewe Castlecairn flock at Legars, Kelso.

Sale topper was Castlecairn SAS Commander, a March-born son of the 8000gns Knock Powerpacker, out of a ewe by the 34,000gns Baltier Kracker. The dam also bred Castlecairn Nile God, which sold for 28,000gns in 2007, and she is a maternal sister to the well-known 13,000gns tup, Castlecairn Keltic Star.

Following a kick-off bid of 5000gns, this lamb was eventually knocked down to a consortium of north buyers, with Robbie Wilson, North Dorlaithers, Turriff, taking a half share, and the remaining half being shared between Jim Innes, Dunscroft, Huntly; Graeme Morrison, Inchbruich, Banff; and Gordon Taylor, Aberchirder.

It was much later in the sale before any more sparks flew, when Charlie Boden’s Sportsman’s flock from Mellor Hall, Stockport, Cheshire, secured bids up to 12,000gns and 10,000gns. The dearer of the two, Sportsman’s Scania, had stood reserve overall champion at the pre-sale show, and sold to five breeders – Bruce Renwick, Castlecairn; Procters Farm, Slaidburn, Clitheroe; Jimmy Douglas, Woodhead of Cairness, Fraserburgh; Alistair Gault, Newton Abbey, Co Antrim; and Rodger Strawbridge, Coleraine, also Northern Ireland. Part of the first prize pen of three, he is a son of the 22,000gns sire, Cowal Rob Roy, while his dam is a home-bred daughter of the 28,000gns Glenside Legacy.

The 10,000gns seller was the pen number one and another of the first prize trio, Sportsman’s Scout, another by Rob Roy, while his dam is a daughter of Castlecairn Nile God. He was knocked down to Willie Fleming, Hillhead, Kirkpatrick Fleming; Thomas Illingworth, Howgillside, Eaglesfield; Clark Farms, Blackhill Farm, Crossford, Lanark; and Alan Campbell, Strawfrank, Carstairs Junction.

Matching the 10,000gns price tag, was one from Robbie Wilson’s 40-ewe Milnbank flock, named Milnbank Spunky – which was part of the group of three that took second prize. He is sired by the 40,000gns Glenside Razzle Dazzle – the tup which also bred Robbie’s 25,000gns Lanark seller the previous week. The dam, a daughter of Millar’s Outstanding, is out of an 8500gns gimmer which is also the gran of the 25k Lanark tup.

He sold in a three-way split, to Tommy and Fiona MacTaggart, Rascarrel, Auchencairn; Sharon Bothwell’s Glenleary flock at Stretton, Oakham; and David Houghton’s Tophill flock at Isherwood Farm, Bury.

Also from the Milnbank pen, the first in the ring, Milnbank Seabird, sold for 3800gns to Robin Orr, Halbeath, Dunfermline, and Matthew Jack, Carriston, Star, Glenrothes. Another son of Razzle Dazzle, he is out of the 7200gns Ettrick gimmer.

John Mellin, Hull House, Hellifield, Skipton, was next to enjoy a strong trade, with sales at 9000gns and 8000gns. Dearest, at 9000gns, was Hull House Special Brew, a son of the home-bred Hull House Rothchild I. Out of a home-bred daughter of Hull House Ninety Nine, he sold to another trio of buyers, including the Quick family at Loosebeare Manor, Crediton, Devon; Bob Osborne, Castlehill, Durisdeer; and Douganhill Farms, Orchardton Mains, Palnackie.

The next lot in the ring, Hull House Sam Whisky – another by Rothchild – reached 8000gns, selling to RH Ireland, Heys Farm, Whalley, Blackburn. A first prize winner at the Great Yorkshire, he is out of a ewe by Claybury Outlaw.

Next best was a 6500gns bid for the pen number one from Malcolm Reid’s Kelso lot, now based at Grassmainston Farm, Alloa. Sired by the 32,000gns Llangwym Rocky, and out of a ewe by Mellor Vale Officer, he sold to Jimmy Douglas, Woodhead of Cairness, Fraserburgh, and Robbie Scott, Ashvale, Drums of Park, Banff.

n Meanwhile, the shearling trade topped at 11,500gns, for the fourth prize winner, Peacehay Razzle Dazzle, from David Chave’s flock at Wellington, Somerset. Sire here is the 5200gns Lanark purchase, Castlecairn Phoenix, while the dam is a home-bred daughter of Lyonshall King of Clubs. He sold to R and B Smith, Slapton Manor, Towcester, with Mr Chave retaining a half share.

Top price from the Procters pen, brought out by Jeff Aitken, was 5000gns for Procters Rambo, a son of the Kelso-bought Clydeside Oscar, out of a privately-bought Doonguile ewe, a daughter of Haltcliffe Jetsetter. A second prize winner, he sold to J Knight, Church Style, Wasdale, Seascale, Cumbria, and TC Whiteford, Tercrosset, Brampton.

Leading the way for Brian MacTaggart of Douganhill Farms, Castle Douglas, was a 3700gns bid for Douganhill Ringleader, a son of the Northern Ireland-bought Hunting Cairn Opposition Lookout, out of a ewe by Fachell Massive. He was knocked down to Messrs Pawson, Billinge Nook, Blackburn.

Averages: 206 shearling rams - £895.00; 272 lamb rams - £955.15; six aged rams - £796.25.

Auctioneers – Harrison & Hetherington Limited