The First Pedigree Sheep Sale of the Decade ‘Rings the Bell’ at NWA J36

Following closure of the Beeston Castle Auction in the Summer of 2019 the North West Texel Breeders Club entrusted their winter In-Lamb fixture to NWA J36, this was followed by the Beltex Sheep Society with excellent entries across the breeds and a packed auction, a tremendous trade prevailed.

Lead the trade was an outstanding Gimmer Lamb, Kaker Mill Mollie, from James Robinson, Carnforth. This first prize-winning lamb was sired by Knock Yankee and out of a Sportsmans Tremendous Dam, after spirited bidding, the hammer fell at 4000gns to Messrs Barlow Bros, Preston.

Taking the overall Championship Texel, under Judge Ms Anna Minnice-Hughes of the Penparc Flock, was Messrs Boden & Davies who with an outstanding Garngour Alabama daughter from their Mellor Vale Flock. This gimmer, with a depth of breeding, was out of a Knap Vicious Sid ewe and In-Lamb to the 65,000gn Garngour Craftsman. Taking this one home at 3200gns was Crossfield Texels, Macclesfield. Staying within the same pen, however, under the Sportsmans Prefix, Kevin Cochran, Darwen paid 1000gns for a Deveronvale Aerostar daughter and In-lamb to Auldhouseburn Crackpot.

At 900gns ad this time from Mellor Vale, Mr AK Belfield, Buxton purchased an outstandingly well-bred gimmer, sired by the renowned Teiglum Young Gun out of a Knap Vicious Sid daughter and carrying lambs to Garngour Craftman.

Local breeders to J36 Peter Woof sold an outstanding pen of gimmers to 1400gns, sired by Eden Valley A1 and, again, out of a Sportsman Tremendous ewe, in-lamb to Stainton Conrad, this was the pick of Mr W Napier, Coalville, Leicestershire. Straight after, and again, from Stainton Messrs RG & B Lewis, Carnforth paid 1000gns for a Gyrhos Andy daughter in-lamb to Auldhouseburn Bolt.

Procters Farms enjoyed a tremendous trade for their grand pen of gimmers selling to a top of 1400gns for a Procters Abracadabra daughter and scanned with triplets to the 100,000gns Sportsmans Batman. Taking this one home was Messrs Highfield Farming, Duns, Berwickshire. From the same pen and heading to High Peak, Derbyshire was the choice of Mr M Radcliffe another Procters Abracadabra daughter and this time carrying a single to Batman, the hammer fell at 900gns. Staying with Sportsman Batman, Procters Farms sold a gimmer lamb out of an Anglezarke Uno daughter at 1000gns to Mr E Davis, Powys.

Myfyr Evans created much interest with his Rhaeadr pen of Gimmer Lambs selling his lead lamb at 1100gns to Mr N Hulse, Slindon sired by Garngour Alabama and out of a Clinterty Yuga Khan daughter. By the same sire, Mr N Pagett, Tarleton took the next at 700gns, however, this time out of a Glenside Whizkid Daughter.

A grand entry of Beltex In-Lamb gimmers sold extremely well to average £555.80 for 30 sold.

Leading the way was Stirlingshires Andrew Morton selling Morton Dazzle, a Kingledores Battleaxe daughter, taking this one home at 1300gns was Mr I Reid, Methuen, Perth. Making it a straight one-two for Scotland was Stuart Wood who sold the entirely homebred Woodies Destinys Child ET by Adonis and In-Lamb to Airyolland Chocco. This girl sold at 1000gns to Jones Livestock, Bonvilston.

Messrs MR & JE Davis sold Rathbone Diana Dors ET, sired by Topflite Al Pacino and carrying twins to Airyolland Cobalt, this one sold away at 850gns to Mr W Storey, Penrith.

Taking the top three prices in the Beltex Gimmer Lamb section was Stuart Wood with Messrs JG & H Lewis, Keighley purchasing Woodies Extra Flash ET, sired by Bailey Brook Chief ET, at 1000gns. By the same sire Woodies Earl Grey ET sold at 800gns to Mr SH Stott, Sowerby Bridge and at 600gns Mr D Allan, Stirling purchased the Airyolland Chocco daughter.

Stuart also sold a brace of implanted embryos at 650gns to Alisdair Prickett, Farleton sired by Airyolland Choco.

J36 also played host to the dispersal sale of the adult portion of the Gentrys flock of Blue Texels. The pen enjoyed great attention and averaged £932.88 for 13 sold.

Leading the way was Gentrys Calantha a Bishops Xavier gimmer carrying twins to Xana Dynamo, an exciting Belgian import. Taking this one at 1700gns was Graeme Jackson, High Bentham. Taking the next three top-priced lots was the Illingworth Family, Eaglesfield, Lockerbie.

Gentrys Beatrix, another Bishops Xavier daughter and this time out of a MAC ewe, this second crop ewe carrying a pair to Gentrys Drifter, made 1400gns. At the same money the Illingworth family also took Gentrys Beautiful, again a two-crop ewe sired by Cairnrock Am Yer Man and dam of service sire Gentrys Drifter, this one sold carrying a pair to Xana Dynamo. The final one to head on the trailer to Lockerbie was Gentrys Bonnie, again, a Xavier daughter and out of a MAC ewe and sold carrying a pair to Gentrys Drifter at 1200gns.

A consignment of Charollais in-lamb from Esmor Evans, Maerdy flock sold very well selling to 450gns, 420 and 400gns.

Texel Averages
83 Gimmer Shearlings averaged £525.63
8 Gimmer Lambs averaged £1056.56

Beltex Averages
2 Ewes averaged £551.25
30 Gimmer Shearlings averaged £555.80
14 Gimmer Lambs averaged £401.25
2 Implanted Embryos £682.50

Blue Texel Averages
13 Ewes averaged £932.88