Trade hit a top of 30,000gns on the opening day of the Beltex Sheep Society’s Carlisle Premier Sale when Anne Story’s much admired BorderEsk pen soared to that price for BorderEsk Finders Keepers.

Overall, 669 shearling rams cashed in to average pennies above £1500, compared to 656 at £1392 last year and 687 at £1152 in 2019.

Far surpassing Anne’s previous best price of 4000gns, Finders Keepers is by the 1600gns Ardstewart Cheeky Charlie while his dam is the home-bred BorderEsk Caribbean Queen, herself by the Belgian ram, Gavin Van’t Zaubekedal. After some brisk bidding, Finders Keepers was knocked down to cousins, Stuart and Richard Wood, buying for their Woodies and Kingledores flocks, respectively.

It was a particularly good day for Anne, whose run of nine shearling rams cashed in to average £6382, with a second top price here of 8000gns paid for BorderEsk Fernando ET. Selling to CJ Roots, Dumfries, his pedigree features Topflite Al Pacino on to the BorderEsk Touche-sired BorderEsk Angel Eyes.

Selling for the second top price late on in the day was Tullylagan Fairfax, a 20,00gns sale which made a tidy profit for Alan Miller, Lurg, who bought him at Lanark last year for a fraction of the price. Bred by the Hammond brothers, this Tullylagan Elite son is out of Headlind Chesnut, a Callacrag Wise Crack daughter. He caught the eye of Gerwyn Jones, for his newly established Graig Goch flock.

Not far behind on 18,000gns and also selling late in the day was Airyolland Freuchie from Neale and Janet McQuistin which caught the eye of Jock McMillan, Clary. Used as a lamb, he is out of the Tercrosset Action Man-sired Airyolland Blethskite while his sire is Airyolland Escobar.

Also in the high five-figures at 17,000gns was the dearest on offer from Kevin, Tom and Jack Buckle in the shape of Buckles Frankel ET whose pedigree needs no introduction being a Gyffin Dexter x College Adele ram. This lad sold to Victoria and Gillian Bowring, Windmill.

Ardstewart Fred Flintstone from Wade and Alison McCrabbe hit 12,000gns when chapped down in a two-way share to Paul and Christine Tippetts, Hackney and Wilodge, and Liam and Jack Swinnerton, Lipley. His pedigree features Swffryd Express on to Ardstewart Dixie Chick, a Kingledores Crusader daughter.

The final five-figure price was 10,000gns paid for Jane Campbell’s Clary Fork Out ET, bred by Jock McMillan and bought here last year. Reserve Supreme at the Royal Highland Showcase in June, he is by Smart Ass Dark Horse while his dam is Clary Delight, by Hackney Braveheart. He sold to Paul and Nigel Slater, Whiteley Hey.

Hitting 9000gns when also sold to the Slaters was Grant Maxwell’s Faughhill Fifty-Cent, a Ryder DIY son bred from the Callacrag Barbarian-sired Eildon Coral.

Another at 8000gns was the first in from James Wannop, Wannop’s Firecracker ET which sold to Andrew Baillie, Callacrag, and Neil Laing, Perryflatts. By Matt’s Edward, his dam is Brickrow Bellla, herself by Matt’s Wild Son.

Hitting 7500gns when also sold to the Slaters was Gary Beacom’s Lakeview Firefly ET, by Glantre Digger and out of Rathbone Baby, a Matt’s Ambassador daughter.

Aged rams peaked at 3500gns for Paul Tippetts’ Lakeview Doozer, bred by Gary Beacom. Sired by Murrays Code and out of Brickrow Bunty, he sold to GL Riby and Son, Stonehills, as 13 aged rams averaged £1381.

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