Demand continued to grow for Beltex rams at McCartneys Rural Worcester centre where the joint Beltex Sheep Society and South West Beltex Club sale on Friday, 2 September, peaked at 2100gns and the shearling ram average continued to improve year on year.

Huntspill Gavin ET, P Clatworthy, 2100gns

It was two unshown shearlings from Percy Clatworthy’s Highbridge-based flock that topped the entry with his dearest, Huntspill Gavin ET, selling to AL and Ar Wolfe, Stoney Stanton, Leicester. The result of a pair of implanted embryos bought from Stuart Wood, Gavin is by Vogue Fastrac and out of a Clary Chancer-sired Woodies ewe.

Huntspill Gregory, P Clatworthy, 1500gns

Hitting 1500gns when knocked down to G Davies, Llanddewi Brefi, Tregaron, was Hunstpill Gregory which offers some different breeding being by Black Jack Disaranno and out of Hackney Daphne, a Topflite Al Pacino daughter.

Fingle Gaff, L Elworthy, 1st Prize Shearling Ram, Male Champion and Supreme Champion, 1300gns

The Supreme Champion from the pre-sale show was next in the trade stakes when Louise Elworthy’s Fingle Gaffa, all the way from Crockernwell, Exeter, sold for 1300gns to R Richins, Mill Lane, Marston. This son of the imported ram called The Bare Boy is out of the Teign Valley Talisman-sired Fingle Bandcamp.

Dooley Gervais, D Thornley, 2nd Prize Shearling Ram, Reserve Male and Reserve Supreme, 1000gns

Messrs Richins bought the sole other four-figure entry when they paid 1000gns for the Reserve Supreme, Doley Gervais. Bred from Dooley Exciting, a Clary Banter daughter in David and Joe Thornley’s Diseworth-based Flock, Gervais is by Dooley Earnest.

Heath Holm Hanky Panky, AJ Mutch & Son, 1st Prize Ram Lamb, 800gns

Angus Mutch sold the highest price ram lamb at 800gns when his Heath Holm Hanky Panky from New Yatt, Witney, sold to Robert Shaw, Steenwood Lane, Rugeley. Sired by Broxty Fakri D’oudairies, Hanky Panky is out of a Charndon ewe by Wealdenway Winters Tale.

Females peaked at 520gns for Aled Groucott’s Swffryd gimmer, a Fronarth Edward daughter from Hafodyrynys, Crumlin. Bred from the Topflite Al Pacino daughter, Swffryd Daisy, she sold to Robert Parker, Hambridge Road, Bishops Itchington.

Averages: One aged ram, £315 (4 x £446 in 2021); 31 shearling rams, £628 (37 x £605); six ram lambs, £348 (3 x £427); 17 shearling ewes, £293 (32 x £445); eight ewe lambs, £286 (no comparison).