A STRONG trade from Thursday continued through to Friday for shearling rams at the Carlisle Premier when, late on in the sale, two broke the five-figure barrier to sell for 14,000gns and 12,000gns. Uncertainty about whether buyers would have bought up on Thursday and not return to buy today was thwarted when 347 shearlings rams changed hands to average £1403. This compared to 306 at £1390 yesterday, totalling £1390 for 653 between the two days (against 687 at £1152 last year).

Hitting the high note was once again a shearling ram from Stuart Wood, this time from young son, Murray’s pen in the shape of Murrays Expert which sold to Matthew Burleigh, Matt’s Flock. Among the first crop of sons to sell by the 4200gns Kingledores Demonstrator bought as a lamb at Skipton, Expert is out of an imported ewe bought at a Belgian dispersal.

At 12,000gns was Aled Groucott’s Swffryd Eye Catcher ET which sold in a two-way split to Brian Ryder, Ryder Flock, and Stuart Wood, Woodies. Full of breeding, Eye Catcher is by the 65,000gns breed record holder, Airyolland Castro, while the dam is Aled’s prolific brood ewe, the Ryder Rooney-sired Hackney Treacle which is a former Royal Welsh Show champion.

Two then sold for 8000gns apiece, with the first of these being Brian Hall’s Ainstable Earnest ET which sold to Jonathan Watson, Tweeddale, and Henry Jewitt, Jewitt and Sunnybank. Sired by the 15,000gns Black Jack Casanova, Earnest is out of the home-bred Ainstable Wendyhouse, which is in turn by an imported ram.

Also making 8000gns was Grant Maxwell’s Faughhill Elephant In The Room which sold to four Welsh breeders – Rhys Francis, Crew; Gethin Mathias, Buarth; Dafydd Lewis, Cothi; and Dafydd Jones, Frongoy. His pedigree features the Mortons Cheeky Boy ram shared with Andrew Baillie, Callacrag, on to the Eildon Wolverine-sired Eildon Alabama.

Just behind on 7800gns was John McLean’s Culsh Ebenezer which sold to Wil Evans, Myna. Well and truly surpassing John’s previous best price of 2700gns, Ebenezer is by the 1600gns Lyonpark Drew and out of Culsh Whitney, an Orkney Too Hot To Handle daughter.

Other leading prices:

7000gns – RT Wood’s Kingledores Einstein, by Clary Prankster, to G & L Carroll, Edendiack.

6500gns – J & R Jerman’s Swffryd Exclusive ET, by Airyolland Castro, to JC Whiteford, Tercrosset, and J Little, Skiddaw View; E McAllister’s Eddie Et, by Rathbone Tony, to A Maclean, Northcop, Caberfeidh & Macleans.

6200gns – E McAllister’s Artnagullion Edwin ET, by Rathbone Tony, to JAD & PM Owens, Cascob.

6000gns – J & J McLean’s Culsh Ernie, by Lyonpark Drew, to OEM Jones & EM Roberts, Cynin.

5800gns – E McAllister’s Artnagullion Eddy ET, by Tercrosset Blaze, to B Owen, Dysynni.

5500gns – Procters Farm’s Procters Emoji, by Tiree Carter, to J & J McLean, Culsh; A Groucott’s Swffryd 717 to AD Bishop, Bishops.

5000gns – MR & JE Davis’ Rathbone Eagle Has Landed, by Belvoir View Derminator, to E McAllister, Artnagullion; RT Wood & Sons’ Kingledores El Paso, by Bailey Brook Chief, to C Barnes, Beechtree.

Photos to follow. A Saturday round-up of shearling gimmers and ram lambs will follow tomorrow with full report at conclusion of sale.