Carlisle Premier Sale – full report

13th - 14th August 2021


Beltex sheep were certainly in demand at the Beltex Sheep Society’s Premier Sale of males and females at Harrison and Hetherington’s Borderway Centre on Friday, 13 August, and Saturday, 14 August, where averages improved in all sections compared to the 2020 sale with a top price of 30,000gns paid for a shearling ram and a new record of 15,000gns set for a female sold at auction.

The shearling rams on offer on the Friday saw 669 of the 740 forward change hands to meet an impressive 90% clearance rate and average pennies above the £1500 mark, compared to 656 at £1392 last year and 687 at £1152 in 2019.

The following day 145 out of 204 (71% clearance) lambs changed hands to average £1666 against 161 at £1664 in 2020 (with the 45,000gns Matt’s Flash Harry adding £280 to the 2020 average) and 192 at £1202 in 2019. Shearling ewes were a similar story as 250 out of 313 sold (80% clearance) to level at £991, compared to 246 at £920 last year at 289 at £651 in 2019.

 

Border Esk Finders Keepers, Anne Story, 30,000gns

 

Leading the trade at 30,000gns was one from the much-admired BorderEsk pen of shearling rams belonging to Anne Story and daughter, Rachael, from Longtown. Far surpassing Anne’s previous best price of 4000gns, Finders Keepers is by the 1600gns Ardstewart Cheeky Charlie which has clicked well with the flock featuring a lot of Belgian genetics. As such, his dam is the home-bred BorderEsk Caribbean Queen, herself by the Belgian ram, Gavin Van’t Zaubekedal. After some brisk bidding round the packed-out ring, Finders Keepers was knocked down to cousins, Stuart and Richard Wood, buying for their Woodies and Kingledores flocks from Aberdeenshire and near Biggar, respectively.

 

Borderesk Fernando ET, Anne Story, 8000gns

 

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 successful show ewe, BorderEsk Angel Eyes.

 

Borderesk Fire Cracker, Anne Story, 5500gns

 

Anne received a further 5500gns for another by the Ardstewart Cheeky Charlie ram in the shape of BorderEsk Firecracker, which this time sold to Percy Clatworthy for his Huntspill flock in Somerset. His dam is the Al Pacino daughter, Hackney Charmer.

 

Tullylagan Fairfax, Alan Miller, 20,000gns

 

Sticking with the shearling rams and 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’s Lurg flock from near Inverurie, who bought him at Lanark last year for a fraction of the price. Bred by the Hammond brothers and brought out with help from Alan’s daughter, Ellie, this Tullylagan Elite son is out of Headlind Chesnut, a Callacrag Wise Crack daughter, and sold to commercial producer, Welshman Gerwyn Jones, who regularly tops the prime lamb trade and will also use him on his newly established Graig Goch flock.

 

Airyolland Freuchie, Neale and Janet McQuistin, 18,000gns

 

Not far behind on 18,000gns and also selling late in the day was Airyolland Freuchie from Neale and Janet McQuistin, Newton Stewart, which caught the eye of Jock McMillan for use in his Clary also near Newton Stewart. Used successfully as a lamb in the McQuistins’ flock, he is out of the Tercrosset Action Man-sired Airyolland Bletherskite which also bred the top priced Beltex at last year’s Kelso Ram Sales, Airyolland Eejit, while his sire is the ninth generation of home-bred rams, Airyolland Escobar.

The McQuistins brought in a further 6000gns when the Dinsdale family bought Airyolland Falco ET for their Highfield flock near Penrith with Stuart Wood taking a half share. The Airyolland Eeksy Peeksy-sired Falco is out of Airyolland Avril Lavigne, an Airyolland Watchman daughter and full sister to Airyolland Avicii.

 

Buckles Frankel ET, Buckles Boys, 17,000gns

 

Also in the high five-figures at 17,000gns was the dearest on offer from Kevin, Tom and Jack Buckle’s Kirby Stephen-based flock in the shape of Buckles Frankel ET whose pedigree needs no introduction being by the 10,000gns Gyffin Dexter and out of College Adele, a proven breeder and former inter-breed champion at the Great Yorkshire Show. This lad sold to Victoria and Gillian Bowring for their Windmill flock near Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.

 

Buckles Filthy Rich ET, Buckles Boys, 6700gns

 

The Buckles boys received a further 6700gns from Dafydd Owen and Edward Lewis for one from their second run in the shape of Buckles Filthy Rich ET which will go to work in their Smart Ass and Gyffin flocks in Wales. A full brother to the 30,000gns Buckles Dark Dawn, Filthy Rich is out of the prolific Ardstrewart Super Mario daughter, Buckles Annie Power, while his sire is Ardstewart Armani.

 

Ardstewart Fred Flintstone, Wade and Alison McCrabbe, 12,000gns

 

Ardstewart Fred Flintstone from Irish breeders, Wade and Alison McCrabbe, hit 12,000gns when chapped down in a two-way split to Shropshire breeders, Paul and Christine Tippetts, of the Hackney and Wilodge flocks, and Jack and Liam Swinnerton, Lipley flock. His pedigree features Swffryd Express bought as a lamb last year on to Ardstewart Dixie Chick, a daughter of the former ram lamb record holder, Kingledores Crusader.

 

Clary Fork Out ET, Jane Campbell, 8000gns

 

The final five-figure price was 10,000gns paid for Jane Campbell and son, Ross’ Clary Fork Out ET, bred by Jock McMillan and bought here last year to join their Cree flock near Newton Stewart. 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, making Fork out a full brother to the 9000gns Clary Fly. He sold to Paul and Nigel Slater for commercial ram production at Whiteley Hey, Macclesfield.

 

Faughill Fifty-Cent, Grant Maxwell, 9000gns

 

Hitting 9000gns when also sold to the Slaters was Grant Maxwell’s Faughhill Fifty-Cent from his Melrose-based flock. This son of the 10,000gns Ryder DIY shared between five Scottish breeders is bred from the Callacrag Barbarian-sired Eildon Coral.

 

Faughill Fransisco, Grant Maxwell, 7000gns

 

A strong pen from Grant also hit 7000gns twice, with the first of these being another Ryder DIY son which sold to Jeff and Jennifer Aiken for the Procters flock near Wray, Lancaster. Used as a lamb on Texel and Charollais ewes, Faughhill Francisco’s dam is Faughhill Daenerys Stormborn, herself by Eildon Boris.

The next lot was the other at 7000gns when sold to J Gray, Whittingham, Alnwick. Faughhill Feargul, which is by the 8000gns Faughhill Elephant in The Room sold here last year, is out of another Eildon Boris daughter, Faughhill Daisy Duck.

 

Wannop’s Firecracker ET, James Wannop, 8000gns

 

Another at 8000gns was the first in from James Wannop, Wannop’s Firecracker ET which sold in a two-way split to Andrew Baillie, Callacrag, and Neil Laing for his children, Euan, Fiona and Kirsten’s Perryflatts flock, both based in Lanarkshire. Firecracker’s pedigree features Matt’s Edward on to Brickrow Bellla, herself by Matt’s Wild Son.

 

Wannop’s Fie Fi Fo Fum, James Wannop, 7000gns

 

Morecambe-based James also received 7000gns from DT & MO Morgan, Brecon, Powys, for Wannop’s Fie Fi Fo Fum, with this Bonecastle Dante son being bred from the Matt’s Abracadabra daughter, Dean Brow Cleo.

 

Lakeview Firefly ET, Gary Beacom, 7500gns

 

Making 7500gns when also sold to the Slaters was Lakeview Firefly ET from Northern Irish breeder, Gary Beacom, County Fermanagh. Sired by Glantre Digger, Firefly is out of Rathbone Baby, a Matt’s Ambassador daughter.

 

Bronic Frederick ET, Nick and Charlotte Brown, 6200gns

 

Hitting the 6200gns mark when sold two ways to Nick and Becki Dakin for their Panbeck flock, and Chris Windle for his Cavendish flock, both near Skipton, was Nick and Charlotte Brown’s Bronic Frederick ET from their Lancaster-based flock. His pedigree features Rathbone Desperado on to the Broxty Supreme-sired Inveresk American Beauty.

 

Glantre Flyer, Michael and Heulwen Owens, 6000gns

 

Michael and Heulwen Owens had a good day with a top of 6000gns paid by GW Jones, Caereinion, for their Glantre Flyer from Llandysul. Full of home breeding, he is by Glantre Dyson while his dam is an unnamed W ewe by Airyolland Loyalty.

 

Todhall Firecracker ET, Andrew Wainwright, 5500gns

 

A second ram to sell for 5500gns was Andrew Wainwright’s Todhall Firecracker ET from near Cupar, Fife. Sired by the 10,000gns Callacrag Bull’s Eye and used in the flock as a lamb, he is out of Todhall Trixie, a Woodies Pride of North daughter. Forking out the cash was the Page Farm Partnership, Rookwith.

Sticking with the Friday sale and 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.

 

RAM LAMBS

A strong demand for Beltex sheep continued on Saturday when the offering of ram lambs peaked at 24,000gns for the very first lamb to sell from new breeders, Willie and Carole Ingram and sons, Gregor and Bruce, from Inverurie, Aberdeenshire.

 

Logie Durno Godfather ET, Ingram Family, 24,000gns

 

That was Logie Durno Godfather ET which is sired by the 11,000gns Buckles Fury bought here last year, while his dam is the privately purchased Airyolland Bathsheba, a Dooley Napal daughter. As the film goes, making him ‘an offer he can’t refuse’, Godfather sold in a four-way split to Messrs Buckle, Buckles; Jeff and Sue Wilkinson, Langlands; Neale and Janet McQuistin, Airyolland; and Louie Van Geffen, Geffens.

 

Dooley Garnet ET, David Thornley, 16,000gns

 

Following on at 16,000gns was the first in from Dave Thornley, Dooley Garnet ET, which caught the eye of David and Karen Shuttleworth and heads to work in their Heber Park near Skipton. Part of Dave’s winning and widely admired pen of ram lambs, his pedigree features Clary Cosmos on to the Topflite Al Pacino daughter, Dooley Camille, from the flock near Diseworth.

 

Dooley Gabriel ET, David Thornley, 5000gns

 

Dave’s pen welcomed a further 5000gns from James Wannop for the next lot in and a full brother to Garnet, Dooley Gabriel ET.

 

Kingledores Godzilla ET, Richard Wood, 11,000gns

 

Richard Wood’s pen from Biggar met a good trade with a top here of 11,000gns paid for Kingledores Godzilla ET, a son of the 5500gns Skiddaw View Endurance bought last year and shared between three flocks. Bred from the Broxty Boxer-sired Withy Trees Champagne, which produced the 9000gns Kingledores Elvis sold at Skipton last year, Godzilla was snapped up by Grant Maxwell, Faughhill.

 

Faughhill Gladiator ET, Grant Maxwell, 10,000gns

 

Close behind on 10,000gns was Grant’s own Faughhill Gladiator ET, with this lad being by the privately purchased Heatheryhall Fireman Sam, a Buckles Dark Dawn son, and out of the Callacrag Barbarian daughter, Eildon Cannon. Forking out the cash were Nick and Charlotte Brown, Bronic.

 

Wannop’s Godfather ET, James Wannop, 9000gns

 

At 9000gns was Wannop’s Godfather ET from James Wannop, which was another to sell in a four-way split, this time to Andrew Wainwright, Todhall; Ted Fox, College; Messrs Taylor, Southholm; and SH Spours and Sons, Henlaw. One of the first sons to sell by Brothertoft Fynley, bought here for the same 9000gns price tag last year, Godfather’s dam is Dean Brow Classy, herself by Ardstewart Armani.

 

Gregor’s Gunner ET, Rory Gregor, 5500gns

 

The sole lamb on offer from Rory Gregor’s Aberdeenshire flock realised 5500gns when Gregor’s Gunner ET sold to the Grays for their Espley flock near Morpeth. Bred from Gregor’s Clarissa, a daughter of Barco V/H Groentenhof, his sire is Airyolland Choco which bred last year’s 14,000gns Woodies Emperor.

 

Vicky’s Gladiator, John Ferguson, 5000gns

 

Another lamb to make 5000gns was Vicky’s Gladiator from Northern Irish father and daughter duo, John and Vicky Ferguson. Selling to Stuart Wood, Woodies, and Alan Miller, Lurg, this son of Orkney Eurostar is out of Vicky’s Dawn, herself a Murrays Crackajack daughter.

 

SHEARLING EWES

Setting a new record for a female sold at auction of 15,000gns was Buckles Frisky ET from Kevin Buckle and sons, Jack and Tom.

 

Buckles Frisky ET, Buckles Boys, 15,000gns

 

Her pedigree needs no introduction, being a daughter of the 10,000gns Gyffin Dexter bred from the renowned College Adele, making her a full brother to the 17,000gns Buckles Frankel ET sold the previous day. After some swift bidding she joins the Brothertoft flock near Boston belonging to Chris Wright.

 

Brilley Fancy Pants ET, Richard & Jamie Jerman, 8000gns

 

Next best female price of 8000gns was paid for Brilley Fancy Pants ET from Richard and Jamie Jerman, Whitney-on-Wye, which sold to Northern Irish breeder, Matthew Burleigh, for his Matt’s flock. Another with a strong pedigree, she is by Swffryd Exclusive that sold for 6500gns last year, out of the Al Pacino-sired Hackney Dior, and was Supreme Champion in the Society’s Virtual Royal Highland Show.

 

Heatheryhall Forget-Me-Knot ET, Alfie Taylor, 7000gns

 

Selling to an undisclosed buyer for 7000gns was the first in from first time vendor Alfie Taylor in the shape of Heatheryhall Forget-Me-Not ET from the flock near Thankerton, Biggar. Sired by the prolific 30,000gns Buckles Dark Dawn from which a couple of sons have sold privately for five-figure sums, she is out of Heatheryhall Wallflower, a Tacherhill Regal daughter.

A few lots later, Alfie sold his substitute entry, Heatheryhall Fantastia, for 3800gns to Grant Ireland for his Glenisla flock, near Huntly. Another by Dark Dawn, she is out of a Quarrymount William Wallace daughter in the shape of Heatheryhall Carly.

 

 

Woodies Fantasy, Stuart Wood, 5000gns

 

Two from Stuart Wood’s Woodies flock were next in the trade stakes at 5000gns and 4500gns. The pen, which won the Supreme Championship for best pen of sheep, was led by Woodies Fantasy, a daughter of the 14,000gns Woodies Emperor sold last year. Bred from a Clary Chancer ewe, she sold to Jack Monk for his Monks flock near Blackburn.

 

Woodies Fairytale ET, Stuart Wood, 4500gns

 

At 4500gns when sold to Alistair Meikle from Kilnmarnock was Woodies Fairytale ET, this time by the 10,000gns Ryder DIY and out of the Belgian V/D Harlembois ewe that has won her class at the Royal Highland Show a couple of times.

 

Todhall Flower Power ET, Andrew Wainwright, 4000gns

 

Andrew Wainwright’s Todhall pen peaked at 4000gns when his Todhall Flower Power sold to Neil Laing, Perryflatts. Another by the 10,000gns Callacrag Wise Crag that bred Friday’s 5500gns Todhall Firecracker ET, her dam is Toodhall Brooke, a Kingledores Warrior daughter.

Selling for 3200gns to Neil Caul for his Balkello flock near Angus was Raymond Flaws’ Woodwick Freya, all the way from the Orkney Isles. Bred from the Airyolland Avicii daughter, Woodwick Camio, her sire is Greenvale Eddy.


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