A new centre record was set at the Welsh Beltex Club sale at Welshpool Livestock Market on Wednesday, 31 August, when Colin Roots saw his Freckleton Goliath go under the hammer at 7000gns.

Freckleton Goliath, VJ & ML Roots, 7000gns, new centre record

Achieving a personal best for Colin’s flock from Wormleighton, Southam, this son of the 65,000gns Airyolland Castro was offered late on in the sale and caught the eye of the team at Red House Farm from near Newtown, Powys. His dam is Freckleton Darling, a Kingledores Wigglesworth daughter.

Freckleton Gold Finger, VJ & ML Roots, 1900gns

Colin welcomed a further 1900gns for the very next lot, Freckleton Gold Finger, which this time sold to GJ Williams and Co, Gwynfe, Llangadog. Again by Castro, Gold Finger is out of Freckleton Ebony, this time by Topflite Cobra.

Frongoy Gambler ET, DG Jones, 2nd Prize Shearling Ram, Reserve Male and Reserve Supreme, 4400gns

Another breeder welcoming a flock topping sale was Dafydd Jones’ Frongoy flock from Pennant, Llannon, Aberystwyth, which peaked at 4400gns for his second prize shearling ram and Reserve Supreme from the pre-sale show, Frongoy Gambler ET. This son of the 9000gns Faughhill Elephant In The Room shared between four Welsh flocks is out of Heber Park Cherie, a Buckles Balmoral daughter. Gambler sold to DE Evans, Llanrhaeadr, Debigh.

Two lots later another by the Faughhill ram in the shape of Frongoy Governor sold to TE Morris and Co, Llanfair Caereinion, Welshpool, for 1600gns. His dam is Frongoy Electra, herself by Balbrydie Winston.

Hardy Gino, R Hardman, 3300gns

Hitting 3300gns was Hardy Gino, a substitute entry from Robyn Hardman, Shrawardine. Selling to TA Jefferson, Aspatria, Wigton, Gino’s pedigree features the home-bred Hardy Fantastic One on to the Southern Acres Rafferty-sired Hardy Whitney.

Hackney Gambler ET, P Tippetts, 1st Prize Shearling Ram, Male Champion and Supreme Champion, 3000gns

The judge of the pre-sale show, James Whiteford, of the Tercrosset Flock near Brampton, backed his decision by forking out 3000gns for his Supreme Champion, Hackney Gambler ET from Paul Tippetts’ Shifnal-based flock. Out of the Grangehall Beckham daughter, Hackney Deliasmith, Gambler’s sire is Kingledores Braveheart.

Hackney Gameon ET< P Tippetts, 2400gns

Paul received a further 2400gns from FT Jones, Edrn, Pwllheli, for Hackney Gameon ET which offers some different breeding being by Lakeview Doozer and out of the Topflite Al Pacino-sired Hackney Crisp.

James Whiteford saw his own Tercrosset Gin N Tonic sell to CR Parry, Llangoed, Beaumaris, for 2600gns. This Skiddaw View Ferocious son is out of Tercrosset Dancer, herself by Artnagullion Big Nut.

Emily South and Harry Bishop paid 1500gns to take the Swffryd Exclusive-sired Tercrosset Geoffry to join this Chiltern Flock near Fencott. His dam is Tercrosset Emmerdale, an Ardstewart Coyote daughter.

A strong tail-end of the sale saw another top price when Glantre Glenfiddich from Michael and Heulwen Owens, Pontsian, Llandysul, sold to DJ Lloyd and Co, Trefeglwys, Caersws. His pedigree features the 10,000gns Airyolland Echo Beach on to Glantre Dahlia, herself by Ardstewart Aragon.

It was a good day for Andrew and Becky Bishop, from Eldersfield, Gloucestershire, when their pen peaked at 1800gns and 1600gns, both of which sold to HBJ Farms, Rhayader, Powys. Dearest was Bishops Grenade which was full of home breeding being by Bishops Dave and out of a Bishops Abel-sired Bishops ewe.

At 1600gns was Bishops General, this time by Swffryd Extra Muscle and out of a Bishops ewe by an imported tup called The Bulldog.

Realising 1700gns when knocked down to Daniel Williams, Rhosgoch, Amlwch, was Waenfach Gunslinger, a Myna Enzo son from Rhys Davies, Llanegryn, Tywyn. His dam is the Gwyddil Carwyn daughter, Waenfach Dyfi.

The Rowlands, Llanddesant, Caergybi, paid 1550gns for Cothi Golden Boy ET from Dafydd Lewis, Cwrtycadno, Llanwrda. He is another by the Faughhill Elephant In The Room ram, while his dam is Cothi Elena, an Aviemore Cicero daughter.

Not far behind on 1500gns was Glan-Y-Mor Gary, from the Jones family, Ynys, Talsarnau. Sired by Munch Conker, he is out of Glan-Y-Mor Divine, a daughter of The Lad, and sold to LR Morgan, Hendy, Pontarddulais.

Tiptop Hardy ET, A Jackson, 620gns

Ram lambs peaked at 620gns for Ali Jackson’s Tiptop Hardy ET all the way from Annan. Selling to Dan Jones of the Redlands Flock near Miskin, Pontyclun, this Ardstewart Fire Balls son is out of the Buckles Balmoral daughter, Heber Park Emma.

Females

Hackney Gogo ET, P Tippetts, 1050gns

Heading up the female entry was Hackney Gogo ET, a Grangehall Beckham daughter from Paul Tippetts. Bred from the Willy Nine Hundred daughter, Hackney Davina, she joins AT Davies’ Bryngroes Flock near Llanelli.

Dyffryn Gin N Tonic ET, M Owen, 1st Prize Shearling Ewe and Female Champion, 850gns

The Female Champion, Marian Owen’s Dyffryn Gin & Tonic ET, sold to Mark and Ellie Jennings for their Hallcrake Flock near Kendal for 850gns. Her pedigree features Chulsey Gate Chris Brown on to the Airyolland Wee Jimmy-sired Aviemore Creamola from the flock near Rowen, Conwy.

Ali Jackson sold his Tiptop Green ET, which is by Tweeddale Decider and out of the Woodies Troy-sired Lugate Anna, for 720gns to H Owen, Llyswen, Brecon.

Averages: 57 shearling ewes, £413 (67 x £494 in 2021); four aged rams, ££530 (n/c); 178 shearling rams, £860 (152 x £970); five ram lambs, £374 (9 x £488).