Ram lambs peak at 70,000gns at Scottish National Texel Sale, Lanark

Texel Sheep Society chief executive John Yates said the sale had been a flying success with members and commercial buyers clearly focussed on investing on the best genetics available to move their flocks forward.

“The atmosphere around the ring today was electric from start to finish, with a desire for well bred, tight skinned lambs capable of producing top drawer pedigree and commercial sheep demanded by the modern sheep industry.

“The breed’s exceptional fleshing and growth rates are unmatched and buyers today have demonstrated that, lifting the sale average by nearly £500 on the year to sit at £2812.24 for 351 ram lambs sold.”

Taking the pick of the trade and capping an exceptional year for his breeders was Teiglum Younggun from Alan, Andrew and David Clark. This much admired son of the homebred Teiglum Windfall is an ET bred lamb flushed from the family’s show gimmer of this year.

His dam, which was interbreed champion at Great Yorkshire and breed champion at the Royal Highland, is by Castlecairn Vavavoom.

This lamb drew plenty of pre-sale attention, with a packed ringside in attendance eager to see him sold. Leading the bidding throughout was a partnership of North West breeders, with half shares taken by Procters Farm and Messrs Boden and Davies for their Procters and Sportsmans flocks, respectively.

Late in the day Brian Buchan enjoyed a flying trade for his pen from the Clinterty flock, taking calls of 60,000gns and 52,000gns and selling four to level at £30,988.

Topping the pen was Clinterty Yuga Khan, a Tophill Wall St son out of a dam by Ettrick Smasher. This lamb sold with an index of 417 and was shared eight ways by Gordon Gray, Ettrick, Robert Cockburn, Knap, the Wight family, Midlock, Messrs Gray, Scrogtonhead, Messrs Blackwood, Auldhouseburn, the Knox family, Haddo, Messrs Arnott, Haymount and James Currie, Carlinside.

Following him at 52,000gns was Clinterty Yogi Bear from the same pen. He’s another by Tophill Wall St and is it out of a dam by Clinterty Par One. He carries an index of 347 and was knocked down to Charlie Boden for the Sportsmans flock.

The Strathbogie pen from Jim Innes was another highly talked about consignment and it proved to be a tremendous sale for the Innes family, selling to a top of 42,000gns and averaging £15,411 for seven sold.

Leading the pen was Strathbogie Your Tupped, a Glenside Wild Boy son out of a dam by Strathbogie Untouchable. Selling in a two-way split, he was bought by Keith, Alan and Roy Campbell, Cowal and Bruce Renwick, Castlecairn.

At 35,000gns from the same pen was Strathbogie Ya Belter, a son of Millar’s Windbrook which stood second at the Highland. He’s out of a dam by Glenside Razzle Dazzle which is sister to the 24,000gns Strathbogie Smoky Blue. He was also shared, being bought by Procters Farm, Procters and Will Davis, Usk Vale.

A 32,000gns bid then followed for Arkle YingYang from George Wilkinson and family. This son of Brackenridge Underdog is out of a dam by Cambwell Rob Roy and sold with an index of 305.

He was shared by a trio of northern Scottish breeders, with Kenny Pratt, Albert and George Howie and Brian Buchan, each taking equal shares for their Hilltop, Knock and Clinterty flocks.

Selling at 24,000gns was Midlock Yorkie from the Wight family. This one is by Deveronvale Warrior out of a dam by Teiglum Thunder and sold to Messrs Orr, Halbeath and Wilkinson, Arkle.

Then making 20,000gns was another from the Arkle pen, Arkle You Bet, a Halbeath VIP son out of a dam by Finevalley Triple Crown. This lamb sold with an index of 234 and was bought by Jim Innes for the Strathbogie flock, Aberdeenshire.

At the same money was Knap Yeah Ram from Robert Cockburn. This son of Tamnamoney Ultimate is out of a dam by Baltier Rascal I which was also dam of the 145,000gns Knap Vicious Sid. He went to Archie Hamilton, Smyllum, Kerr Jarvie, Duncryne, Cammie Gauld, Cairnam and James Robinson, Kaker Mill.

A 16,000gns bid followed that, with this money paid for Sportsmans You’re a Winner from the Boden and Davies team’s pen. This son of Strathbogie Whiplash is out of a dam by the previous Lanark champion Cairnam Talisman and sold to Northern Irish breeder John Leitch for the Cornmore flock with an index of 285.

Then making 15,000gns was Knock Yardsman from Albert and George Howie. This son of Tophill Wall St is out of a dam by Sportmans Supreme and sold with an index of 330 to Andrew Neilson, Brackenridge, the Clark family, Garngour and Robert and William Fleming, Mossknowe.

A little below that at 14,000gns was Claybury Yosemite from the Draper family. This son of Stainton Vantage II is out of a dam by Clinterty Samba I and sold with an index of 384 to Messrs Campbell, Cowal, with a third share taken by David Houghton, Tophill.

Then at 13,000gns was Milnbank Younique from Robbie Wilson, with this Glenside Willy Nilly son being out of a dam by the 60,000gns Teiglum Tornado. He sold in a split purchase to a trio of southern Irish buyers, John Greene, R Docherty and Messrs McLaughin, all Co Donegal.

Following along at 12,000gns was another of the Strathbogie lambs, Strathbogie Yolo, a Glenside Wild Boy son out of a dam by Scholars Twenty Twelve and bought by Archie Hamilton, Smyllum.

Another 12,000gns call followed for Knap Yorkie, a lamb sired by Tamnamoney Ultimate and out of the same Baltier Rascal dam as the 20,000gns Knap Yeah Ram and the 145,000gns Knap Viscious Sid. He found a new home with Messrs Galloway, Clantibuies and James Hair, Drumbreddan.

Just shy of that at 11,000gns was Strathbogie Yabba Dabba Doo, another by Wild Boy and out of a Strathbogie Terminator daughter. Buying this one were Messrs McLaughan, Green and Docherty.

Then selling at 9000gns was Roger Strawbridge’s Tamnamoney Young Willie McBride, a Knap Wot a Nut son out of a dam by Knock Travis. He sold to John Mellin, Hull House.

And getting away at 8000gns was Fourdafourie Young Star from Sandy Lee. This Fachell Victor son is out of a dam by Douganhill McFly and was bought by Messrs Clark, Garngour and Teiglum.

At the same money was Tophill Yankee Boy from David Houghton, with this Tophill Wall St son being out of a dam by Tamnamoney Rob Roy and selling in a shared deal to Richard Henderson, Ballynahone, Alastair Gault, Forkins, Paul O’Connor, Drumgooland, Roger Strawbridge, Tamnamoney and Sam McAuley, Whitepark.

Other leading prices

7500gns - Ballynahone Yorkie from Richard Henderson to Messrs Coubrough, Hartside and Campbell, Strawfank.

7000gns - Loosebeare Yahoo from Messrs Quick to Messrs Hartwright, Whitehart.

7000gns - Stainton You Bet from Peter Woof to Messrs Howie, Knock, and Sandy Lee, Fordafourie.

7000gns - Arkle Yahoo from Messrs Wilkinson to Carl Henry-Bellas.

7000gns - Sportsmans Yaya from Charlie Boden to Mark Paterson, Alderview and James Herdman, Templepark.

6500gns - Sportsmans Yogi Bear to Henry Gamble, Springwell, A Irwin, Hogstown, Messrs Wilson, Blackstown, Barclay Bell, Kiltarriff and David Warwick, Braehead.

6500gns - Cowal Yogie Bear from Messrs Campbell to Martin Warnock, Straidarran and Michael Smythe, Foyleview.

6500gns - Scholars Young Gun from William McCaffrey to Keith Hourston, Didcot.

6000gns - Tullagh Yandel from John and Richard Currie to Messrs Kermode, Orrisdale.

6000gns - Sportsmans Yahoo from Charlie Boden to Ben Baggot.

6000gns - Fairywater Yellowstone from Andrew Fyffe to Messrs Stewart.

6000gns - Tullylagan Yukon Gold from Messrs Hammond to Ryan Brolly, Faughanvale.

6000gns - Garngour Yeltsin from Messrs Clark to Messrs MacGregor, Allanfauld and Messrs MacGregor, Dyke.

Average; 351 lambs £2812.24 (Lawrie and Symington).