Hampshire Down ewes hit the heights of 850gns at Ballymena
Hampshire Down ewes were bid to a top of 850gns in Ballymena at the breed association's Ireland show and sale.
Sale leader at 850gns was a shearling ewe by Wattisfield Bertie Boy and scanned in lamb to Yarcombe Flashman who is within the breed’s top 1%. Bred and exhibited by Kevin and Anna McCarthy, Comber, she sold to Roger Laird, Strabane.
The McCarthy’s offered the next two highest lots from their Ballycreelly flock. Mary Gordon, Enniscrone, Sligo paid 470gns for an aged ewe by Ballycreelly Devilsadvocate and scanned in lamb to Flashman, whilst the day’s reserve champion, a homebred ewe lamb by Wattisfield What Not was secured for 400gns by Edgar Johnston, Cookstown.
A second 400gns bid was made by WJ Craig, Ballymena for an in lamb shearling ewe by Yarcombe Topper from Tony McGrath, Dungannon. Another in lamb shearling ewe from the same breeder, this time by Ballycreelly What Next made 380gns to K Wilson, Moneymore.
Selling twice at 380gns were two aged ewes from John and Olive Mercer, Dromore to Brian Kennedy, Moira. One was by their homebred Moybrick Tumbler and the other by Knockstacken Quartz. The same purchaser went to 350gns for an aged ewe by Loughan Moss from J, A and J Fletcher, Newtownards.
A bid of 370gns secured the day’s champion, a Parkstock bred aged ewe by Dunraven Jewel from Peter and Heather Stevenson, Portadown from William Young, Magherafelt.
Averages: older ewes £367.14; shearling ewes £470; ewe lambs £270
Auctioneers: Ballymena Livestock Market