First Festive Stars sale a roaring success!

The trade started brilliantly with the first lot being the top price of the day.

This was an in-lamb Dutch spotted ewe Glencloy Bernie consigned from the Glencloy Flock of Liam Campbell. She sold to Henry Jewitt of the Jewitts Flock, Durham, England for 4600gns, due in February carrying twins to Challoch Bareskin.

The second and only other in-lamb Dutch spotted sheep was an in-lamb shearling ewe Glencoy Cole. She sold for 2900gns to Gareth Hempton, Gortin and was scanned with a single to Ty-Gwyn Dominant whose full sisters sold for 4800gns and 4600gns in Carlisle in December.

The Dutch spotted ewe lambs also hit high prices when the first two ewe lambs sold for 2700 gns respectively. The first Glencloy Dumbo sold to Orla Grant, Kiloo and the second Glencloy Danni was sold to Ivan McCabe, Castlewellan.

However it was the last Dutch spotted ewe lamb through the ring, Glencloy Dark Dior which made the top ewe lamb price of 3600gns. She travels to Carlisle, England to join the flock of Sian Jordan. The Glencloy flock sold six Dutch spotted ewe lambs to an average of £2064. However, it wasn’t only the pedigree Dutch spotted females that sold well. Kenny Preston sold a non-registered Beltex ewe, scanned for twins to a Dutch spotted ram for 850gns.

In-lamb Beltex shearling ewes sold well with Elizabeth McAllister of the Artnagullion Flock selling to a top of 1280gns. This was a Woodies Snoop Dog daughter and she travelled to Donegal to join the flock of Michael Havlin along with another Artnagullion shearling ewe which he scooped up for 700gns.

Edward and Shirley Nicholson, Kilkeel bought the first from the McAllisters for 1100gns, she sold carrying twins to Belvoir View Dusty who’s first son sold for 5800gns. The other Artnagullion gimmer, again carrying twins to Belvoir View Dusty, sold to Kenneth Gilliland, Monaghan for 850gns.

The Bessybell flock from Gary Scott sold two shearling ewes, both bred by Heber Park Batman and both scanned in lamb to Tullylagan Figo. Both gimmers have gone to the same home of Jack O’Brien, Donegal and sold for 1250gns and 800gns respectively.

Jack also picked up a few more Besseybell genetics when he bought the top price Beltex ewe lamb at the sale for 1200gns. This was the first time that ewe lambs have been sold from the Bessybell flock and this ewe lamb has an exciting pedigree being a daughter of the flock’s new stock ram Tercrosset Evergreen.

Kenny Preston of the Glenpark Beltex flock sold Beltex shearling ewes to a top of 700gns twice, with one going home with Jack O’Brien, Donegal and the other to Ricky Neville, Fermanagh. Glenpark ewe lambs sold to a top of 450gns twice, with one going to Patrick Brolly, Claudy and the other to Derek McCrea, Bready.

Two in-lamb badgerface ewe lambs from the Glencloy flock sold carrying singles for 1200gns and 950gns to William Bradley, Maghera.

Charollais ewe lambs from William McAllister topped at 650gns twice, both sired by Loanhead Upperclass.

All vendors would like to thank Richard and Selina Beattie, the yard staff, the catalogue sponsors and all the buyers and bidders for making this sale possible in these difficult circumstances.