Topping the NI Texel Club sale at Armoy was Michael Watson, Hillhead Texels, Co Down, who topped the sale at 760gns with his third place exhibit. A Duvarren Whats the Craic son out of a Brague Unique daughter he heads home with new owner Stephen Morrow Dungiven. Mr Watson sold his penmates to average 574gns for five.
Judging the pre-sale show was James Wilkinson, Ballygroogan Texels Cooskstown. Claiming the first place rosette in the shearling rams was William Cubitt, Long Mountain Texels, Ballymena, with a Grangour Vertigo son out of a Stainton Ewe. Also chosen as the Glen Farm Supplies reserve champion, he later sold to Norman Kyle, Bushmills, for 500gns.
Henry Gamble, Groomsport, stood second in the pre-sale judging with his Springwell exhibit, a Greenhill Yves son. He changed hands for 660gns to Francis Duffy, Omagh. Also pocketing the cash was Austin Shaw’s Fairmount fifth place ram, a Mullan Vanquish out of a homebred ewe which sold for 650gns. The Fairmount shearling pen also sold to produce a good average of 518gns for five. Shearling rams were in demand with an overall clearance rate just shy of 90% averaging £480.67 for 27.
Mr Wilkinson chose his first place ram lamb and overall Glen Farm Supplies Champion from Darren McKay, Rowandale Texels, Ballymena. Selling to make the top price in the ram lambs at 720gns, his Mossvale Whistler son was sold to John McGill, Ballycastle.
Next highest was Mr Wilkinson’s second place exhibit, from Robert Calvin, Ballyhivistock Texels. His Milnbank Abracadabra son was purchased by Vincent McCloskey, Loughguile, for 540gns. Standing third in the judge’s ram lamb line-up was Danny McKay’s Rohan exhibit. This Milnbank Womaniser son out of a Knap Vital Spark daughter, he was last into the ring selling to Seam McCambridge for 440gns. Selling for the same money was Sam McAuley’s fifth place Halbeath Woody.
