The much fancied shearling ram Caereinion Gladiator from Cefin Pryce and family, Welshpool, led the shearling ram and overall trade at the English National Texel Sale, Worcester, when making 24,000gns.
On a day that recorded an 89% clearance for the shearlings, Gladiator had been much talked about before entering the ring and lived up to both his name and speculation when topping the trade.
This son of the £10,000 Loosebeare Chief is out of a dam by Blaencar Bandit and sold with a top 10% index. Buying him were the Ellis family, Cressage and Scholars, with a quarter share taken by an undisclosed buyer.
Second top at 11,000gns was Peacehay Greatest Showman from the Chave family, Somerset. Sired by Clarks Wizard and out of a dam by the homebred Peacehay Untouchable, he was knocked down to Llion Jones for the Pant flock, Tywyn.
The same vendors then took 5000gns for Peacehay Gangnam Style, the champion from the pre-sale show. This one is by Usk Vale Fandabidozi and out of a Clarks Wizard daughter and headed to Aberystwyth with the Williams family for their Caron flock.
Close behind that came a 4800gns call for Greenarch Good God from Eve Hodge, Kelso. Sired by Fimber Elysium and out of a dam by Mershott Danny Boy, he carries a top 1% index and was taken by the Jones family, Pentraeth, Anglesey.
Selling for 4500gns was Duhonw Grand Slam from Michael James and family, Builth Wells. He’s by Wilodge Ex Factor and out of a dam by Garngour Awesome and found a new home with R and B James, Maesgwyn and the Reed family, Scolton, both Pembrokeshire.
John Elliot then took 4400gns for Mershott Geezer a Walston Clansman son out of a dam by Midlock Youre The One. He carries a top 25% texelplus index and went away with E H Hughes and Son, Llandidrod Wells.
Not far behind at 4200gns was Whitehart Gigantic from Nicky Hartwright, Bringsty. This Brijon Deal Breaker son is out of a dam by Empire Churchill and sold to Messrs Howells for then Montana flock, Bridgend.
The Quick family then took 4000gns for Loosebeare Great Gun. This one is by the homebred Loosebeare Chief and out of a dam by Loosebeare In Form and was bought by J Garth and Son, Clapham, Lancaster.
A 3600gns sale followed that for Corras Gera from Robert and Nesta Watkins. This son of Roxburgh Dave is out of a dam by Whitehart Automatic and has a top 1% index. He headed home with Claire Langrish for the Pickney flock, Kent.
The Quicks then took the same money for Loosebeare Guardian, a Brijon deal Breaker son out of a dam by Teiglum Cosmic and from the same family as the 10,000gns Loosebare Elite and the £10,000 Loosebeare Chief. He found a new home locally with the Dorrell family’s Stonegrove flock, Shrawley.
John Elliot was then back in action, taking 3500gns for Roxburgh Guess Who, a Fimber Elysium son out of a dam by Haymount Arnott. Sold with a top 1% texelplus index he was bought by T A Jones, Carmarthen.
And two then made 3400gns, with the first being Clun Gold Star from the Williams family, Craven Arms. Sired by Rhaeadr Fundraiser, he’s out of a dam by Craig Douglas Ya Belter and went away with Messrs Davies Bros for the Trefere flock, Cardigan.
The other to make this money was Roxburgh Great Scot from John Elliot. This Walston Clansman son is out of a dam by Greenarch Bodacious and was the choice of Ryan Thomas, Haverfordwest, with a top 25% index.
A pair then followed that at 3200gns, the first of which was Peacehay Game Changer from the Chaves. By the homebred Peacehay Belters Bruv, he’s out of a Peacehay Untouchable dam and sold to T Davies and Co, Beulah.
The second at this level was Claybury Gotcha from James Draper, Shrewsbury. A son of Claybury Crusader, he’s out of a Garngour Alabama-sired dam and sold with a top 10% index when bought by M and A James for their Ripperston flock, Milford Haven.
And at 3000gns was Martin Furness’ Westgate Go Getter a Maineview Four Square son out of a dam by Whitehart Contemporary. He went to T B Dalton, Ashbourne.
Averages; 81 shearling rams £2463.74 (McCartneys).