Northern Ireland Texel breeders enjoyed another good trade at the Club’s final sale of the season, the Ballymena Harvest Sale.
Topping the trade after taking the championship in the pre-sale show was Alastair Gault’s shearling ram, Forkins Indigo. Sired by Douganhill Gangster and out of a dam by Procters Deacon Blue, he sold at 1600gns.
Matching the evening’s top call and again making 1600gns was Duvarren Intel from John Watson’s Duvarren flock. A son of the homebred Duvarren Guru and out of a dam by Kilduff Farley, this stylish shearling also found favour among buyers.
The next highest price of 1200gns was reached by several exhibitors. Henry Gamble’s Springwell consignment sold Tirnageeragh Icup, a son of Cherryvale Highclass out of an Alderview Explosive daughter which had been used as a service sire.
Joining him at the same money was Pat Garrivan’s Ballydesland Ivor, a homebred shearling by Ballydesland Eddie out of a Millars Diego sired dam.
Also making 1200gns was Nigel Ross’s Glenross Ivan, a son of Forkins Gangsta from a Deveronvale Aftershock daughter.
The ram lamb section also enjoyed a buoyant trade, headed by the reserve champion from Alan Glendinning’s Lylehill flock.
Sectopn topper was Lylehill Jet Set at 1450gns, selling to fellow breeder Murray Annett of the Milestonehill flock. The stylish lamb is sired by Annefield Idol and out of a Lylehill Gunshot daughter, combining proven breeding lines with tremendous potential with full brothers selling earlier in the year to 3200gns.
Next best among the lambs was Peter Boyd’s Poseyhill Jamesy, which sold for 1000gns after attracting strong bidding. The lamb is a son of Brague Iceman and out of a Forkins Finn McCool daughter.
Trade remained consistent at 950gns, where two further favourites changed hands. Nigel Ross’ Glenross Joker, a son of Ballybroogan Fiddler out of a Tamnamoney Cranberries sired dam, shared the price with Jack Gault’s Cherryvale Jackpot. He carries breeding from Ballynahone Istabraq on the sire’s side and is out of a Charben Fantastic daughter.
Averages; 24 shearling rams £885.50, 64 ram lambs £622.62 (J A McClelland and Sons).