The Claybury Crown Jewels sale on behalf of James Draper and family saw a fierce demand for some of the leading genetics in the breed, peaking at 26,000gns for a ewe lamb by Wedderburn Highlander.
Sale leader, DHL2502673, is out of a Strathbogie Cannon Ball daughter going back to Scholars Yahoo and a full sister to the 34,000gns Claybury Dunkirk. After fierce bidding she was knocked down to Charlie Boden and family, Sportsmans.
Next best at 17,000gns was the leader among the gimmers, DHL2402445. She’s by Haddo Fabio and out of a dam by the homebred Claybury Delta Force and sold in-lamb to Wedderburn Highlander. Carrying a top 10% texelplus index, she was taken by Alan Blackwood, Auldhouseburn.
The same buyer then paid 13,000gns for another of the gimmers, DHL2402400. Again by Haddo Fabio, she is out of another Delta Force daughter and was offered carrying triplets to Allanfauld Italian Job with a top 5% texelplus index.
Then making 7500gns was DHL2302244. This one-crop ewe is by Rhaeadr Four Square and out of a dam by Claybury Highlander. In-lamb with twins to Wedderburn Highlander, she was sold carrying twins and with a top 5% texelplus index when bought by the Williams family, Wollascott.
Also at this money was a gimmer, DHL2402481. This Cowal Firepower daughter is out of a dam by Wildoge Bravo and sold carrying triplets to Allanfauld Italian Job. Selling with a top 5% texelplus index, she found a new home with James Theyer, Clanfield.
Next came a brace at 6000gns, the first of which was the 2021-born ewe DHL2101956. She’s by the homebred Claybury Delta Force and out of a dam by Cowal Your My Boy. This one was offered in-lamb with a single to Wedderburn Highlander and with a top 5% texeplus index when bought by Robert Pierce, Oldford. A recipient carrying a single embryo from this ewe by Allanfauld Italian Job made 2000gns to the same buyer.
Second at 6000gns was another of the gimmers, DHL2402472. She’s a Cowal Firepower daughter out of a dam by Strathbogie Cannonball and was taken by Northern Ireland-based Andrew Kennedy, Maineview, in-lamb to Allanfauld Italian Job.
After that at 4800gns was DHL2202076, a Strathbogie Cannonball daughter out of a dam by Stainton Vantage II and in-lamb to Wedderburn Highlander. She was the pick of Stuart Barclay, Harestone, with a recipient carrying an embryo from this ewe making 2300gns to a local buyer.
Another of the ewe lambs then followed that at 4600gns, with this being DHL2502636. She’s a Wedderburn Highlander daughter out of a dam by Claybury Delta Force and sold with a top 5% texelplus index to Charlie Fielder, Test Valley.
Averages; 24 senior/donor ewes £2300, 35 shearling ewes £3193, 30 ewe lambs £2646 86 recipients carrying embryos £1071 (Halls)