Sportsmans Einstein from Messrs Boden and Davies took the top call of 5600gns in the ram lamb sale at the English National Sale, Worcester, with 20 more sold on the year at a clearance of 78%.
This son of Castlecairn Doodlebug is out of a dam by the 65,000gns Garngour Craftsman and sold with an index in the top 1% of the breed. Having stood first in the pre-sale show he was taken by G E Morgan, Blaencar and A E Jones, Yntstoddeb.
Next best at 3500gns was the champion from the pre-sale show from Myfyr Evans’ Rhaeadr flock, in the form of Rhaeadr Explorer. This son of the 130,000gns Sportsmans A Star is out of a dam by Kelso Pavarotti and sold the judge James Draper, Claybury, with a half share taken by Carl Henry Bellis, Cosyn.
The reserve male champion from Gary Beacom, Lakeview Eye of the Tiger, then sold at 3200gns. This is another by Castlecairn Doodlebug and is out of a Fordafourie Amalert daughter. This one was taken by Andy Keedwell, Priddy, Somerset.
Selling at 2900gns was Robert Cockburn’s Knap Earl, a son of the noted Sportsmans Cannon Ball out of a dam by Procters Yankee. This one headed away to M G Lear, Loxbeare, Tiverton.
Charlie Boden then took 2800gns for Mellor Vale Escobar, a Garngour Detroit son out of a dam by the 145,000gns Knap Vicious Sid. He had stood second in the pre-sale show and sold with an index in the top 25% of the breed when sold to R Todd, East Yorkshire.
At the same money was Auldhouseburn Eagle Eye from Alan Blackwood. Sired by Sportsmans Double Diamond, he is out of a dam by Auldhouseburn Crackpot and sold to A P Prince, Church Stretton.
A 2500gns call followed that for Garngour Einstein from Alan Clark. This Procters Chumba Wumba son is out of a dam by Knock Yardsman and carries an index in the top 1% of the breed. Buying this one was Robert Laird for the Cambwell flock.
The same money then secured Cherryvale Etzebeth from Jack Gault. This son of Lakeview Dirty Dancer is out of a dam by Sportsmans Ace and sold to join the Stonegrove flock of the Dorrell family, Worcester.
And then came a 2300gns bid for Hexel Eskimo Joe from Donald and Sarah MacPherson. He’s a son of Haymount Crackerjack and out of a Duncryne Uber Cool daughter which is also dam of the 65,000gns Hexel Django. Buying this one was J Lea, Market Drayton.
Close behind at 2000gns was Trevor Ball’s Lypehill Edmund, a Clarks Wizard son out of a dam by Peacehay Untouchable. He went home with Simon Kemp, Kingston, Canterbury.
Making the same price was Procters Exocet from Procters Farm. Sired by the 350,000gns Sportsmans Double Diamond, this lamb is out of a dam by Sportsmans Batman and has an index in the top 1% of the breed. He was the pick of D T Jones, Pwllheli, Gwenyd.
Another at 2000gns was Auldhouseburn Empire from Alan Blackwood. This full brother to last week’s 100,000gns Scottish National Sale topper is by Sportsmans Double Diamond and out of a dam by Rhaeadr Best of the Best. He heads home to the Lavenham flock of Stephen Cobbold, Suffolk.
Next to make the same money was Grodon Gray’s Ettrick Echo, a Claybury Dunkirk son out of a dam by Garngour Awesome-sired dam and with an index in the top 1% of the breed. Buying this one was M Hughes, Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan.
Another from the same pen, Ettrick Eejit, then sold at the same price. He’s another by Dunkirk and is out of a Clinterty Yuga Khan daughter. He also has an index in the top 1% of the breed and was knocked down to W T Davies and Co, Canllefaes, Cardigan.
Average; 136 ram lambs £999.62 (McCartneys).