A 12,000gns top call and a 91% clearance with an average which rose by more than £85 for nine more sold, were the hallmarks of a successful ram lamb trade at the Northern Irish National Sale, Ballymena.
Leading the sale was Glenhone Galaxy, the pre-sale champion from Martin McConville. This one is by Rhaeadr Entrepreneur and out of a dam by Mullan Awesome. He heads to Scotland to join the Strawfrank flock of Allan Campbell, with shares taken by Andrew Clark, Teiglum and Euan MacTaggart, Rascarrel.
Next in line at 7500gns was Kiltariff Golden Boy from the Bell family, with this one being by Mellor Vale Déjà vu and out of a dam by Knap Bonanza. He stayed locally, joining Peter Boyd’s Poseyhill flock.
Also making this money was the best of the day from the Mulligan family’s Brague flock, Brague Gypsy King. This son of Carnew Fiddler is out of a dam by Aman Bendigedig and heads south to John Greene, Donegal, for the Greenstar flock.
Following them was a 7000gns call for Mark Priestley’s Seaforde GI Joe, a son of Coniston Equinox out of a Knap-bred dam by Sportmans Cannon Ball. He sold to Bruce Renwick and family for the Castlecairn flock.
Young Darryl Branagan then took 6500gns for Tullinasoo Gold Dust a Haddo Fabio son out of the high yielding Knap Daisy Duke, another by Cannon Ball, with other sons already sold to 170,000gns and 100,000gns this season. He was taken by the Chestnutt family for their Clougher and Bushmills flocks and Mark Noble’s Longford, Eire-based, Kilcoursey flock.
Two then traded at 5000gns, with the first being Alan Glendinning’s Lylehill GTR. Sired by Plasucha Folklore and out of a Garngour dam by Procters Chumba Wumba, he sold to Scottish breeders Alan Blackwood and Stuart Barclay for the Auldhouseburn and Harestone flocks, respectively.
The second at this price was another from Mark Priestley, Seaforde Gentleman Jack. He’s by Coniston Equinox and is out of another Knap-bred dam by Cannon Ball. He found a new home with Stephen Etherson, Killans.
And another pair then shared the next best call of 4800gns. Leading at this price was Alan Glendinning’s Lylehill Gunshot, a son of Plasucha Folklore Garngour-bred dam by Procters Chumba Wumba. He was taken by Brian Hanthorn, Mullan, Mark Paterson, Alderview, John Trimble, Curley and James Wilkinson, Ballygroogan, with a share retained.
Eugene Branagan then took the same money for Largy Grizzly Bear. This son of Rhaeadr Entrepreneur is out of a Knap Abracadabra daughter and headed away to the Millar’s flock of Martin and Cyril Millar.
At 4000gns was Millburn Gypsie King from Naomi and Rian O’Hare, with this one being a Mellor Vale Déjà vu son out of a dam by Midlock Yorkie and was knocked down to Stewart Ferris, Bellefield.
Another 4000gns sale saw Brian Hanthorn trade Muallan Governor the first prize winner from the texelplus class in the pre-sale show. By Plasucha Folklore, he is out of a Sportsmans A Star daughter and sold with a top 25% index when taken by Allan Campbell, Strawfrank and Andrew Clark, Teiglum.
Average; 212 ram lambs £1224.79 (+85.57) (Ballymena Livestock Mart).