Donald and Sarah MacPherson’s ram lamb, Hexel High Voltage, was the high powered seller at the Scottish National Texel Sale, Lanark, when he was knocked down for 70,000gns.
Unshown in the pre-sale show due to Donald being on judging duties, this son of the £120,000 private purchase Strathbogie Gladiatior is out of a homebred dam by Haymount Crackerjack and is from the same family as Hexel Born To Be Wild and Hexel Django.
Buying the sale topper were a quartet of breeders, Kenny Pratt, Hilltop, Stuart Barclay, Harestone, Jim Innes Strathbogie, all Aberdeenshire and Messrs Harkin, Loughash, Northern Ireland.
Alan Blackwood’s Auldhouseburn flock took the day’s second top call when his ram lamb, Auldhouseburn Hercules UK was knocked down at 60,000gns.
This son of the 16,000gns Scholars Governor is out of a Knap-bred dam by Sportsmans Cannon Ball and sold after a brief, but frenetic period of bidding, to Eamonn Vaughan, for his Partridge Nest flock, Staffordshire, with a half share taken by Ben Vernon, Charben.
Third best of the day at 45,000gns was the champion from the pre-sale show, young breeder James Porter’s Saltcotes He’s A Belter. This lamb, which had also been reserve male champion at the Society’s 50th Anniversary Textravaganza National Show, is by Hexel Geronimo II and out of a homebred dam by Craig Douglas Dancer. This one was bought by Charlie Boden and family for their Sportsmans and Mellor Vale flocks, Macclesfield.
Next in line after that at 35,000gns was another of the younger generation of breeders, Danny Hair, when selling Drumbreddan Hard Ass. This son of Craig Douglas Gangster is out of a Craighead-bred dam by Usk Vale Crackerjack and was knocked down to four breeders, these being Kenny Pratt, Hilltop, Jim Innes, Strathbogie, Stuart Barclay, Harestone, all Aberdeenshire and Mark Priestley, Seaforde, Northern Ireland.
Alan Blackwood then took 20,000gns for his second lamb in the ring, Auldhouseburn Hanky Panky. This son of Scholars Governor is out of a Lakeview-bred dam by Castlecairn Doodlebug and was bought by another three-way consortium, Messrs Arnott, Haymount, Mike Turner, Okehall and Barney Richardson, Fernyford.
Then came another 20,000gns bid, this time for Mellor Vale Hercules from Charlie Boden and family. Sired by the 170,000gns Knap Grumpy, he’s out of a dam by Castlecairn Doodlebug and was taken by Alan Blackwood, Auldhouseburn, Ayrshire.
Another from the same home, Mellor Vale Huntsman, then made 17,000gns, with this being another by Knap Grumpy and this time out of a Procters El Presidente daughter. With a top 5% texelplus index he found a new home with Robert Evans, Hope Valley, Nick Legge, Thornbury and Tom Morgan, Morwood.
Four then sold at 12,000gns, with the first of these being Milnbank Hercules from Robbie Wilson. Sired by the 30,000gns Clanfield Golden, he’s out of a dam by Harestone Eldorado and was bought by Keith, Allan and Roy Campbell, Cowal, Argyll and the Knox family, Haddo, Aberdeenshire.
The next at this money was Wedderburn Highlander from another young breeder, Sandy Hunter. This son of Sadlerhead Fury is out of a Teiglum-bred dam by Knock Yardsman and had been reserve male champion at the Royal Highland Show. He sold to James Draper for the Claybury flock, Robert Pierce, Oldford and David Dunlop, Holtridge.
Following at the same price was Clanfield Han Solo from James Theyer, Oxfordshire. This son of the 160,000gns Rhaeadr First Choice is out of an Auldhouseburn Expression-sired dam and sold with a top 10% texelplus index when bought by J Gray, Scrogtonhead, John Connell, Lauder and Ruaridh and Isla Graham, Craigdarroch.
James Theyer then spent his earnings when buying the last of the 12,000gns lambs, Okehall Hot Shot from Mike Turner. This son of Holtridge Golden Arrow is out of a dam by Haymount Earth Wind and Fire.
The same buyer also paid 11,000gns just a few lots earlier for Holtridge Honky Tonk from David Dunlop and family, Shropshire. He’s a son of Duncryne Geronimo out of a dam by Mullan Armani.
Also making 11,000gns was David McKerrow’s best of the day, Uppermill Hotshot. Another by the 30,000gns Clanfield Golden, he’s out of a dam by Ettrick Earthquake and carries a top 5% texelplus index. Taking this one home was Ewan MacTaggart, Rascarell, Dumfries and Galloway.
And, making 10,000gns was one of the early lots of the day, Teiglum High Flyer from Andrew Clark. Sired by Brackenridge Fly Half and out of a dam by Teiglum Entertainer, he had been first prize lamb at Biggar Show and was bought in a three-way split by Messrs Wight, Midlock, Keith and Andrew Campbell, Overburns and Hartside Farms, Hartside.
Averages; 174 ram lambs £3807 (Lawrie and Symington).