Demand was high at this year’s North West Texel Breeders Club Sale, J36, with clearance rates of 83%, 91%, 95% and 94% in the shearling rams, ram lambs, gimmers and ewe lambs, respectively.
Correspondingly, averages rose across all sections, with shearling rams levelling more than £200 higher than last year, ram lambs up by £68, gimmers rising by more than £225 and the ewe lamb average nearly doubling.
Drawing the day’s top bid at 3800gns was a gimmer from Peter Woof’s Stainton flock, WPS2502312. Sired by the 2024 Lanark reserve champion Ettrick Huntsman and out of a dam by Duncryne Chieftain, she headed north across the border to join the Auldhouseburn flock of Alan Blackwood, Muirkirk.
The Teward family then took 2000gns for their gimmer from the New View flock, TWF2501808. She’s by Tillycairn Hamish and out of an Ettrick gimmer by the £11,000 Ettrick Coky Bob and was knocked down to M and E M Wilson, Middleton In Teesdale.
Next best among the females at 1900gns was a gimmer from Robert Laird and family’s Cambwell entry, LTC2508553. She’s a daughter of Eden Valley Hit The Diff and out of a Miitchelhill-bred dam by Sportsmans Evoque. This one sold to R G and B Lewis, Kirkby Lonsdale.
Following her at 1800gns were a trio of gimmers, the first of which was from the Holden family, Bold Venture. This was HBV2506100, a Cambwell Handsome daughter out of a dam by Drumbreddan Faithless. Buying her were R and R Gornall, Sedbergh.
Second at this price was one from David McKerrow, Uppermill, DMN2500998. She’s by the 30,000gns Clanfield Golden and out of a dam by Knock Yankee which also bred the 11,000gns Uppermill Fury. Sold with a top 25% index she found a new home with C Eccleston, Settle.
And the final 1800gns call In the gimmers came for a Fernyford gimmer from Barney Richardson. This one, FFR2504696, is by Tima High Roller and out of a Sportsmans-bred dam by Rhaeadr First Choice. She was the pick of J R Gorst, Dophinholme.
Another 1800gns sale was then achieved for the best of the ewe lambs on offer, with this being another from Stainton, WPS2602418. She’s a Drimsynie Islander daughter out of a dam by Knap Grand Master and headed to Crook with Messrs Askwith and Henderson for the Mown Meadows flock.
Males
Top call in the tups was a 3000gns bid for a shearling ram from Andrew Clark, with this money paid for Teiglum Input. Sired by Vallum Horsepower, he’s out of a dam by the 26,000gns Seaforde Egyptian Warrior and was knocked down to B J S Farms, Hamsterley.
Leading shearling ram averages
| Flock | No Sold | Average |
| Teiglum | Two | £2362 |
| Cambwell | Two | £1785 |
| Stumpscross | Four | £1443 |
| Thorncliffe | Four | £1299 |
Following that at 2600gns was the best of the ram lambs, Auldhouseburn Jangles from Alan Blackwood. He’s a son of last year’s Lanark topper, the 110,000gns Midlock Inferno and out of a Sportsmans-bred dam by Rhaeadr First Choice which had topped the J36 sale as a gimmer in 2024 at 6000gns. Buying him were R and E Ladds, Kendal, for the Benson Hall flock.
Leading ram lamb averages
| Flock | No Sold | Average |
| Auldhouseburn | Two | £2205 |
| Teiglum | Three | £1277 |
| Stainton | Two | £1260 |
| Uppermill | Six | £1260 |
Then making 2300gns was Uppermill Joyride from David McKerrow. Sired by the 65,000gns Auldhouseburn Imperial King, he’s out of an Usk Vale-bred ewe by Cressage Enforcer. This one went away to join J Woodburn and Partners at Ulverston for the Mansrigg flock.
Three shearling tups then sold at 2000gns apiece, the first of which was Cambwell Imperial 3 from the Laird family, a son of the homebred Cambwell Godfather out of a dam by Langford Adder Again. Sold with a top 5% index he was bought by T H Garnett and Son, Barrow In Furness.
Second at this level was Christopher Cornthwaite’s Stumpcross Imax. Sired by Empire Dr Feelgood and out of a dam by Smith A Star, this one sold to W Richardson and Son, Dufton.
And the third and final 2000gns sale in the shearlings came for Thorncliffe Imperial from R P and S Whiteley. This one is by the homebred Thorncliffe Endeavour and out of a dam by Cornmore Cracker. He sold with a top 5% index when heading home with A Hodgson and Son, Ambleside.
Back with the ram lambs and Andrew Clark sold Teiglum Just The Job, a Brackenridge Fly Half son out of a dam by Forkins Fancy, with this one selling to S W Barton, Kirkby Lonsdale.
Averages; 20 shearling rams £1231.13, 62 ram lambs £908.59, 79 gimmers £898.48, 15 ewe lambs £738.50, aged ewes £735 (North West Auctions).