- 32,000gns centre record ram lamb
- £2003.49 sale record average
- 90% clearance
A new centre record for a ram lamb and a sale record average and a 90% clearance were the standout features of the Northern Ireland National Texel Sale, which topped at 32,000gns for Eugene Branagan’s Largy I Show Speed.
The sale topper is a son of the 170,000gns Knap Grumpy and is out of a dam by 42,000gns Mullan Amigo. Subject to a fierce and rapid bidding battle, this one was knocked down to Messrs Dunne for the Kilduff flock, Eire.
Second best of the 235 ram lambs sold was a 22,000gns call for another lamb heading out of the province, Cathal Harkin’s The Rock Icon. This son of the 70,000gns 2024 Lanark topper Hexel High Voltage is out of a Harestone Fast N Furious daughter and has seen sisters sell at 2800gns already this year. Buying him was Alan Blackwood for the Auldhouseburn flock, Ayrshire.
Following along at 20,000gns was the best of the day from Adrian Liggett’s Corbo flock, Corbo Ice Baby. He’s by the 10,000gns 2024 Ballymena topper, Forkins Hawkeye, and is out of a dam by Hexel Fan Club. Taking him home was Jonny Cubitt, Drumcon.
Another southern Irish buyer was in action next, paying 13,000gns for another from Cathal Harkin’s pen, the appropriately named The Rock Ireland. This is anotuyer by Hexel High Voltage and is a full ET brother to the 22,000gns Icon. He sold to John Greene, Larahurl.
And making 10,000gns was Blackstown Incredible Hulk from Messrs Wilson and Moses. He’s sired by Forkins Hotshot and is out of a Botera Fee Fee-sired dam. Selling with a top 25% texelplus index, he found a new home with Messrs McRoberts.
Not far behind at 9000gns was another from Adrian Liggett, Corbo Irish Rover. Another by the 10,000gns Forkins Hawkeye, he’s out of a dam by Hartside All Star which is dam of females to 13,000gns. He sold to James Wilkinson for the Ballygroogan flock.
The Wilson and Moses partnership was back in the money next, taking 7500gns for Blackstown Iron Man. He’s by Mullan Hit The Diff and out of a dam by Knock Classic. Taking him home were Robin and Tomos Ellis for the Eglur and Kauri flocks, Wales.
Not far behind at 6500gns was Forkins Iconic from Alastair Gault. Sired by the privately purchased Douganhill Gangster, he’s out of a Charben Fantastic daughter and sold with a top 5% index when bought by Brian Hanthorn, Mullan.
A brace then traded at 6000gns, with the first being James Wilkinson’s Ballygroogan Impeccable, a Forkins Hawkeye son out of a dam by Alderview Explosive which is a full sisters to the 3600gns Ballygroogan First Class. He was knocked down to Michael Bird for the Dunlever flock, Co Meath.
Top Ram Lamb Averages
| Prefix | Number Sold | Average |
| Largy | Three | £13,020 |
| Corbo | Four | £8767 |
| The Rock | Seven | £6750 |
| Blackstown | Six | £3876 |
| Glenhone | Four | £2651 |
| Lylehill | Eight | £2533 |
| Curley | Five | £2499 |
| Seaforde | Four | £2441 |
| Millburn | Five | £2331 |
| Forkins | Five | £2299 |
The other to make this money was Alan Glendinning’s Lylehill In Your Dreams. This one is by Sportsmans Grand Slam and out of a dam by the 65,000gns Garngour Craftsman. He headed away with Stewart Ferris, Bellefield.
The came a pair at 5500gms, the first of which was Maineview Instructor from Andrew Kennedy. This Oberstown Hercules son is out of a Forkins-bred dam by Mullan Extra Special. He sold in a two way split to Martin and Cyril Millar and Dennis Taylor, Millars and Ballynacannon, respectively.
Second at this price was Andrew Follis’ Greenogue I’m Your Man, a Mellor Vale Déjà vu son out of a dam by Craighead Eyecatcher and was shared three ways by Martin Cromie, Murray Annett and Messrs Garrivan for the Tullyear, Milestonehill and Ballydesland flocks, respectively.
And two also sold for 5000gns. First to take this call was Stewart Ferris’ reserve champion from the pre-sale show, Bellefield Im The Boy, a Connemara Hilltop son out of a dam by Haddo Floyd. This on was again split, this time by Martin and Cyril Millar, Millars and Philip Dodds, Tullybrannagan.
At the same money was Martin McConville’s champion from the pre-sale show, Glenhone Issac. He’s by Rhaeadr First Choice and out of a Rhaeadr Entrepreneur daughter and sold to Cahir McAuley, Larkhill.
A 4800gns sale came next for Jonny Cubitt’s Drumcon I See Stars, a son of the 350,000gns Sportsmans Double Diamond and out of a dam by the 100,000gns Strathbogie Gypsy King and sold to Sam McAuley, with a half share retained.
And at 4200gns was Seaforde I Do from the recently married Mark Priestley, Sired by Drumcon Head of State and out of a dam by Procters El Presidente, he headed away with Martin McConville, Glenhone.
Average; 235 ram lambs £2003.49 (J A McClelland and Son).