- 20,000gns Loosebeare Hardcore leads trade
- Record £3068.66 shearling average
- 84% clearance
The Quick family, Creidton, Devon, led the shearling ram trade at the Texel Sheep Society’s English National Sale, Worcester, with a 20,000gns sale for Loosebeare Hardcore.
On a day which saw a new centre record shearling ram average set at £3068.66 for 71 sold, Hardcore proved to be the crowd favourite, with bids quickly escalating.
Sired by Brijon Deal Breaker and out of a dam by Hexel Diamond Joe, he had stood second in the pre-sale show and was bought by Matthew Seed for the Auchry flock, Turiff, with a half share retained by the vendors.
Second best in the shearlings at 18,000gns was one from the Chave family’s Peacehay flock, Somerset. This was Peacehay High Expectations, a son of Clarks Wizard out of a dam by Peacehay Untouchable and from the same family as the 11,000gns Peacehay Greatest Showman. This one headed to North Wales with Esmore Evans for the Maerdy flock, Mold.
Following that came an 8000gns bid for Whitehart Hot To Handle from Jim and Nicky Hartwright. He’s by Castlecairn Googlebug, sire of two gimmers at 5500gns at the flock’s annual production sale earlier in the month, and out of a dam by Brijon Deal Breaker. This one found a new home with Pilkington Farms, Hartington, Buxton.
Then came a 7500gns call for Corras Hugo from Robert and Nesta Watkins and family. This son of the homebred Corras Fearsome is out of a dam by Clun Captain and sold with a top 10% texelplus index. He was knocked down to Robin Creighton, Chelmsford, for his Endway flock, with the Watkins retaining an equal share.
Top Shearling Ram Averages
| Prefix | Number Sold | Average |
| Loosebeare | Four | £8610 |
| Corras | Three | £5705 |
| Whitehart | Seven | £4815 |
| Preenbank | Four | £4069 |
| Midlock | Two | £3097 |
| Empire | Two | £2992 |
| Slapton | Three | £2730 |
| Caron | Three | £2660 |
| Brijon | Six | £2520 |
| Endway | Two | £2205 |
Next in line at 7000gns was Whitehart Heavy Load from the Hartwrights. This one is by the 12,500gns Loosebeare Five Star and out of a dam by Roxburgh Danny Boy and was the pick of Gareth Jones for the family’s Rowlestone flock, Pembrokeshire.
A 6500gns call for another from the same home, Whitehart Hardcore, followed that. Sired by the homebred Whitehart Big Style and out of a Cherryvale Shergar daughter, he sold to join J and J Spillane, Fairfield, Buxton.
The Quicks were then back in the money, taking 6000gns for Loosebeare Highness. This son of the homebred Loosebeare Foreman is out of a dam by Whitehart Class Act and was knocked down to John Owens and family, Woodhouse, Leominster.
Following him at 5200gns was the best of the day from Fred and Bryn Robinson’s Preenbank pen. Their leader was Preenbank H1, a son of Strawfrank Glenfiddich and out of a dam by Duhonw Dreamer. This one was taken by Ben Roberts, Poundapit and Adam Mounce, Wooladon, both Devon.
Close behind at 5000gns came another from the Watkins’ Corras pen in the form of Corras Hurricane. He’s by Loosebeare Fantastic and out of a dam by the homebred Corras Armadale and headed away with Colette Powell for the Welklas flock, Vowchurch.
First-time vendor Jonathan Watson then took 4500gns for his pen leader, Brijon Hercules II. Sired by Loosebeare Digger, he’s out of a Midlock Youre The One daughter and had been used at home as a lamb. Buying him was Robbie Tofield for his Oakridge flock, Bucks.
Selling at the same money was Preenbank Highwayman from the Robinsons, with this one being by Greenall Early Riser and out of a dam by Roxburgh Colossus. He found a new home with Angela Nairey’s Meinspride flock, Blackburn.
And making 4200gns was Phil and Helen Weaver’s Empire Hunter, a Caron Express son out of a dam by Empire Captain and bought by the Forrester family for their Doonguile flock, Market Drayton.
Average; 71 shearling rams £3068.66 (McCartneys).