Leading the trade over the 14 rings was Nottinghamshire breeder, Philip Weaver of the Empire flock. His Texel yearling soared to the top of the sale board at 30,000gns after securing champion in the pre-sale show under judge Ben Wight, Biggar of the noted Midlock flock.
The ram, Empire Gladiator is a son of Caron Express which he purchased at the 2022 Worcester society sale for 4,200gns after he stood second at the Royal Welsh show. The March 2023-born ram was bred from Mr Weavers 550-head pedigree flock and sold in a joint purchase to Logie Durno, Aberdeenshire and Michael James, Builth Wells who is set to disperse his Texel flock at Christmas.
Next in line at 24,00gns was another Texel, this time from Cefin Pryce, Welshpool for his recorded yearling, Caereinion Goliath. Sired by Clun Enhancer, the March 2023-born ram is out of a home-bred ewe and was knocked down to the Reed family's Scolton flock Pembroke. His pen of six rams averaged 5,800gns.
Mr Weaver also saw highlights of 9,000gns for Empire God Father selling in a two-way split to the Vaughan family, Hereford and Esmor Evans, Mold.
He also saw 8,000gns for Empire Greatest Showman, selling to Christopher Cornthwaite, Stumpscross.
Pen topper for Gary and Meinir Howells, Carmarthen was 6,200gns for Tycam Geronimo. The Greenall Everest son sold to G. Jones, Pontypridd.
Canllefaes Gold Dust sold for 4,900gns from the Davies family, Ceredigion. The son of home-bred Canllefaes Dynamite went to M. Jones, Builth Wells.
Llion Jones, Tywyn saw 4,800gns for Pant Gorgeous, the Loosebeare Fab son sold to Tom Slater, Haverfordwest.
A 4600gns sale then followed for Michael James, Builth Wells, yearling sired by Wilodge Ex Factor. He was pre-sale champion.
Mr Smith, Perth also took home a full ET brother to the 24,000gns yearling for 4,500gns from Mr Pryce, Welshpool.
Rob and Nesta Watkins, Hereford topped their pen with Corras Gladiator at 4,300gns.The Roxburgh Deadly Dave son went to Georgie Helyer, Langford.
Reserve champion show champion, Blaencar Hurcules from the Morgan family was knocked down at 4,200gns. The February born lamb is a son of 5,600gns Sportsman Einstein purchased fromt he English National sale. He sold to Shae Price, Abergavenny.
Females topped at 3,000gns for the female champion from Alan Powell, Herefordshire selling to C. Smale, Devon.
Bluefaced Leicester
The Bluefaced Leicester ring saw a high of 20,000gns for the pre-sale show champion, a ram lamb from Alan McClymont, Kirkstead, Selkirk. Sired by a Blythbank ram out of a home-bred ewe, it was bought locally by the Jones family, Llanbadarn Fynydd.
Next up was another ram lamb, from the Harries family's Llandeilo based, from their small Hope flock. Their Woodcroft sired lamb is out of a home-bred ewe and went to Ms Campbell, Blythbank, West Linton.
Next up at 3,600gns was the Williams family, Llangadog, with their Burndale-sired lamb which went to Mr Quinn, Fife.
Anglesey breeder Dewi Williams topped the yearling ram trade with his Blacket House flock at 4,200gns for a Woodcroft-sired ram which was placed first in the pre-sale show. Later in the run sold to 4,000gns.
McClymont's Kirkstead yearling pen topped at 2,400gns, while next in line was Llanelli based Springwood flock from the Bennett family, achieving 2,050gns for an Ashes sired yearling, selling to H. Powell, Rhayader.
Charollais
A strong commercial trade was seen in the Charollais ring, dominated by the Jones family's Robbleston flock, Haverfordwest. Their pen topped at 3,500gns for a December 2022-born yearling sired by Boyo Vancouver out of a Wernfawr Vinnie bred ewe. He sold in a two-way split with John And Phillipa Owens, Hereford and David Roberts, Shrewsbury.
The Jones's secured 2,000gns for another yearling sired by Loanhead Washington. He sold to R. Swift, Staffordshire. Robbleston had a large consignment of 135 tups across the Suffolk, Texel, Charollais and cross-bred rings with a 100% clearance rate.
Three yearling rams then secured 1,600gns, the first being the pre-sale show champion from the Probert family, Worcester. The Thackwood U Corker son sold to J. Gwilliam, Craven Arms.
Next at 1,600gns were two from the Robleston pen in the form of Robleston 23WGN06290 and then the following lot, Robleston 23WGN06359. The first being by Bronwydd Terminator and out of an Arbryn Nugget daughter found a new home with W C G Davies and Son, Dolwen, Powys. His pen mate at the same price, a Robleston Avici son, joined him.
Top price ram lamb at 2,400gns came from the Thomas family's Dafalog flock, Carmarthen. The December born lamb is one of the last sons from Springhill Boss Man out of a Logie Durno sale. It sold to Owen and Barney Morgan, Hereford.
Suffolk
Suffolks saw a solid trade topping at 4,200gns for a yearling from J. and N. Hartwright, Worcester, which went to Mark Lloyd, Hereford.
John Elliot, Kelso, hit 2,050gns for his Rawburn Evel Kneivel Suffolk yearling. Topping the Suffolk lambs at 1,900gns was Glyn Lewis, Pontardawe.
Cross-breds
Charollais crosses topped the cross-bred ring at 2,000gns for the champion, bred by Ingram family, which sold to the Logie Farm Partnership.
Logie Durno also had the next highest Charollais cross at 1,900gns which sold to H. Wood, Shropshire.
Cheviots
North Country Cheviots saw high demand, with a 100% clearance and a record average of £719.
The top price of 2,000gns was for the champion bred by H. Cockburn, Kingside, which sold to A. Jones, Llangollen. Hill type rams topped at 700gns from Tomos Ellis, North Wales.
South Country Cheviots topped at 2,800gns for a yearling, Hindhope Apache from T. Elliot, Northumberland.
Berrichon
A boom in trade was seen in the Berrichon ring, with two new breed records set. The first went to the James family, Bridgenorth, for their first prize and reserve male champion Royal Welsh ram lamb for 4,000gns. It sold to Gareth and Ifan Thomas, Carmarthen. The Thomas' Goitre flock set a new female breed record of 2,900gns. It sold to the James family
Averages: Shearlings - 328, Bluefaced Leicester, £934.13; 19 Lleyn, £890.65; 7 Blue Texel, £441.00; 33 Berrichon, £524.30; 3 Dutch Spotted, £409.33; 12 Hampshire, £433.13; 6 Chamiose, £682.50; 148 Charollais, £885.83; 66 South Country Cheviot, £729.75; 2 Scotch Blackface, £525.00; 83 North Country Cheviot Park, £685.50; North Country Cheviot Hill, £472.50; 335 non MV Suffolk, £968.32; 25 Bluefaced Leicester cross, £424.20; 9 Beltex cross, £904.17; 78 Beltex cross, £726.59; 163 Texel, £713.36; 111 Continental cross, £855.99; 92 MV Texel, £1,314.10; 439 Texel, £1,232.35.
Lambs - 76 Bluefaced Leicester, £1,162.46; 4 Blue Texel, £485.63; 4 Berrichon, £892.50; 1 Dutch Spotted, £315.00; 84 MV Charollais, £564.00; 85 MV Suffolk, £634.69; 2 MV Texel, £451.50; 161 Texel, £593.80.
Auctioneers: Clee, Tomkinson and Francis; Harrison and Hetherington; Hexham and Northern Marts; Jones Peckover; McCartneys; Ruthin Farmers Auction Co; J. Straker Chadwick and Sons; Michael Walton.
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