51AVÊÓƵ

Donald and Sarah MacPherson, Berwick-upon-Tweed, led the trade with their ram lamb, Hexel High Voltage.

Not shown in the pre-sale show due to Mr MacPherson being on judging duties, this son of Strathbogie Gladiatior is out of a home-bred dam by Haymount Crackerjack and from the same family as Hexel Born To Be Wild and Hexel Django.

The buyers were Kenny Pratt, Hilltop; Stuart Barclay, Harestone; and Jim Innes, Strathbogie, all from Aberdeenshire, along with Messrs Harkin from Loughash, Northern Ireland.

 Next, at 60,000gns, from Alan Blackwood's Auldhouseburn flock, Muirkirk, was Auldhouseburn Hercules UK.

 The son of 16,000gns Scholars Governor, out of a Knap-bred dam by Sportsmans Cannon Ball, sold to Eamonn Vaughan, for his Partridge Nest flock, Staffordshire, and Ben Vernon for the Charben flock, also Staffordshire.

 Third best of the day, at 45,000gns, was the champion of the pre-sale show from James Porter, Penrith. This was Saltcotes He's A Belter, which had been reserve male champion at the Society's 50th Anniversary Textravaganza National Show earlier in the summer. It is by Hexel Geronimo II and out of a home-bred dam by Craig Douglas Dancer, and sold to Charlie Boden and family for their Sportsmans and Mellor Vale flocks, Macclesfield.

 Making 35,000gns from Danny Hair, Stranraer, was Drumbreddan Hard Ass, a son of Craig Douglas Gangster out of a Craighead-bred dam by Usk Vale Crackerjack, which was knocked down to four breeders: Kenny Pratt, Hilltop; Jim Innes Strathbogie; and Stuart Barclay, Harestone, all from Aberdeenshire, along with Mark Priestley, Seaforde, Northern Ireland.

 Alan Blackwood then took 20,000gns for Auldhouseburn Hanky Panky by Scholars Governor, which 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. By 170,000gns Knap Grumpy and out of a dam by Castlecairn Doodlebug, it was knocked down to Messrs Blackwood.

 Females

A Sportsmans Dare Devil daughter from James and Ellie Amphlett, Leominster, led the gimmer trade at 5,000gns. Out of a Clarks-bred dam by Procters Chumba Wumba, it sold to Jed Sharp, Worcestershire.

Next, at 3,600gns, came the female champion of the pre-sale show from Messrs Boden and Davies' Sportmans flock. The daughter of 170,000gns Rhaeadr First Choice out of a Procters-bred dam by Fordafourie Balvbenie sold to Christopher Cornthwaite for the Stumpscross flock, Clitheroe.

 Averages -  172 ram lambs £3,841 (-£1,470 on 2023).

Auctioneers: Lawrie and Symington.

For more shows and sales: Click here