It’s been a good few weeks for pedigree sheep sales in Ireland, with a number of main breeds hitting record averages and top prices. The Texel breed was no different when the society held its premier show and sale in Blessington over the weekend. Despite a big increase in numbers compared with 2016, averages remained high throughout both male and female sales.

Fifty-nine ewes went through the ring, recording a 72% clearance with an average which settled at €855. Males met a stronger trade, seeing an 82% clearance, with averages for the near 200 rams present breaking the €1,000 mark. This marked increase was largely down to demand from pedigree and UK bidders for top lots, resulting in 11 sheep making €2,000 or more.

Topping the trade and selling for the third-highest price at a premier Texel sale was Greenstar Alfie from Chaylee and Lorinne Greene, Culdaff, Co Donegal. This was the young sister’s first time exhibiting at the premier and what a way to start.

At the premier show the previous day, judge John Mellin of the Hullhouse flock in the UK had named the ram first prize novice lamb, male champion and overall champion. Leading into the sale, hopes were high, but dreams were made, when, after a flurry of bids back and forth, the stylish lamb was secured for €17,000 by the UK syndicate of Milnbank, Strathbogie and Seaforde Texels.

Sired by the 32,000gns Tophill Wall Street, Alfie is out of a Forkins-bred dam by the 7,000gns Duncryne Uber Cool. This cross was again in the limelight when a full brother secured the second-top price of €5,700 for father John Greene.

This one was secured by Rodney McLaughlin for his Clara flock, while another full brother was also secured, late on in the sale, by Noel Gallagher Agricare Texels for a price of €2,600.

Donnelly Alonso from the pen of Anthony Donnelly, Claremorris, Co Mayo, was awarded the reserve male championship.

This one was sired by son of the aforementioned Tophill Wall Street, Knock Yazoo. Dam of the reserve champion is also a successful ewe, having claimed top spot in the senior ewe lamb class of the 2013 all-Ireland finals.

Securing the February-born ram lamb at €4,800 were the McHugh brothers from Donegal.

In the female classes, Mr Mellin found his champion in a hogget ewe from the Annakisha flock of A and P O’Keeffe.

This ewe was sired by last year’s reserve all-Ireland male champion Claybury Warrior and sold for €1,450 to Ben Kelly. Reserve female championship honours were awarded to D and E McManamon with a daughter of Forkins Will-I-Am and a Strathbogie Stiffler-sired ewe. She was purchased by Donegal breeder James McGrath for €2,300.

Flor Ryan, Prosperous, Co Kildare, secured the top price in the female ring, selling his shearling ewe for €4,200. Sired by the aforementioned Duncryne Uber Cool and out of a ewe by Baltier Nailer, this one found a new home in Northumberland with Hexel Texels.

Flor Ryan and John Donohoe then went on to purchase Speenogue Alonso, bred by McHugh Bros Donegal for €3,000. This one is sired by Cressage Yankee, a son of the 2015 national English show champion Eden Valley Wild West.

Ronan Gallagher then hit €2,600 for Enniscrone Almighty, selling to Michael Sinnott, Co Wexford.

This February-born ram lamb was sired by the 2013 Lanark champion Tophill Union Jack and carried five stars on the terminal index.

Cork breeder Eddie McCarthy snapped up another very catchy son of Tophill Wall Street for €2,400. This one was bred by the Hillcrest flock of Willie Doherty.

John Greene then continued his successful day by selling a Strathbogie Yabba Dabba Do son for €2,200 to Co Meath Texel breeder Pascal Keogh.

A son of the 20,000gns Knap Your the Man was purchased by J, C and M McHugh from John Neville’s Thornville flock at €2,100.

They then recovered their outlay by selling a Maineview Will-I-Am son at the same money to Edward Buckley, Kilbarry Texels, Co Cork.

P and B Farrell sold Oberstown Ysagyum at €1,900. Sired by Procters Ventura, he headed west to Michael Murphy’s Galway Texel flock.

Also at €1,900 was a lamb sired by Mac’s Wannabes, bred by Shane McHugh. He found his new home in the Hillswood Flock of Tom Kenny, Co Roscommon.