Longtown Ladies sale tops at 4,200gns

Attracting the interest of Texel breeders this week was the annual Longtown Ladies sale.

The sale was made up of just over 60 lots, consisting of in-lamb shearlings and empty ewe lambs.

The sale attracted a high level of interest from both ringside and online bidders. This led to a great sale, with an overall average of £1,097 (€1,301) being achieved.

Judge for the pre-sale show was James Porter from the Saltcoat pedigree Texel flock.

Top honours

Taking the top honours in the pre-sale show was a standout in-lamb shearling ewe from Robert Cockburn's well-known Knap flock.

The champion lot was sired by Dundas Evolution and she was scanned in-lamb to a hombred Knap ram that goes back to Rhaeadr First Choice.

After fierce bidding, the hammer was dropped at 4,200gns (€5,230). The successful purchaser was P & L Calcraft, Devon.

The second-highest priced lot at 3,500gns (€4,358) was the day’s third-prizewinning in-lamb shearling ewe from the New View flock of Messers Teward.

This powerful shearling was a Garngour First Class daughter and she was scanned in-lamb to Midlock Gran Torino. She was picked up by Kelso-based Legars Ltd.

Two shearling ewes sold for 2,000gns (€2,490). The first from the Orchilmore flock of Thomas Muirhead and the second from John MacGregor's well-known Allanfauld flock.

A total of 41 in-lamb shearling ewes sold to average £1,242 (€1,473).

Ewe lambs

Having a strong day in the shearling section and taking the top price of 1,600gns (€1,992) in the ewe lamb section was the Knap flock.

The second-prizewinning Knap Gruffalo-sired ewe lamb sold to A & D Proctor. Her full sister then followed directly after, selling for 1,300gns (€1,618) to A Greenhill.

The first-prizewinning ewe lamb came from the renowned Hexel flock of Donal and Sarah McPherson.

The sparky Coniston Equinox daughter sold for 1,400gns (€1,743) to Messers Mounsey.

The 20 ewe lambs sold on the day achieved an average price of £801 (€950) per head.