²ÝÁñÉçÇø

With five Texels exceeding theÌý15,000gns mark and a new recordÌýbreed shearling average of £1,669, theÌýtop draw of the day came from Rob andÌýAmanda Howells, Bridgend, with Montana Intelligent. Sired by WhitehartÌýGigantic, it stood fifth in the pre-saleÌýshow and sold to Messrs Ellis, CressageÌýand Scholars flocks, Shropshire.Ìý

The second highest price ofÌý18,000gns was for Stonegrove Ironside from Richard and Anna Dorrell,ÌýWorcester. The third-prize winner byÌýLoosebeare Guardian went to EsmorÌýEvans, Mold.Ìý

Andrew Reed, Haverfordwest,Ìýwas awarded the reserve championÌýlarge pen across the whole sale in theÌýinaugural pen competition. HisÌýScolton pen topped at 17,000gns forÌýScolton Illustrious, a son of 24,000gnsÌýCaereinion Goliath, which sold toÌýLlion Jones, Pant. The Reed family reinvested on 16,000gns for Cressage Icon from Messrs Ellis.Ìý

The Williams family, Lampeter,Ìýsaw 15,000gns for Caron I Am Classic,Ìýa Peacehay Gangnam Style son whichÌýwas bought by A. Davies, Erwood. TheÌýWilliams family were awarded the reserve champion small pen across inÌýthe new pen competition.

The reserve pre-sale champion, Millend Imperial King, sold for 10,000gns. From Messrs Watkins,ÌýHereford, and by the 10,000gnsÌýHarehead Governor, it sold toÌýAlistair Smith, Dunblane, and Matthew Seed, Turriff.Ìý

Next best, at 8,200gns, was Blaencar Icarus from the Morgan family, Brecon. A son of Caereinion Goliath, it sold to W.G. Davies, Hirwaun.

First through the ring and settingÌýthe pace for the day at 8,000gns was aÌýshearling ram from PaulTippetts andÌýChristine Williams, Shifnal, which soldÌýto the Davies family, Rhayader.Ìý

Making 7,800gns for Phil andÌýHelen Weaver, Nottinghamshire, wasÌýEmpire Im Sparta, which went homeÌýwith C. Cornthwaite, Clitheroe.Ìý

The pre-sale show champion fromÌýOwen and Rachel Watkins, Hay-on-Wye, was Caenantmelyn Irresistible, which sold for 7,500gns. Sired byÌýWhitehart First Class, it went toÌýMessrs Joseph, Brecon.Ìý

Tup lamb trade hit a high ofÌý2,700gns for Rhys Jones, Welshpool,Ìýfor Llyn Y Bugail Jack Daniels. TheÌýthird-prize lamb is sired by 11,000gnsÌýPlasucha All Star and sold to J. and H.ÌýThomas, Anglesey.Ìý

In the Bluefaced Leicester ring,Ìýthe trade followed the pre-sale showÌýwhen the traditional championÌýwas knocked down for 11,000gns.ÌýThe shearling from A. Jones' CraigÌýYr Orsedd flock, Conwy, went toÌýR.A. McCymont, Kirkstead.Ìý

Messrs Harries, Llandeilo, sold aÌýthree-year-old Woodcroft-bred traditional tup for 6,000gns to M.A.ÌýQuinn, Fife. Another traditional tupÌýfrom Messrs Griffiths, Tyhir, Carmarthen, was in the money atÌý3,800gns, selling to S.A. Thomason,ÌýBarrow-in-Furness.Ìý

The Charollais met a consistentÌýcommercial trade, but the star cameÌýfrom Huw Layton, Hereford, withÌýFoxholes Darkhorse, setting a newÌýbreed sale record of 8,000gns. TheÌýLoanhead Washington son went toÌýthe Ingram family's Logie DurnoÌýflock, Aberdeen.Ìý

Sam Furness, Derbyshire, purchased a shearling by PembrokeÌýBenchmark for 5,000gns from theÌýBachymbyd flock of T.H. Roberts,ÌýDenbigh.ÌýThe Jones family, Haverfordwest,Ìýturned out more than 150 tups to theÌýsale and topped at 4,000gns for aÌýRobblestone Be Rich son, which wentÌýto Probert family, Worcester.

The unregistered Texel ring metÌý8,000gns for A. Davies, Erwood,Ìýwhich sold over the phone to J. Jones,ÌýTalgarth. Another two from this penÌýsold for 3,500gns and 3,000gns.Ìý

The Suffolk trade peaked atÌý3,800gns for a shearling from JohnÌýElliot, Kelso, which sold to MarkÌýLloyd, Hereford. While tup lambs sawÌýa 100% clearance with D. Jones, Frongoy, Aberystwyth, topping the trade atÌý2,050gns, selling to G. Owens, Brecon.Ìý

Cheviots saw a strong trade, with both types topping at 2,000gns. The North Country Park-type came from P. Jones, Usk, purchased by the judge, Roderick Runciman, Galashiels. The South Country Cheviots also peaked at the same money for a shearling ram from M. and J.E. Jones and D.C.E. Davies, Aberhafesp.

The champion from W. Flemming, Hawick, sold to G. Orrells, Abermule, for 1,000gns

AVERAGES

Shearlings - 306 Bluefaced Leicester,ÌýTraditional type, £1,306.98; 11 BluefacedÌýLeicester, Crossing type, £1,021.36; 43ÌýLleyn, £706.67; 5 Blue Texel, £1,260; 18ÌýBerrichon, £822.50; 8 Hampshire, £711.93;Ìý14 Chamiose, £596.25; 196 Charollais,Ìý£1,117; 123 South Country Cheviot,Ìý£798.09; 9 Scotch Blackface, £497; 3ÌýSouth Wales Mountain, £420; 79 NorthÌýCountry Cheviot Park, £749.35; 4 NorthÌýCountry Cheviot Hill, £341.25; 274 non-MVÌýSuffolk, £1,401.02; 21 Bluefaced LeicesterÌýcross, £953; 121 continental cross,Ìý£971.99; 171 non-MV Texel, £1,213.61;Ìý522 MV Texel, £1,637.54.

Lambs - 43ÌýBluefaced Leicester, Traditional, £1,019.23;Ìý3 Bluefaced Leicester, Crossing type,Ìý£815.50; 4 Blue Texel, £315; 2 Berrichon,Ìý£840; 66 MV Charollais, £662.69; 117 MVÌýSuffolk, £778.88; 166 Texel, £1,862.77.Ìý

Auctioneers: Clee, Tomkinson andÌýFrancis; Hexham and Northern Marts;ÌýJones Peckover; McCartneys; RuthinÌý²ÝÁñÉçÇø Auction Co; J. Straker ChadwickÌýand Sons; and Michael Walton.