Solway & Tyne Texel Club Second Sale Report

A pair of ram lambs from the Knap flock rounded off a fantastic sale season for Robert Cockburn when they attracted the top two price of 4500gns and 3500gns at the Solway and Tyne Texel Club’s second show and sale at Harrison and Hetherington’s Borderway centre on Saturday, 23 September.

Selling for the top price for the flock from near Errol, Crieff, was Knap Go For It, a March-born embryo by the 11,000gns private purchase, Haddo Fabio, while his dam is the renowned Sportsmans Cannon Ball daughter called Daisy Duke, which also bred the 170,000gns Grumpy and 100,000gns General Lee sold at Lanark last month. Third in his class at the pre-sale show, Go For It caught the eye of John Green and family and joins their Greenall Flock near Melrose.

Knap Go For It, 4,500gns

Selling for 3500gns to JE and SJL James for their Duhonw Flock near Builth Wells, was Knap Gandalph which is a full ET brother to Go For It.

Knap Gandalph, 3,500gns

Robert also saw his substitute entry, Knap Get On, sell to Richard Walton for his Waltons Flock near Consett, County Durham, for 2200gns. Another by Haddo Fabio, his dam is by Sportsmans Deal Breaker.

At 1500gns was Knap Gathering Storm which is again out of Daisy Duke but this time by New View Electrifying. Forking out the cash were GP and M Jones of the Llanthomas Flock near Hay on Wye.

Next best at 3000gns was the first prize ram lamb and Supreme Champion, a substitute entry named Hilltop Glorious from Kenny Pratt, Peterculter, Aberdeen. Sired by Auldhouseburn Fancy Pants, his dam is a Knock Crackerjack daughter and he sold to Stuart Currie, Beautry Flock, Settle.

Hilltop Glorious, 3,000gns

Two from Michael Turner’s Okehall Flock from Grindon, Leek, sold for 2500gns apiece with the first of these, Okehall Ghost Rider, knocked down to the Aimshaugh Flock of Oliver Harrison, Alston, Cumbria. This son of Knap Flying Scotsman is out of a Charben Babe Magnet-sired ewe.

The very next lot, Okehall Gunner, made 2500gns to Alex and Gemma Brown who run the Brookhill Flock near Darwen, Lancashire. His pedigree features Rhaeadr Entrepreneur on to a home-bred Haymount Earth Wind and Fire daughter.

Okehall Gunner, 2,500gns 

Close behind on 2400gns when sold to J Stephenson and Son, Hexham, was Oldford Giovanni, a Midlock Escobar son from REJ Pierce, Pulford, Chester. His dam is by Craig Douglas Dancer.

Sticking with the males and William Boyd of the Dechmont Flock from Cambuslang, Glasgow, paid 1800gns for Finevalley Gold Dust from Allan Clark, Glenluce, Newton Stewart. Bred from a Scrogtonhead Class One daughter, he is by Ettrick Firecracker.

Two more sold for 1500gns apiece with the first of these being Auldhouseburn Gimme That from Alan Blackwood, Muirkirk, Ayrshire. Bred from the 15,000gns Knock ewe by Allanfauld Am the Man, his sire is Haymount Fan Dabi Dozi and he sold to R and K Brough, The Croft Flock, Cockermouth.

Messrs Edwards, Morpeth, paid 1500gns for Stuart Barclay’s Harestone Glenmorangie from Insch, Aberdeenshire. Bred from a Garngour Craftsman daughter, he is by Rhaeadr First Choice.

Females peaked at 2000gns twice including for the dearest from Mike and Melanie Alford’s Foxhillfarm Flock from near Cullompton, Devon. The result of a flush between Sportsmans Cannon Ball and the 18,000gns Plasucha ewe by Eden Valley Wiz Kid, she sold to the team at Caps Texels, Kirkcudbright.

Foxhill, 2,000gns

Full sisters were also in the money with gimmers at 1500gns selling to John Howard, Quercus Flock, Middlesburgh; 1300gns to Robert and Rebecca Jordan, Moortown Flock, Newton Abbot; and 1200gns for the second prize gimmer which sold to Westwood Park Farm, Leominster.

Also making 2000gns was the dearest from Charlotte and James Nicolson’s Knockem Flock from Duns, Berwickshire. Selling to William Duthie for his Brechin-based Caterthun Flock, this Procters Eye Catcher daughter is bred from a home-bred Midlock Ali Baa Baa-sired ewe, making her a full sister to the 26,000gns Knockem Ferocious.

The first prize shearling ewe that also stood Reserve Champion sold to Eric and Elaine Norman and family, Carlisle, for 1200gns. That was a Rascarrel gimmer from Ewan MacTaggart, Auchencairn, Castle Douglas, whose pedigree features Claybury Dazzler on to a Douganhill Bees Knees daughter.

Averages: 46 shearling ewes, £685; two ewe lambs, £866; one shearling ram, £683; 99 ram lambs, £827. Knockem reduction – 12 shearling ewes, £914.