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Suffolks top 20,000gn at Stirling

The 20,000gn Strathbogie champion
The 20,000gn Strathbogie champion

Three 20,000gn sales, combined with a further four five-figured price tups, ensured a boost in averages at the Scottish show and sale of Suffolk ram lambs at Stirling yesterday – albeit with a clearance rate of just 63%.

United Auctions auctioneer George Purves was upbeat after the sale, and thought the quality was “as good as it’s been for a number of years”.

“It’s essentially a breeders’ sale and pedigree buyers are always going to be selective, but the fact that the average was up by £366 on the year, for the same number sold, is a reflection of the depth of quality throughout the catalogue,” he said.

One of three to reach 20,000gn was the pre-sale show champion, from debut seller Jim Innes, of Dunscroft, Huntly.

Better known in the pedigree Texel world, Mr Innes bought his first Suffolk just a year ago and now has eight females in the Strathbogie flock. His topper is a son of Ballynacanon Commander, a tup bought last year for 7,500gn, along with the Birness flock. Out of a 3,600gn Deveronside-bred ewe by Strathbeg Stan the Man, this one sold across the water to Gary Beacom, Lakeview, Co Fermanagh.

Another hitting 20,000gn was the best from Iain and Judith Barbour, Rosefield, Annan, a son of Solwaybank Thunderball – a home-bred tup by last year’s sire of the year, SolwaybankSkyfall. Out of a ewe by the 17,000gn RhaeadrRastafari, this tup’s grand-dam, a Cairness Castello daughter, is a full sister to the Barbours’ show ewe that won the Royal and the Great Yorkshire. He was knocked down to North Wales buyer Paul Delves, of the Bridgeview flock.

Also reaching 20,000gn was the first Cairness lamb in the ring, from Jimmy Douglas, of Woodhead of Cairness, Fraserburgh. A son of the privately bought Baileys Rock Solid, he is out of a ewe by the 26,000gn Cairness Cyclone. This lamb sold in a two-way split to Patrick Donnelly, Rathkenny, Ballymena, and N. Robinson, Ballyrolly, Co Down.

Having bred Suffolks since 1977, Jim Young, of Muirton, Alford, received his best price yet, selling a son of the 2,500gn Solwayview Pound Stretcher for 19,000gn. Out of one of 55 ewes in the flock, a daughter of DeveronsideMountroyal, he sold to four buyers – Jim Innes, Strathbogie; Mark Priestley, Limestone; M.J. Cornish, Parkridge, Buckfastleigh, Devon; and Robbie Wilson, who sold the majority of his Strathbogie flock last year but has kept a handful of females to breed from.

Three lots hit the 10,000gn mark, the first coming from the Inverurie-based Middlemuir flock, run by Pat and Heather Machray, and son Rory. Achieving a best price yet for this 40-ewe flock, which was established almost 30 years ago, was a son of the privately bought Cairness MI5. Out of a ewe by RoundacreRockstar, he sold to George Stuart, Miltown of Birness, Ellon, and Jimmy Douglas, Cairness.

Next at 10,000gn was a February-born lamb from Mark Priestley, Limestone Farm, Seaforde, Co Down. Another flock receiving its best price to-date, this lamb is by last year’s Royal Highland Show champion, Strathisla Spielberg, while the dam is a daughter of Limestone To-tal. Forking out the money for this one was Joe Stewart, Staney Brae, Co Down.

Also collecting 10,000gn were Irish breeders Oliver and Geoffrey Deane, Woodford House, Co Kildare, who were selling at Stirling for the first time. Their best, a son of Cairness Great Expectations, was bought inside the dam, a Cairness-bred ArdleaArkle daughter, at an in-lamb sale for 4,000gn. Three buyers teamed together for him – Alastair Gault, Newtownabbey, Co Antrim; Dennis Taylor, Macosquin, Coleraine, and Jimmy Douglas, Cairness.

Recouping some of the money spent on the champion, Gary Beacom sold two lambs at 7,000gn apiece. First up, the male champion from Balmoral, a son of the Roscrea-bought Malinhead Ice Cold Gold, out of an 8000gn Cairness-bred ewe, sold to Messrs O’Connor. The other at the same money, sired by Solwaybank Major and out of a home-bred daughter of ShannaghShergar, sold to Keith Hourston, Skelbister, Orphir, Orkney.

Show judge George Stuart enjoyed a steady trade for lambs from his Ellon-based Birness flock. Top there was a 5,500gn bid for a son of the 7,500gn Ballynacanon Commander, out of a ewe by Strathisla Obama. He sold to S. and W. Tait, Lislap, Omagh, Co Tyrone, and A.S. Wilson, Shannagh, Co Donegal.

Overall, United Auctions sold 145 ram lambs to average £2,237.97, an increase of £366.09 on the year for one less sold.