A new centre record price was achieved at the Charollais Export sale in Dungannon Market this Monday (28th July), when Hollylodge Dynamite sold for 10,000gns. The ram lamb from Steven and Trevor McConnell, Ballyclare, Co Antrim is sired by Ballynoe House Comanche and out of a home-bred ewe by Loanhead Ur the Boy. The pre-sale judge, Gareth Jones from the Robleston Flock in Pembrokeshire was the eventual purchaser along with fellow Welsh breeder, Emyr Hughes, Bronwydd Flock. Hollylodge had a tremendous pen of five ram lambs forward and sold their first in the ring for 2200gns to Michael Rooney, Co Leitrim and another Comanche son for 2000gns to Stephen Macauley, Co Down.
Next top price was reached at 3600gns by local new breeder, Douglas Hill. His Midas lamb is the result of an embryo purchase from the Logie Durno flock and is sired by Foxhill Va Va Voom out of a Cannahars Super Star ewe. This lamb was purchased by Edward Buckley, Co Cork.
The Artnagullion flock of William McAllister had a good day selling to a top of 3200gns for a lamb, son of Springhill Choke Start out of a show winning home-bred ewe. Ian Craig from Co Antrim secured this one for his Ballynoe House Flock. The rest of their pen all sold for four figures, with one at 2100gns selling to the Lornbrook flock.
A further ram lamb, sired by Arbryn Viper sold for 3200gns from Richard Powell’s Iskeymeadow flock. This was the choice of Mark Miley from Co Roscommon. The last ram lamb through the ring, also sired by Viper and from Iskeymeadow made 2200gns to southern breeder, John Stewart, Roscommon.
Gareth Beacom won the January born ram lamb class, with a son of Thackwood Bangkok. This lamb has a Signet index in the top 5% and was sold for 3000gns to David Dolan, Co Roscommon.
Reserve Champion in the show classes came from the Springhill flock of Graham Foster. An ET son of the 10,000gns Springhill Casino Royal sold for 2600gns to Diane Christie, Lornbrook Flock. One from this pen at 2000gns will be travelling over the water to Scottish breeder, J P Graham and Son, Wigton.
William Sherrard’s performance recorded pen of Greenvale ram lambs were keenly sought after, selling to a top of 2200gns for their highest index lamb by Riverdale Rainman. His buyer was Norman McMordie from Saintfield, Co Down. The pen of four averaged £1580.25.
The entry of ewe lambs after the tups, saw a 100% clearance to a top of 2800gns for the first prize lamb from David Anderson’s Ballyhunsley flock. A stand out lamb from birth, this daughter of Springhill Bobby Dazzler sold to James Walsh, Co Cork.
The sale was strong from start to finish, with average prices well up on 2024 and clearance levels exceeding expectations.
Averages :
1 aged ram sold to average £2,100
19 shearling rams sold to average £848
72 ram lambs sold to average £1,328
13 ewe lambs sold to average £1,096
