It was a day of double success for Tom Newth and his Prestleigh flock at this year’s Hereford High Flyers sale of Charollais females as he celebrated top price in both the ewe lamb and shearling ewe section. 

The sale leader from the Shepton Mallet, Somerset-based flock was a ewe lamb, Prestleigh Diamond Diva 25WSG01510. A daughter of former reserve interbreed ram lamb from the Royal Welsh, Wernfawr Awesome and out of a Boyo female by Lowerye Vladamir. The lamb had previously stood reserve female champion at the Royal Bath and West in the early part of the summer show season and after spirited bidding from the ringside, the hammer finally fell at 5000gns with the new owner being Stephen Cobbald, Acton, Suffolk, for his recently established Lavenham flock. 

Continuing a phenomenal day’s trade for the Prestleigh flock, the shearling ewe sale leader from the same pen and second highest price on the day at 4000gns was Prestleigh Cover Girl, 24WSG01404. By the privately purchased Robleton Buckle Up, this one is out of a Rigghead Untouchable, Boyo-bred daughter. She sold having been scanned for twins to the privately purchased Boyo Drambuie and now joins the sale leading ewe lamb in the Lavenham flock. 

Next up at 3200gns was a shearling ewe from Whitland, Pembrokeshire-based Arwyn and Jane Thomas’ Arbryn flock, in the form of Arbryn 24WRF01066. By Logie Durno Barbarian and out of a homebred Arbryn Tonto daughter, this female was part of the interbreed group of three at this year’s Royal Welsh Show and carries a family full of successful breeding females in the pedigree. Having been scanned twins to Bronwydd Double Decker, this one also joins the previous two, being knocked down to Stephen Cobbald. 

Second highest priced ewe lamb at 3000gns went to Brecon-Powys-based Paul Curran with his first prize ewe lamb from this year’s Royal Welsh Show, Wernfawr 25XEV02662. By Glyn Coch Ace, she is out of a homebred Wernfawr Uptown Funk daughter who produced the top priced ewe lamb at last year’s Hereford High Flyers Sale. This one also added to the recently established Lavenham flock. 

Remaining with Paul Curran’s Wernfawr pen, his next best was the 2700gns Wernfawr 25XEV02635, a Logie Durno Wall St daughter out of a homebred female by Glyn Coch A Night To Remember. She caught the eye of Ben Radley for his Loaningfoot flock, Georgetown, Dumfries. 

Next up from the same pen at 1950gns was Wernfawr 25XEV02655, a Robleston Warrior daughter out of a homebred female by Wrenvale Mad 4 Ewe. Taking this one home to Hunmanbry, North Yorkshire, were Thomas and Judith Hunter for the Skelton Whin flock. 

At the same price tag, Monachorum, Devon-based Paul Quick of the Loosebeare flock, secured another lamb from the same pen, this time Wernfawr 25XEV02651. Another by Glyn Coch Ace and this time out of a Wernfawr Stormer daughter who produced the 2023 reserve breed champion from the Royal Welsh and is the dam of the 3500gns Wernfawr Chieftain. 

Back with shearling ewes and the third highest price in that offering was the pen leader from David Lewis, Narberth, Pembrokeshire. Pembroke 24VJZ05289 is by Knockin Attitude and out of a homebred female by Arbryn Tonto. This one sold having been scanned with twins to Bachymbyd Bomber to Messrs Heath and Cowles, Tregare, Monmouthshire. 

At 1850gns was another shearling ewe from Arwyn and Jane Thomas. Arbryn 24WRF01022 is by Logie Durno Barbarian and out of a Skyefall Virgil Van Dyke homebred female who is a granddaughter of the renowned Kit Kat. She sold having been scanned to Tullyear Crusader to mass buyer on the day Rogers Farming, Mold, Denbighshire, for the recently established Blodwyn flock.

Next up and from the same pen selling for 1800gns was another Logie Durno Barbarian daughter, Arbryn 24WRF01065. This time out of a homebred Arbryn Tonto daughter, she was knocked down to previous buyers, Messrs Heath and Cowles. 

David Lewis was then back in action selling Pembroke 24VJZ05279 for 1800gns to C D Griffin and Partners, Woolland, Dorset. A daughter of Pembroke Bulletproof and out of a Loanhead Washington homebred daughter, she has been scanned a single to Backymbyd Bomber. 

At the same money was another Arbryn female, 24WRF01068. By Arbryn Atilla and out of another Tonto daughter, Arbryn Rihana, she was sold having been AI’d to Bronwydd Double Decker to Emyr Hughes for his Bronwydd flock, Wolfcastle, Pembrokeshire. 

Then at 1750gns was the best from Jennifer Curtis’ Elmwick pen in the form of Elmwick 24DQ03113, an Arbryn Blitz daughter out of a homebred female by a Tawelfa sire. This successful show female from this summer has been AI’d to Loanhead Bright Spark and was the pick of Jim Neil, Stichill, Scottish Borders, for the Runningburn flock. 

Trade was strong throughout the sale resulting in a 100% clearance for all females on offer and a centre record average for the sale of £1408.31. 

Other vendor highlights: 

• T J W Evans, Sant Andras, sold Sant Andras 24WJG00862 (by Wernfawr Ali) for 1600gns to D E ayres and Co, Ludlow, Shropshire  
• Emyr Hughes, Bronwydd, sold Bronwydd 24WAJ01038 (by Bronwydd Brenin) for 1350gns to Rogers Farming, Mold, Denbighshire.

Averages: 54 shearling ewes £1436.94; 17 ewe lambs £1633.68; 9 ewes £810.83 (Hereford Market Auctioneers).