Bluetongue restrictions put in place across the UK resulted in a somewhat sticky trade at this year’s Premier Sale of Charollais sheep at Worcester on 5th July, but a willingness to spend on some of the more favoured lots, resulting in a top call of 10,000gns.
Having replicated last year’s performance in the show ring by clinching the ram lamb and reserve overall championship earlier in proceedings, Mitchel and Elizabeth Britten set the headlines at this year’s sale with Cavick Da Vinci Code topping trade at 10,000gns for the Wymondham, Norfolk-based couple.
By Springhill Butterfly Effect and out of a Foxhill Va Va Voom sired Logie Durno daughter, this one first caught the eye of judge Richard Geldard, Levens, Cumbria, who tapped him out as reserve overall champion on the day, before being sold in a four-way split of Welsh breeders for the Robleston, Glyn Coch, Moelfryn and Wernfawr flocks.
Next up and selling for 6000gns was the reserve champion ram lamb, Logie Durno 25ZNN60894 from William and Carole Ingram, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire. By Moelfryn Corker and out of a Loanhead Talisman daughter, this one now joins the Prestleigh flock of Tom Newth, Shepton Mallet, Somerset.
At the same money was the sale leader from the shearling ram offering, the second placed and reserve shearling ram champion, Glyn Coch Cash Is King from Adrian Davies, Manordeilo, Carmarthenshire. By Moelfryn Bouncer and out of a Wedderburn female by Wrenvale Mad 4 Ewe, taking this one home was Geoff Biddulph, Macclesfield, Cheshire.
Sticking with a strong trade for shearling rams, at 4500gns was the highest price from the Thackwood pen of Jonathan Wales and family, Carlisle, Cumbria. The third place Thackwood Crazy Clayton, a son of Thackwood Bangkok, was the pick of Gwyn and Gail Jones, Chepstow, Gwent, for their Springfield flock.
The overall champion on the day, Wattwood Commander, again from the Wales family, but this time bred in Joe Wales’ flock, then sold for 4000gns. Again, by Bangkok, this one is out of a Wattwood daughter by Loanhead Unstoppable and joins the Mortimer flock of the Probert family, Worcester.
Keeping the Wales family in the headlines was their highest priced ram lamb, Thackwood Dream Catcher, this time from Joe Wales. By Springhill Corker and out of a Thackwood U Corker daughter, this one now resides with Ben James at 4000gns for his Cinders flock, based at Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire.
Also, from Joe Wales came the 3000gns Thackwood Dynamite Dick, similarly way bred as the last. Robert Hopper, Tiverton, Devon, secured this one.
Sharing the 3000gns price tag was the best from Tom Newth’s Prestleigh flock. Prestleigh Diamond Geezer is by the former Royal Welsh reserve interbreed ram lamb Wernfawr Awesome and out of a Bronwydd female, purchased at the High Flyers Sale two years ago. Diamond Geezer was sold on the phone to Chris and Anna Griffin, Dorset.
At the same money was the best ram lamb from Adrian Davies in the form of Glyn Coch Double Top. Again, by Bouncer and out of a Wernfawr Armani daughter, he was the pick of RJ and J Towers, Carnforth, Lancashire.
Two shearling rams then shared the 3200gns price tag, the first being Foulrice Condor from Charles and Stephen Marwood, Whenby, York. Michael Alford purchased this Foulrice Aaron son for his Foxhill flock, Cullompton, Devon.
At the same money was another from the Thackwood team in the form of Thackwood Clifford, similarly way bred as the family’s other top priced males and joining Top farm Ltd, Worcester.
Other leading prices:
Shearling rams:
- Jonathan Wales with Thackwood Captain selling for 2500gns to RJ Tindall, West Yorkshire (by Thackwood Bangkok).
- Gregor and Bruce Ingram with Loanhead 24WNC54370 selling for 2000gns to RW and A Pedrick, Newton Abbot, Devon (by Micklehills Atlas).
Ram lambs:
- Richard Bamforth with Lower Denby Django selling for 2400gns to A D and R M Thomas, Leicestershire (by Loanhead Cock O’the North).
- Mitchel and Elizabeth Britten with Cavick Dirty Martini selling for 2200gns to C Brown, North Yorkshire (by Glyn Coch Corach Rambler).
- Grant Pink with Bicton Danbury selling for 2000gns to N Whitehead, Stowmarket, Suffolk (by Bronwydd Casanova).
- David Lewis with Pembroke Dark Diamond selling for 2000gns to J Coe, Colchester, Essex (by Foxhill Benadict).
Shearling females:
- Jonathan Wales with Thackwood Crystal (female champion) selling for 1600gns to J Lewis, Sandbach, Cheshire (by Boyo Vancouver).
- David Lewis with Pembroke 24VJZ05260 selling for 1600gns to D and A Stubbs, Bentham, Lancashire (by Pembroke Bulletproof).
- Adrian Davies with Glyn Coch 24XCA02290 selling for 1200gns to D Court, Swansea (by Logie Durno Wall St).
Ewe lambs:
- George Hoggard with Manor House Dreamer selling for 1300gns to A Richardson, Barnley (by Loanhead Cruzcampo).
- George Hoggard with Manor House Daquiri selling for 1000gns to W Hendy, South Glos (by Loanhead Cruzcampo).
- George Hoggard with Manor House Dirty Martini selling for 1000gns to E and J Price, Hereford (by Oakchurch Ruben).
Averages: 13 shearling rams £2503.85; 57 ram lambs £1452.50; 5 shearling ewes £1312.50 and 6 ewe lambs £892.50 (McCartneys).
