Sale Report for SKIPTON IN LAMB - SATURDAY 16TH DECEMBER 2023
Date of Sale: Saturday 16th December 2023
Millside champion and reserve double at CCM Blue Texel highlight
The fourth annual ‘Blue Diamonds’ show of sale of 50 pedigree Blue Texel held on behalf of the Blue Texel Sheep Society at CCM Skipton Auction Mart produced a supreme champion and reserve double for David and Jennifer Alexander, Millside flock, Galston, Ayrshire, with a brace of shearling ewes, the victor topping at 1,600gns.
A regular exhibitor and leading performer in the Skipton show arena, the Alexanders claimed victory with a February, 2022, daughter of a home-bred tup with breeding going back to Beili Blues Dylan BBD/15/02194, the home-bred ram also responsible for a 5,000gns top price Blue Texel shearling ewe at the Society sale at Skipton in September last year.
The title winner, out of a Hackney daughter, Londesborough Emerald, purchased as a ewe lamb at the North Yorkshire venue, was sold carrying twins to Towerview Grand Prix, yet another Skipton acquisition, going to Lancashire with Lythe family, Stackstead, Bacup.
The same buyers also went to 1,000gns to claim the Alexanders’ reserve champion shearling ewe, again February, 2022-born to Beili Blues Dylan, out of Wind-Mill Elderflower, purchased purposely as she goes back to special Millside bloodlines. The overall reserve was knocked down carrying triplets to Dragon Fab, who has sold shearling ewes to 2,000gns twice this year, one at Skipton. The Alexanders has further 750gns and 700gns sales.
Again attending from Co. Fermanagh in Northern Ireland, was Matthew Burleigh, Matt’s flock, Shanra, Enniskillen, his sole entry, a February, 2022, Matt’s Firetrap daughter out of a Hackney ewe carrying twins to the 30,000gns Clarks Grey Goose, standing 3rd prize shearling ewe and making 900gns when joining Ben Whitham, Gilstead, Bingley.
Local exhibitor Elsa McKechnie, Silver Birch flock, Wigglesworth, picked up both red rosettes in the other two show classes, her aged ewe winner, the March, 2021, Brianne Fay, by Whatmore Eagle, out of a Seahawes dam and scanned carrying twins to Sunnybank Freddy, making 700gns when claimed by the Holgate family, Rathmell.
Her 1st prize ewe lamb, Silver Birch Harmony, an ET daughter of Glenrock Franco, made 300gns, the runner-up, Towerview Hipster, a Hackney Demonstrator daughter from Caroline Cochran and Iain Almond, Towerview flock, Tockholes, Darwen, doing better at 350gns. Also making 300gns was the 4th prize ewe lamb from mother and daughter, Elaine and Issy Hartley, Pendle flock, Roughlee, with Pendle Hawkeye, by Walston Elite.
The show had a young Cumbrian judge in 14-year-old Jack Whiteford, Brampton.
Top prices and averages: Shearling Gimmers to 1600gns, av £553 (2023 £554), Aged Ewes to 700gns, av £735 (2023 £1417), Ewe Lambs to 400gns, av £267 (2023 £495).
