Springhill Casino Royale
Graham Foster's Springhill flock, Newtownstewart, Co Tyrone, topped the sale at 10,000gns for Springhill Casino Royale. By last year's top priced ram, Boyo Bravemansgame bought at the Worcester premier sale for 24,000gns and out of an Oakchurch ewe by Cavick What a Boy, it sold to a trio of breeders from Southern Ireland; John McCafferty, Sinead Brophy and Gavin Fahey with the breeder retaining a 25% share.
Another Bravemansgame son, Springhill Crackerjack, then sold for 8,000gns. Buyers this time were Ben and Amelia Watts, Newton Abbot, Devon, for their Willow flock.
Ben Radley, Dumfriesshire, matched the 8,000gns price tag for Loaningfoot Cotton Eyed Joe, a son of Boyo Vancouver, whose home-bred dam was breed champion at Ayr in 2022. The buyer was Russell Gray, Lanarkshire.
The Springhill flock dominated the next few prices with Springhill Class Act going for 5,500gns to Messrs Douglas, Co Managham and Springhill Craftsman selling for 5,000gns to Alan Thomas, Lutterworth, for his Tilton flock.
The Ingram family, Inverurie, took the championship ticket in the pre-sale show with a shearling ram, which sold for 2,800gns to G. B. Howsam, Boston, Lincolnshire.
Topping their trade at 5,000gns was a Loanhead ram lamb from brothers, Gregor and Bruce Ingram. By Foxhill Va Va Voom, it sold to Richard Bamforth, Huddersfield, for his Lower Denby flock. The pick for Messrs Sloan and Jackson's Rigghead flock, Dumfries, at 3,500gns was a ram lamb from Logie Durno by their new stock sire, Cavick Blood Diamond.
Leading the entry of females at 1,400gns was a shearling ewe from the Aghavilly flock of Glenn Baird, Co Armagh, sold via the video link. The daughter of Loanhead Virgil Van Dijk, sold to Messrs Tener, Dungannon.
Messrs Mason, Lancaster, took the first prize shearling ewe from the Ingrams at 1,200gns. Securing the first prize ewe lamb from the Manor House flock of George Hoggard at 1,200gns were Messrs Trafford, Cockermouth.
Averages - 9 shearling ewes, £1,055.83; 2 ewe lambs, £1,128.75; 1 aged ram, £2,625; 10 shearling rams, £1,370.25; 40 ram lambs, £2,346.75.
Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.
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