WALES breeders came out on top at the English National Texel Sale, Worcester, as Usk Vale Champagne Charlie sold for 15,000gns in the ram lambs.

This son of Hexel Born To Be Wild is out of a Glenside-bred dam by the 82,000gns Cornmore Velvet Jacket and bred by Willy Davis of Pontypool. This one was much fancied in by the ringside, with bidding quickly escalating past 10,000gns.

Landing the final bid at 15,000gns were Nick Legge and family for the Thornbury flock.

Second best in the ram lambs was a 5500gns bid for Welsh breeder Myfyr Evans’ lamb from his Rhaeadr flock. This one is a son of Garngour Alabama and out of a dam by Clinterty Yuga Khan, with a strong breeding history behind it. Buying this one was Stephen Cobbald, Suffolk.

Then making 5000gns was Cambwell Chieftan from Robert Laird. Sired by Langford Adder Again, this one is out of a dam by the homebred Cambwell Trademark and sold with an index of 221. Bred from the same dam as last year’s sale topping Cambwell Boss Hogg, he sold to Andrew Reed and family for the Scolton flock in Pembrokeshire.

Following that came a 4500gns bid for another from the Usk Vale consignment, Usk Vale Cloud 9 from Willy Davis. Again sired by Hexel Born To Be Wild, this one is a full brother to the 15,000gns sale topper and was knocked down to James Theyer for the Clanfield flock, Oxfordshire.

And making 4200gns was Tima Cantona from David Gray, Selkirk. Sired by the £29,000 Garngour Awesome, this lamb is out of a dam by Clinterty Yankee Doodle and sold with an index of 275 to A E Williams and Son, Craven Arms.

Close behind at 4000gns was Plasucha Copycat from Robert Bennett, Welshpool. He is by Mullan Awesome and out of a Knock Yankee dam. Sold with an index of 222, he was the pick of David Bradley-Farmer, Oxfordshire.

Averages; 153 ram lambs £1088.26 (McCartneys).