A RAM lamb from Charlie Boden’s Mellor Vale flock, Cheshire, took the top call at the Welsh National Texel Sale, Welshpool, when selling for 8,000gns.

Trade was strong throughout the day with averages rising in all sections and clearance rates in both the gimmers and ram lambs settling at just shy of 80 per cent.

Sale leader was Mellor Vale Etambo, a Castlecairn Doodle Bug son out of a dam by Garngour Craftsman and sold with an index in the top 1 per cent of the breed. This lamb, ET bred from a 2020-born ewe lamb, sold to Rob Evans for the Hope Valley flock, Minsterley, Shropshire.

Next best among the ram lambs was a 4,000gns call for another from the same home, but this time under the Sportsmans prefix of Messrs Boden and Davies. This was Sportmans Ezra, the pen leader from this home and again by Doodle Bug. He’s out of a dam by Fordafourie Amalert and has an index in the top 25 per cent. This one found a new home with Will Ridge, Church Stretton, Shropshire, for the Ridgeway flock.

And then came a brace of 3,000gns sales, with the first of these comning for Robert Bennett’s Plasucha flock with Plasucha Everest, a son of the homebred Plasucha Boss Man. He’s out of a dam by Teiglum Braveheart and was taken by Esmor Evans, Mold, for the Maerdy flock.

The other lamb to make this price was Robert Pierce’s Oldford Edwardian Conqueror. This son of the noted Garngour Alabama is out of a dam by Gyrhos Andy and is another with an index in the top 1 per cent of the breed. He sold to the Williams family for their Clun flock, Craven Arms, Shropshire.

After that it was Myfyr Evans’ Rhaeadr flock which was in the money, selling Rhaeadr Elector at 2,400gns. Sired by Sportsmans Dare Devil and out of a dam by Hartside All Star he joins the Hafesp flock of Dafydd Owen, Newtown, Powys.

A 2,000gns call followed that for Joseph Williams’ Owl Valley Elite, an Eden Valley Wiz Kid son out of a dam by Clintety Yogi Bear. This one sold to Adrian Davies for the Glyncoch flock, Llandeilo.

Shearling rams

Leading trade in the shearling rams was the Corras flock of Robert Watkins when taking a 6,500gns call for Corras Dundee. This one is by Loosebeare Braveheart and out of a dam by Hollyford Venus. He sold to an undisclosed buyer

Second best at 2,900gns was Preenbank Duke from the Robinson family, Church Stretton. This is a son of the homebred Preenbank Captain Carcass out of a dam by Alcaston Taylor and sold to Messrs Davies Bros, Cardigan for the Trefere flock.

Not far behind at 2,600gns was Maerdy Delwyn from Esmor Evans, Mold. He’s a son of Strathbogie Bingo One out of a dam by Loosebeare Warlord and also sold to an undisclosed buyer.

Selling at 2,000gns then was Caereinion Diamond from Cefyn Pryce, Welshpool. He’s by Kimbolton Ace and out of a dam by Ryders Varka. With an index in the top 1 per cent of the breed he was again picked up by an undisclosed buyer.

An 1,800gns call then secured Whitehart Distinctive from Nicola Hartright. This one is a son of Brijon Youre The Boy out of a dam by Langside The Gaffer and was knocked down to B and C Francis, Welshpool.

And at 1,650gns was another from the same home, Whitehart Diesel, a Cherryvale Shergar son out of a dam by Canllefaes Vantastic. Buying him were T E Duggan and Son, Leominster, for their Hengrave flock.

Gimmers

Leading the female trade at 2,400gns was Robert Cockburn’s gimmer CKP2004685, an ET bred daughter of Canllefaes Bright Spark out of a dam by Ettrick Rainbow Warrior. She was the pick of Gary Scott, Denbighshire, for the Bryn-Y-Coed flock.

Then came a 1,700gns bid for Joseph Williams’ first in the ring from the Owl Valley flock. This was WPH2003144, a Garngour Alabama daughter out of a dam by Sportsmans Admiral II. She headed home with M and S Jones for the Racecourse flock, Oswestry.

Close behind that at 1,600gns was Myfyr Evans’ gimmer from the Rhaeadr flock, ENM2002378. This daughter of Brackenridge Crown Royal is out of a dam by Glenside Wiz Kid and sold to Michael and Heulwen Owens, Llandysul.

And two then followed that 1,300gns, with the first of these being a gimmer from the Ettrick flock of Gordon Gray. This was GGH2010200 a daughter of Sportsmans Cannon Ball out of a dam by Mullan Amios and with an index in the top 25 per cent of the breed. She was bought by J Cairns, Hexham, Northumberland.

The other at this price was the Claybury flock of the Draper family, Shrewsbury. Taking this money was DHL2001671. She’s by Stainton Vantage II and out of a dam by Mellor Vale Tomahawk. She also joined the trailer back to Llandysul with Michael and Heulwen Owens.

Averages; 46 gimmers £815.58 (+£152.11), 37 shearling rams £1248.65 (+£57.48), 76 ram lambs £819.84 (+£132.23).