The pre-Christmas Northern Stars Texel in-lamb gimmer sale in Ballymena Livestock Mart saw flying trade for quality gimmers on offer from Richard Henderson (Ballynahone), Paul and Baillie O’Connor (Drumgooland), Alastair Gault (Forkins and Cherryvale), Roger Strawbridge (Tamnamoney) and guest consignor William and Michael Smyth (Foyleview).

Over one-third of gimmers offered reached four figures in the sale ring, proof of the continuing popularity and demand for top-quality in-lamb females.

Alastair and Jack Gault’s Forkins and Cherryvale Flocks shone brightly at this year’s sale, claiming the top three prices. Lot 46 GCN1501461 (E), a Duncryne Uber Cool daughter out of an Ettrick ewe by Knock Papoose from the Cherryvale Flock, sold for the second-highest price of the day of £5,250 to John Greene, Larhill, Co Donegal.

She is scanned with a twin pregnancy to joint-owned Halbeath Woody, purchased at Carlisle 2016.

But it was Lot 47 GCN1501462(E), a full sister to the previous lot, which set the sale ring alight with competitive bidding for this sought-after gimmer.

From one of the flock’s best female bloodlines, the crowd saw the hammer fall at £10,500 to Charlie Boden, Mellor, Stockport, England.

With bloodlines firmly embedded in the Forkins and Cherryvale 2016 show teams, two sisters collected second and third places in the ewe class, with two other ET sisters claiming first and fourth placed gimmers at RUAS 2016.

Full sisters have previously sold to 5,800gns and 2,600gns respectively. This smart gimmer is scanned with a single pregnancy to Usk Vale War-Lord.

Alastair Gault’s pen continued to attract demand with the third price of the day going to Lot 80 GAF1501396(3), also an Uber Cool daughter out of a Forkins ewe by Duncryne Ringmaster. She is also in-lamb to Usk Vale War-Lord. She also joins John Greene’s flock in Larhill, Co Donegal, selling at £4,410. Alastair averaged £1,867 for his 18 gimmers.

Richard Henderson, Ballynahone Texels, saw Lot 57 HBR1500710(E) sell for £3,360 to Michael Smyth, Foyleview Texels.

This Duncryne Uber Cool daughter out of a Springhill Silverstone dam is in-lamb scanned with twins to Halbeath Woody. Out of one of the best Ballynahone breeding families, her ET brothers have sold to 1,850gns and 1,100gns.

Taking up residence in the Whitepark Flock of Sam McAuley, Mosside, was Mr Henderson’s Lot 59 HBR1500694(E), purchased for £1,785.

A Tamnamoney Tuborg Gold daughter, she is ET sister to Ballynahone Winner, Lanark male champion 2015. This gimmer’s dam also bred Tamnamoney Yetti, which sold at Lanark 2016 for 5,500gns. The Ballynahone flock averaged £770 for 12 lots.

Claiming the fifth top price of the day at £3,675 was Paul and Baillie O’Connor, Drumgooland Texels, with Lot 32 OCP1500465(E).

A Duncryne Uber Cool daughter, she is bred from the dam purchased privately from Strathbogie.

This gimmer was third placed at RUAS 2016 and a full ET sister stood champion at the club in-lamb sale in 2015. A maternal embryo sold to 1,100gns and a maternal sister to 1,900gns in 2015.

In-lamb to Halbeath Woody, she is scanned with triplets and heads to Raphoe to join HJ Wilson’s flock.

Going to the same home was Lot 7 OCP1500461(E) for £2,835. This Tophill Union Jack daughter out of the 11K Forkins ewe is in-lamb with twins to 2016 Carlisle champion Douganhill Young Gun.

Lot 34 OCP1500445(E) from the O’Connor pen sold for another four-figure price at £1,680.

This Knock Travis daughter scanned for twins to Stainton Yasin moves home to Seamus Delaney, Co Roscommon. The Drumgooland Flock averaged £1,110 for 20.

Also in line for four-figure prices was Roger Strawbridge’s Tamnamoney pen. Lot 42 SRY1501212(E), a Tamnamoney Tuborg Gold out of a Knock Travis ewe, sold for £3,990 to HJ Wilson, Raphoe, Co Donegal.

This gimmer’s dam is from one of the Tamnamoney Flock’s best breeders and is a full sister to 8,000gns Tamnamoney Ultimate, who sired lambs to 20,000gns and 12,000gns in Lanark 2016.

She is scanned in-lamb with triplets to Tamnamoney Yolo, a full brother to Tamnamoney Young Willie McBride, sold Lanark for £9,000 to Hullhouse.

Heading south of the border this time to Co Cork was Lot 40 SRY1501237(2) from Mr Strawbridge. Purchased for £2,625 by Edward Buckley, Kilbarry, Co Cork, she is a Duncryne Uber Cool daughter out of a Sportsmans Scania mother.

She is from the same family as the 5,000gns Tamnamoney Rob Roy and 6,500gns Tamnamoney Stallone. In-lamb to proven sire Knap Wot a Nut, she carries twins. Mr Strawbridge averaged £952 for 16.

Guest consignors William and Michael Smyth started the sale off with a frenzy of bids for Lot 1 SMV1501720(E), a Stainton Victor daughter out of a Straidarran Ranger mother.

Her dam was part of the Foyleview show team and is a full sister to Foyleview Superstar. Scanned with twins, she is in-lamb to Tamnamoney Wild West. Selling for £3,255, she moves south to L Brown, Letterkenny, Co Donegal.

Demand for the Foyleview females continued into its second pen, with Lot 20 SMV1501768(2) selling for £3,570.

Another Stainton Victor daughter out of a Mellor Vale Masterpiece dam also in-lamb to Tamnamoney Wild West, she joins Charlie Boden’s Sportsman’s flock in Mellor, Stockport, England.

Following suit was Lot 21 SMV1501731(E) selling for £3,675, the top price of the day for the Foyleview consignment.

A full sister to Lot 1, she is also in-lamb to Tamnamoney Wild West and also heads south to Rodney McCloughlin’s flock in Clonmany, Co Donegal. Foyleview averaged £1,924 for 10 lots sold.

Trade was consistent, with the average for 77 females well up on last year’s sale at £1,292.59.