Some exceptionally well-bred Suffolk, Valais Blacknose and Texel sheep went for auction in the Big Bang Summer Edition timed auction over the weekend.

Hosted by Harrison and Hetherington through the MartEye platform, the sale consisted of ram lambs, ewe lambs, shearlings and frozen genetics from the Ballynacannon, Carony, Cavanagrove, Forkins, Castleisle, Shannagh, Rossbrook and Cheerylea flocks.

Leading the trade at £8,100 (€9,477) were two shearling gimmers from the Castleisle and Ballynacannon flocks.

First up was the much-admired shearling gimmer from Andrew Wilson's Donegal-based Castleisle flock. A daughter of Malinhead Cannonball, she was fresh off her victory at Finn Valley Show, where she was part of the winning interbreed pairs team.

From an extremely successful line, her dam has bred progeny to €15,000 and is a maternal sister to the 33,000gns Castleisle Kingsman. Described by the Wilsons as one of the best females ever offered from the herd, she sold to Messrs Doyle in Co Wicklow.

Ballynacannon

Matching her at the same money was another shearling gimmer from Dennis Taylor's Ballynacannon flock in Co Derry.

Sired by Cairness Eye Catcher and out of an Oakbridge ewe, her maternal sister which sold to Tom Kenny last year bred multiple prizewinners and the reserve overall champion at this year's all-Ireland finals.

Adding this one to his Bridgeview flock in Wales was Paul Delves.

The shearling gimmer from Ballynacannon, which sold for the joint-highest price of £8,100. \ Alfie Shaw

Peaking the ewe lamb trade at £3,500 (€4,095) was another offering from the Ballynacannon flock.

Bred from the 42,000gns Islandmoyle Spartacus, her dam is a homebred ewe which goes back to the flock's best breeding line. Securing her was Messrs Dickson of the Islandmoyle flock in Co Down.

Ram lamb

Also hitting £3,500 (€4,095) was a ram lamb from Alastair Gault's Forkins flock in Co Antrim.

A son of Ballynacannon Coldplay, which has already produced lambs to £12,000, his dam's full sister previously sold for £12,000. Picking up this young stud was Lancashire-based breeders Messrs Blair.

Sheep sold all across Ireland, Northern Ireland and Britain, with one aged ewe selling to Spain from the Forkins flock.