The Northern Irish national Texel sale took place in Ballymena over the weekend, with ram lamb prices rising by £200 on the year. Overall, a further 15 ram lambs were sold to an average price of £805.

This substantial increase in average was led by a top call of 6,000gns for Tamnamoney Denzil. Brought out by Roger Strawbridge from Coleraine, Co Derry, he was the choice of Meath breeders Pat and Barry Farrell of the Oberstown flock. Sired by Procters Cocktail, he is out of a dam by Scotsman Ace.

Second to this was a call of 4,400gns for Lakeview Duke from Gary Beacom. This ram is a son of Garngour Craftsman which sired the 350,000gns Sportsman Double Diamond.

Out of a Sportsman ewe purchased at the Christmas stars sale in December, he was the pick of John Leitch, Co Tyrone.

The Strawbridge family were back in the money when they sold their second ram, Tamnamoney Double Barrell, for 3,500gns.

This young ram was bred the same way as the sale-topper, being out of Cocktail and an Ace dam. He was purchased by the Corrick flock.

Lakeview Dirty Dancer, another from Beacom, followed at 3,200gns. This son of the 15,000gns Harestone Commander is out of a Plasucha All Star-bred dam and was secured by the Forkins flock of Alastair Gault.

John and Richard Currie received 3,000gns for Tullagh Dragon. This Teiglum Braveheart son is out of a Mossvale Visa dam and was the choice of the Whitepark flock.

A shout of 2,200gns was enough to secure Glenhone Darby from Martin McConville. This Mullan Awesome son was the pick of the Cloughbane flock.

Top of the shearling rams was a call of 2,000gns for Duvarren Cantona. Bred and exhibited by John Watson, he was a son of the homebred Duvarren Aston Martin and was secured by Fraser Tweed.

A small entry of ewes topped at 2,300gns for a Forkins shearling. This Scotsman Avicii daughter sold to Sean Burns.