The recent Belgian Beltex in-lamb and ewe lamb sale topped at €1,300 for an in lamb ewe bred by John Maher, Roscrea, Co Tipperary. His ewe Ballinakill Boohoo ET placed second in the pre-sale show and was secured by Michael McGrath, Mulligar, Co Westmeath.

Next up was Sheephaven Daisse, which sold for the second-highest price of the day at €1,240 for breeder Declan Robinson, Letterkenny, Co Donegal. This much-admired ewe was eventually knocked down to new breeder Aaron James, Dunmore East, Co Waterford.

Quarrymount Darci, an in-lamb ewe judged overall champion on the day, was next to top at €1,160. Carrying twins to Boherwillan Basvule, this stylish ewe from Brian Mathews was met with a flurry of bids before being knocked down to judge on the day Michael Brady, Kilflynn, Co Kerry, for his Royal flock.

Donegal breeder Declan Robinson was once again in the money when his in-lamb ewe Sheephaven Dolly found a new home with Michael Oliver, Swinford, Co Mayo, for €1,000, rounding off an excellent day for Robinson, who sold his five ewes to average €800.

In-lamb ewes met with a steady trade, with a number of quality lots selling from €500 to €800.

In the small ewe lamb section, Dermot Goss, Dundalk, Co Louth, sold his first prize-winner and reserve overall champion outside for €500 to join John Maher for his Ballinakill flock.

Overall, in-lamb ewes sold to average €630 with ewe lamb average settling at €340.

Carlisle Texel sales

A number of Texel sales took place in Carlisle Mart at the weekend, with trade peaking at 14,000gns. This price came in the Twilight Texel sale with a ewe from Robert Bennett’s Plasucha flock. Sired by Mullan Awesome, she is out of a dam by Eden Valley Wiz Kid and was the pick of Jeremy Theyer.

Second-best to this at half the price was the 7,000gns ewe lamb from the same home. The April 2019-born ewe is sired by the homebred Plasucha Baler and out of a dam by Brackenridge Young Gun. Successful bidder here was Alan Blackwood of the Auldhouseburn herd. At 4,000gns, the Wilkinson family sold a ewe lamb from their Arkle flock. This ET-bred Silvermere Baltic daughter is out of a dam by Whitehart Wanted and was unbeaten in the show-ring this year. Buying her was Leigh Smith, Whitehaven, Cumbria.

The Plasucha flock sold their next ewe at 3,200gns to young Irish breeder Gerard Shiels, Donegal. This Plasucha All Star daughter is a full sister to the 32,000gns Plasucha Big Gun.

In the Christmas Stars sale, trade was led with a call of 10,000gns for a Sportsman flock ewe from Messrs Boden and Davies. Sired by Fordafourie Amalert she sold in-lamb to the 65,000gns Lanark champion Garngour Craftsman. Securing the high seller was Northern Irish breeder Messrs Beacon from Fivemiletown.

Next best of the sale at 6,000gns was one from the Innes family’s Strathbogie pen. Sired by Mullan Armani and out of a 15,000gns dam by Knap Vicious Sid, she sold in-lamb to Carran Crackerjack and was taken by Robert Evans for the Hope Valley flock. Then making 5500gns was the best of the sale from the Wight family’s Midlock flock. Sired by Midlock Al Pacino, she is from the same family as the 22,000gns Midlock Avicii and the 24,000gns Midlock Yorkie. The previously mentioned Alan Blackwood was the successful bidder here.