Charollais females in huge demand

THE Charollais female sale in Dungannon proved a very succ-essful sale with ewe lambs in particular in keen demand. A ringside of keen buyers ensured an almost complete clearance with over 60 per cent exported to Europe, Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

The sale was another red letter day for the Springhill Flock of Graham Foster, top-ping the trade at 2400gns with a smart ewe lamb sired by Boyo Walk This Way and out of a Boyo Dam.

This lamb had already shown her potential by win-ning first prize in the ewe lamb class at Balmoral and certainly generated a lot of

interest. After a flurry of bidding, she was eventually knocked down to James Walsh for his Shanavagoon Flock in County Cork.

Another prize winner from the Springhill Flock, this one an ET daughter of Gwyndy Whizz Kid and part of the first prize interbreed ewe lamb pairs at Balmoral, selling for 2000gns to Paul and Sinead Brophy, County Carlow.

A lot from the Springhill pen caught the eye of Galway breeder Sean Naughton. He had to go to 1600gns to secure this strong ewe lamb sired by Gwyndy Whizz Kid and out of a Lisfuncheon dam.

Another lot in the Springhill pen was the choice of County Antrim breeder James Reid, who paid 1350gns for another Gwyndy Whizz Kid daughter.

The Millhaven pen of David Cromie was a favourite for overseas buyer Harry de Vliegher, Netherlands, who purchased several lots from this pen going to a top of 940gns for a smart ET ewe lamb out of a Rockvilla dam and sired by Arbryn Viper.

Two Riverdale Victor dau-

ghters shown by the Beech-view Flock of George and Jason Booth caught the eye of buyers with one selling to Wesley Cousins for 920gns and another selling for 750gns to Trevor Bell.

Alistair Moore sold his top from his Hillside pen for 900gns, a Padrig Upperclass sired daughter and out of a Foulrice Supreme sired dam selling to Colm O’Neil.

Welsh breeder Gareth Jones

purchased his pick from the

Ballyhunsley pen of David Anderson, this smart Jan-uary born lamb sired by

Padrig Upperclass and out

of a Springhill O’Driscoll

sired dam, selling for 800gns.

Sale leader in the in-lamb shearlings came from a very impressive Artnagullion pen shown by William McAllister, Richard Powell having to go to 1650gns to secure a lot for his Iskeymeadow Flock. She is a Loanhead Upperclass sired daughter and out of a Riverdale Preacher sired dam. Her ET sister sold for 1600gns to Simon Turkington. The same buyer also purchased a lot at 1100gns, this one sired by Rockdale Vespasian. Also from this pen, another Upperclass daughter and out of the very successful show ewe Artnagullion Pandora, sold to James Walsh for his Shanavagoon Flock in Cork for 1000gns.

The Tullyear Flock sold its top at 1080gns to Scottish breeder Ben Radley, sired by Tullyear Untouchable and out of an Oakchurch Royal Ryan sired dam.

Thirty-one in-lamb shearling ewes averaged 760gns; 57 ewe lambs averaged 541gns.