‘Duchess’ sets 14,000 guineas record at Blackface female sale

THE Blackface Sheep Breeders’ Association Lanark female sale, held as an online timed auction for the first time, proved a huge success, with a total clearance for all 50 lots and a new centre record achieved.

The sale averaged £3,214 for the 50 lots, with a gimmer from Hugh and Alan Blackwood’s Auldhouseburn flock at Muirkirk leading at 14,000gns. Sired by

£160,000 Elmscleugh and out of a ewe by £90,000 Blackhouse, which has previously bred sons to £36,000, this one is scanned with a single due to £70,000 Harestone. She sold to Kofali Farm, London.

Next best in the gimmers was a 10,000gns bid for one from John and Patrick Harkin’s Northern Ireland-based Loughash flock. A daughter of £7,000 Nunnerie, out of a ewe by £7,000 Elmscleugh, she sold due with twins to last year’s purchase, a £9,000 Elmscleugh, to Keiran Donaghey, Clonmany.

At 5100gns, Eoin Blackwood, Dalblair, Ayr, sold a gimmer by £28,000 Auldhouseburn, scanned with twins to the £20,000 Orchilmore sire, to Grant Bros, Craigdoo, Newry.

Best for the Renwicks’ Williamhope entries, from Clovenfords, was 4400gns, for a gimmer by £75,000 Glenrath, carrying twins to £19,000 Dalchirla. She went to E Fraser, Balgowan, Laggan.

Leading the ewe trade at 10,200gns was a two-crop from the Harkins’ Loughash flock. She is by £24,000 Crossflatt, out of a daughter of £24,000 Elmscleugh, and is due with twins to £38,000 Dalchirla. Final bidders on that one were J Grant, Cloughfin, and Brian Curran, Glackmore, both Northern Ireland.

At 4100gns, John Murray, Crossflatt, Muirkirk, sold a four-crop ewe by £90,000 Blackhouse, with all proceeds of that one being donated to RSABI. Carrying a single to £14,000 Crossflatt, she sold to Alasdair Fletcher, Laigh Hatton, Bishopton.

Auctioneer: Lawrie and Symington.