Hexel gimmer leads Gems sale at 8000 guineas

THE January Gems sale returned to Ballymena Live-

stock Market on Saturday, January 8. Quality con-signments were on offer from local breeders Chrissy and Martin Mullan (Blue Gates Flock), Adrian Liggett and Brian Williamson (Corbo and Farmhill Flocks); John Trimble (Curley Flock); Barclay Bell & Sons (Kiltariff Flock); S&M Warnock (Straidarran Flock) and guest consignment, brought out by Donald and Ross MacPherson, Hexel Flock, Berwick-Upon-Tweed.

With 86 per cent clearance and 33 per cent of sales over 1000gns, the sale averaged 1142gns for 48 in-lamb gimmers and 1849gns for nine ewe lambs.

The gem of the sale came from the MacPherson family’s Hexel pen selling at 8K. A Procters Chumba Wumba daughter out of a Castlecairn Vavavoom dam, she is full sister to Hexel Didi. This smart gimmer comes in lamb to Coniston Equinox and moves home to Berwickshire breeder Wesley Waite for his foundation flock Summerskye.

Taking the next best of the day to the same buyer for 4400gns was this gimmer’s penmate, another Chumba Wumba daughter but this time from a Drumpark Unique mother who is maternal sister to 9K Hexel Blockbuster. She also comes in lamb to Coniston Equinox.

Leading the way for the Farmhill Flock consignment from Adrian Liggett and Brian Williamson was one of the favourites on offer, an Auldhouseburn Crackpot dau-

ghter out of a Drumgooland Advertiser dam. Purchased by Marcus Johnston, County Fer-managh, for 3000gns, she comes in lamb to Midas Elvis, a Hexel Born to Be Wild son. From the same pen this gimmer’s full sister came in close behind selling at 2800gns to Mauris Breen, Augher, County Tyrone. She also comes in lamb to Midas Elvis.

Also featuring in the top six leading prices for in-lamb gimmers was C&M Mullan’s Blue Gates Flock. Out of a Drumgooland Aga Khan dam which was Champion Texel Antrim Show 2019 and sold January Gems 2020 for 8.5K, this gimmer is a Fairywater Columbo daughter and moves South to join Arthur O’Keefe’s flock in County Cork for 2400gns.

Also featuring in the buyers’ favourites was John Trimble’s Curley pen, with his Garngour Challenger daughter. She is out of a Plasucha All Rounder dam and sold in lamb to Garngour Easyjet to P Donnelly, Ballymena, for his Donrho Flock for 2000gns.

The sale saw breeders go to 4000gns twice for ewe lambs from the Hexel and Corbo Flocks. Returning in popularity was the Hexel pen with a March born Procters Chumba Wumba daughter out of a Garngour Alabama dam purchased for 10K at the Glanllyn Dispersal sale. For the same money was the Corbo favourite, a Sportsmans Cannon Ball daughter out of Strathbogie Best Bet dam. Both ewe lambs join Wesley Waite’s foundation flock at Berwickshire.

Heading South to join the Enniscrone Flock of Ronan Gall-agher was another from the Hexel pen. Selling for 3100gns, she is a Haymount Crackerjack daughter out of a Procters Bobby Dazzler mother. Continuing with the leading prices was a Crackerjack daughter out of a Drumcryne Uber Cool dam, a maternal sister to 8K Born To Be Wild, 65K Django and 14K Diamond Joe and sells for 1900gns to Alan Glendinning, Draperstown, for his Lylehill Flock.

The January Gems vendors thank Ballymena Livestock Market for the smooth running of the sale, their buyers, under-bidders and sponsors, namely NFU Mutual, AB

Europe, ABP Food Group, LCC Group, Frazers Feeds, Galloway & MacLeod, The Sheep Vet, Joseph Walls Ltd, Sam Anderson, McFarlane Animal Health, Natural Stockcare, Tannahill Livestock Care, Strabane Mills and Agri Lloyd.