Texels
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Texel takes Highland sheep championship; Strathisla ewe stands reserve
Taking the interbreed sheep championship here at the Highland this afternoon was the Texel champion from John Forsyth, Glenside. This one crop ewe is by 33,000gns sire Muiresk Blondin and out of a dam by Castlecairn Celtic Star.
This was John’s third Highland Show sheep interbreed championship win and his eighth Texel championship. Judge Robin Thomson said the ewe was the best sheep he’d seen in a long time. “She was sweet and correct in every way and has flesh throughout herself. She moves well and is just a great example of the breed.”
Standing reserve overall was the Suffolk champion, Robbie Wilson two crop ewe. She is a Strathisla Speed daughter out of a dam by Strathisla Kingsway. She is ET sister to 15,000gns Strathisla Leader and 8000gns Strathisla Thunderstruck.
Mr Thomson said the Suffolk had pushed the Texel close for the top title and was a good example of the modern Suffolk. “She’s a more fleshy, solid type of Suffolk than we’ve seen for a few years.”
And in second reserve was Robert Runciman’s North Country Cheviot tup, a four shear. This is Sinton Bullseye, a four shear tup by Allanshaws Double Top and is the sire of last year’s champion Allanshaws Pam.
Photo report from Kelso
Here’s a brief report by Jonathan Long from Friday’s tup sale at Kelso, more details will follow in due course.
Best in the Suffolk ram lambs was a £4200 call for one from the Benzies, Meikleson. This was a Strathisla Speed son.
Selling at £7000 was another Texel shearling, this time on from Douganhill Farms which sold to Fraser Beard, Carlisle.
Following that at £6000 was one fromAlesx Gray, which sold to Lilburn Estates. This was a Clydeside Oscar son.
Top call in the Bluefaced Leicesters on offer was a £7000 call for one from Firth. 
Then making £5500 was a Blueface from Dreva. 
In the Border Leicesters, the breed which used to dominate the sales, the top call was a £3000 bid for one from John Jeffries, Kersnowe.
Making £1800 was a Beltex two shear tup from Mary Dunlop, Corstane.
More to follow in due course…..And selling at £1200 was a Beltex shearling from Gavin Shanks, Inveresk.
Kelso Ram sales gross just under £2m
THE annual Kelso Ram sales went ahead without a hitch last Friday (September 12), to gross just under £2 million for 4,324 rams sold.
The total number of rams sold was down by 760 on the 2006 sale representing an 80 per cent clearance– 5,362 rams had been entered, as due to bluetongue restrictions some of the consignors were precluded from attending.
However, the year’s overall average price was £457.56, £33 up on the 2006 event.
Secretary of organisers – the Border Union Agricultural Society – Ron Wilson said he was very pleased that a sale had gone ahead this year, unlike 2007 when foot-and-mouth movement restrictions led to its cancellation alongside.
Recent heavy rain also failed to deter entries – two breeders swam their rams over the River Till from the Beaumont Valley in north Northumberland.
Registered Texels, which dominated the sale with 1,248 rams sold, led the day’s trade at £8,000 for a shearling from Jim Clark and sons – Alan, Andrew and David, North Garngour, Lesmahagow.
D5 Creation