The pre-sale champion led the trade at the Kiwikit Roxan sponsored Welsh National Texel Sale, when shearling ram Caereinion Emperor sold at 4,400gns.

This sale-topping performance in Welshpool was backed up by a £50 lift in the gimmer average and a £38 jump in the shearling ram average as well as an 89% clearance in the ram lambs.

Sale leader Emperor, from local breeder Cefin Pryce and family, had led the shearling ram class under judge Rosie Boden before being tapped out as male and overall champion.

He is by Sportsmans V8 and out of a dam by by Cambwell Trademark. He sold with an index in the top 25% of the breed and was taken home by A Rees and Son, Llanfair Caereinion.

Second best among the shearlings was a 4,000gns for Corras Escobar from the Watkins family, Kentchurch.

This son of Artnagullion Corras is out of a dam by Hollyford Venus and had stood male champion at the Royal Welsh Show in July. He found a new home with the Creer family, Ballaglonney, Isle of Man.

Then making 2,000gns was another from the same home, Corras Empire. He’s by the homebred Corras Cupids Hill and is out of another Holyford Venus daughter. Buying this one was Paul Delves, Craven Arms.

Close behind at 1,900gns was Whitehart Eagle Eye from father and daughter team Jim and Nicola Hartwright. Sired by Humeston River Dance, he is out of a dam by the homebred Whitehart Yeoman and was knocked down to Phil Martyn-Uglow and family, Launceston.

Two then sold at 1,500gns, with both coming from Bryn Robinson and family’s Preenbank pen. First at this money was Preenbank Elwyn, a Cambwell Distinctive son out of a dam by Talcoed Wildfire. He was bought by previous buyer Paul Delves.

And Mr Delves then paid the same price for another from this pen, Preenbank Eric. He’s by Roxburgh Colossus and is out of a dam by Cambwell Yaris.

Ram lambs

Topping the ram lambs at 2,400gns was Rhaeadr First Refusal from Myfyr Evans. This Sportsmans Dare Devil son is out of a dam by Brackenridge Crown Royal and sold to Peter and James Vaughan, for the Kingspark flock, Kingsland.

Next in line here at 2,000gns was Gordon Gray’s Ettrick Frank The Tank. This son of Claybury Dunkirk is out of a dam by Midcombe Brigadier and had stood second in the texelplus class in the pre-sale show. He sold with a top 5% index when bought by R E and C J Davies, Yockleton.

Myfyr Evans then took 1,700gns for Rhaeadr Fearless, a Sportsmans Dare Devil son out of another dam by Crown Royal. Buying this one was T K Contracting, Norwich.

And two then took bids of 1,400gns, with the first of these being Robert Cockburn’s Knap F B I. Sired by New View Electrifying and out of a dam by Sportsmans Cannon Ball he had stood reserve male champion earlier in the day and was knocked down to the Jones family, Tynbryn Farms, Tregynon.

The other at this level was Clanfield Fastrac from James Theyer. Sired by the 100,000gns Auldhouseburn Expression, he is out of a dam by Knock Banker and sold carrying a top 10% index. Buying him was T E Morgan, Haughmond.

And the same vendor then sold Clanfield Fantastic at 1,300gns. He’s another by Expression and is out of a dam by Plasucha All Star and has an index in the top 25% of the breed. This one found a new home with H Cobbledick, Jacobstowe.

Gimmers

Leading the female trade was Robert Bennett at 1,800gns with one from his Plasucha entry. This was BFE2111184 a daughter of Plasucha Boss Man out of a dam by Teiglum Braveheart. She was taken by Esmor Evans, Mold for the Maerdy flock.

Then making the same money was the best of the sale from Procters Farm, PFD2104582. Sired by the 350,000gns Sportsmans Double Diamond, she is out of a dam by Knap Alligator and has a top 1% index. This one sold to M and H Owens, Pont Sian, Ceredigion.

Third in line here was the female champion from Ben Vernon, VCB2104379, a Sportsmans Cannon Ball daughter out of a dam by Knock Travis. She sold to Gary Scott, Denbighshire.

And following her at 1,400gns was one from Robert Cockburn, CKP2105705. She’s another by Cannon Ball and is out of a dam by Procters Yankee. She found a new home with Brian Joseph, Hope Bowdler.

Averages; 43 shearling ewes £713.76 (+£50), 26 shearling rams £1276.56 (+£38), 50 ram lambs £654.78 (Welshpool Livestock Sales).