A top call of 10,000gns secured the pre-sale champion, Cannon Hall Florence for Richard Nicholson, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, at an August sale of Dutch Spotted sheep at Welshpool.

Having been tapped out as champion by judge Jack Simpson of the Back Tor flock, this ET-bred daughter of Drumhirk Decider is out of a highly successful imported female and follows in the footsteps of her sister who previously topped trade at 16,000gns in Carlisle the week previous. Taking this one home to join her sister was Henry Jewitt, Barnard Castle, Co Durham, for his Sunnybank flock.

Next best at 4,200gns was the top priced ewe lamb on the day, Merryboro Guess Girl, an ET-bred daughter of Merryboro Essential from Haverfordwest-based Tom and Louise Nash. Out of Merryboro Emerald, this one was the pick of Darren Mattia, Hereford, for his How Caple flock.

The same home had the next best priced female and second highest priced shearling ewe in the form of Merryboro Felicity. By the successful stock sire Merryboro Cracker, this one is out of an imported female. Having already won a class at Pembrokeshire County Show last year, she was sold at 2,800gns to Sebastia Ghiorghita, Wellingborough, Northants.

The best from Dumfries-based Alastair Jackson’s Tiptop females on the day secured a 2,200gns bid for Tiptop Fidler. With imported breeding on both sides, she was knocked down to Andrew Hughes, Bodorgan, Gwynedd.

Two ewe lambs then met the same price of 2,200gns, the first being another from the Nash family, Merryboro Gettaway Girl. Again, by Essential, this one is out of a Cracker daughter, Merryboro Diana and sold to previous buyer Sebastia Ghiorghita.

The other at the same money was the winner of the ewe lamb class, Cnwch G’vine Ruby, an ET-bred daughter of imported sire Dutchman from A R P and D R Wilson, Llandrindod Wells, Powys.

This one is out of the Hiroshima sired Cnwch Esperanza. With a show winning pedigree behind her, this one herself was female and reserve overall at Devon County Show and sold across the water to Lisburn, Co Antrim with Gavin Hayes.

Another ewe lamb from the same pen, Cnwch Gin Sling, an ET-bred daughter of Cnwch Emilio out of a Beech Hay female, then sold for 2,000gns to Debbie Marshall, Manningford Bruce, Wiltshire.

Male trade

Of the males, it was Alastair Jackson’s male and reserve overall champion, Tiptop Gadzooks that sold for 3,200gns. By the imported sire Royal Dutch and out of the Tiptop Charlie daughter, Tiptop Dazling Spirit, this one went home with the judge Jack Simpson, Hope Valley, Derbyshire.

The same home also secured the top priced shearling ram at 2,800gns in the form of Tiptop Fearless Flames. This ET-bred son of imported sire, Sea The Stars out of an imported female, Beach, sold to Gareth Hempton, Omagh, Co Tyrone.

Remaining with the Tiptop flock, Tiptop Fidget, another Royal Dutch son sold for 1,500gns to G Williams, Caernarfon, Gwynedd.

Aged rams saw a top price of 1,600gns for the reserve male champion, Wedderburn Dancer from Beth Jones, Builth Wells, Powys. Originally bred by Jonathan and Janet Corbett, this Lochlad Bespoke son is out of an imported female and has already produced lambs to 3,800gns. Taking him home to Abergele, Conwy, was Elgan Jones.

  • Averages: 3 aged rams £917.00; 10 shearling rams £918.75; 35 ram lambs £495.60; 1 aged ewe £367.50; 14 shearling ewes £1,884.00; 77 ewe lambs £474.55; 1 grade up shearling ewe £210; 5 grade up ewe lambs £300.30 (Welshpool Livestock Sales).