The Great Bonanza Sale

Harrison and Hetherington’s Great Bonanza Suffolk female sale took place at the new venue of Jalex Farm, Randalstown, with 126 females coming under the hammer having reached a top of 8500gns.

The top price lot didn't have to travel far when James Alexander, Randalstown, Co Antrim, bought her from Jack Smyth and Emma McElhill, Newtonstewart, Co Tyrone, of the Bessiebell flock. This gimmer is sired by Theviews V6, out of a home-bred ewe which goes back to Scottish genetics being sired by Scrogton Jack The Lad. She is scanned a pair to Scrogton Snapchat.

The next lot in the ring made 3500gns for the same home when the hammer fell to Messrs Lynch, Clougherhaed, Louth. A Landale Step Ahead daughter, she is out of a Stonebridge Master sired-dam and is due twins to Landale Ya Beauty.

To finance buying the top price lot, James Alexander sold his best for 4000gns to Messrs Leonard, Co Donegal. This daughter of Scrogton Snapchat – which was a tup bought at Carlisle in 2020 for £3600 – is out of a Strathbogie ewe that goes back to Lakeview No Limits. This gimmer is scanned for triplets to Theviews V6.

The Jalex flock sold 20 gimmers to cash in at £1690.50, helping achieve that average was a Theviews V6 daughter out of a Smiddiehill bred ewe. Adding to her future potential she is due two lambs to Landale Ya Beauty. Final bidders here were Stephanie and Willie Tait of the Burnview flock, Lisnaharney, Eskradooey, Co Tyrone.

Financing that transaction the Burnview flock also sold to a top of 4000gns for a gimmer by Strathbogie Joel, which was purchased at Lanark for 13,000gns. Bred from a home-bred ewe that goes back to Strathbogie Im Invincible, she is due triplets to Forkins Ferrari II, and found a new home with Messrs Screen, Co Tyrone.

Messrs Williamson, Enniskillen, went to 3500gns for the next best gimmer from the same home. A Clyda President daughter she is out of a Solwaybank Gent sired-dam and is scanned a pair to Strathbogie Joel.

Another two from the same home made 3000gns when both found a new home with O Gorman, Blanchardstown, Dublin. Firstly was another gimmer, sired by Strathbogie Joel she is out of a dam that goes back to Shannagh Resolve. She is in lamb to Forkins Ferrari II, due three lambs.

The second was by the same sire, this time bred from a Strathbogie Im Invincible sired-dam. She is scanned a pair to Mullinvale Assassin.

Another to achieve that same price tag was the best from Philip Gurney, Aghadowey, Colraine, Northern Ireland, of the Oakbridge flock. Their gimmer is a daughter of Convoy Pablo Escobar, and the dam was purchased from the Benedyglen flock for 2200gns going back to Pyeston Phantom. Stephanie and Willie Tait of the Burnview flock, took this one home which is scanned a pair to Castelisle Kingsman.

Averages: 85 gimmers, £1592; 27 aged ewes, £1403; 25 ewe lambs, £1174