Big Bang Export Sale

Pedigree Dutch Spotted and Suffolk females proved the star attraction at the Big Bang Export sale at Balmoral Park, in Northern Ireland, securing the majority of top prices and the top two at 9000gns and 8000gns respectively.

This live and online sale also included Valais Blacknose and Badger Face Texels, but it was a Dutch Spotted ewe lamb from Roger, Robert, and David Nicholson's Cannon Hall flock from Cawthorne, Barnsley that led the trade when selling to an undisclosed bidder from Barnard Castle.

Selling at 9000gns was the February-born ET, Cannon Hall Go On Ye Good Thing. She is the result of a flush from an imported ewe and sired by Carlaustan Extrovert son, Johnstown Fergus.

Other Dutch Spotted sold to 6800gns from Patrick Grant's Newry Co Down-based Craigdoo flock. His Craigdoo Firefly, an ET gimmer is bred from the Challoch Bearskin daughter, Kilroot Electric, with the sire being Carlaustan Extrovert. Full sister to the inter-breed champion winner at Castlewellan Show, and the reserve overall champion Balmoral in May, Firefly is also a full sister to last year's Fergie which sold here for 4000gns. Flushed prior to the sale, she was knocked down to fellow Irish breeders, Emma and Allan Short, of the Diamond flock from Co Tyrone

Helping to finance that transaction, the duo sold gimmer daughters of the same Carlaustan sire at 3500gns and 3200gns. The dearest, Diamond Floss is an ET bred from the imported ewe, Belle II which has produced progeny to 28,000gns. Floss changed hands carrying a single lamb to Drumkirk Decider which has bred several five-figure prices sheep to Messrs Lynn, Co Antrim

Messrs Edgar, Do Down, bought the 3200gns gimmer, Diamond Freya ET which is a full sister to the 20,000gns Diamond Frankie being bred from the Challoch Bearskin daughter, Glencoy Chelsie. She also sold due to Decider and carrying a pair.

Suffolks met an international demand selling as far afield as Romania, Portugal, and Spain. Tops here at 8000gns was an ET-bred gimmer from Andrew Wilson's Castleisle and Shannagh flocks from Raphoe, Co Donegal, purchased by Messrs McCrystal, Maghera. The gimmer is a daughter of the 12,000gns Crewelands Frontline and bred from an ewe by Limestone Aston Martin that has bred females to £5500 and £5000. She changed hands carrying a pair of lambs to Castleisle A Kingsman, this year's NI Sire of the Year that has bred sons to £16,000 with 10 averaging £8380.

At 5800gns, Alastair Gault of the Forkins flock from Newtonabbey, Co Antrim, sold a gimmer by Birness Freedom, bred from a home-bred ewe by Forkins Black Gold. Full sister to a 6000gns Forkins ram, her maternal sister also sold last year for 5500gns. The service sire is Cairness Kanine and the gimmer sold carrying a pair of lambs to Messrs Ludgate, Thame Oxon.

Fellow Northern Ireland breeder, Dennis Taylor of the Ballynacannon flock, Macosquin, Coleraine, sold the top priced Suffolk ewe lamb at 4500gns. This was an ET bred daughter of a home-bred ewe by Rhaeadr Rolls Royce, sired by Lakeview Fury. Equally well bred, she is a maternal sister to the 14,000gns Ballynacannon Bazooka with her grand-dam being the well-known Ballynacannon Beyonce. Mid January-born, she is heading to Portugal, bound for the Do Pinheiro flock

Mr Taylor's pen leader, another ewe lamb by Fury made 4000gns selling to Eire with Messrs Thompson, Co Donegal. Full sister to the first prize ewe lamb at Balmoral in May, her dam, a home-bred ewe by Tolgus Pretty Boy, stood third at the Royal Ulster last year, while her grand-dam sold for 15,000gns to the Sportsmans flock.

Matching that 4000gns sale when selling to Messrs Acebal, Spain, was No 1 from Ronan McLaughlin's Ballyboe flock, Mallin Town, Eire. This gimmer by Blackbrae Black Label, out of a Birness ewe by Crewelands Megastar, sold carrying a single lamb to the 7000gns Limestone McLaren.

Having topped the Dutch Spotted section, the sole Valais Blacknose entries from the Cannon Hall flock, sold to 2200gns, 1400gns and 1200gns. Their lead two, maiden ET gimmers were both sired by the imported ram, Akerbo Albert Jr. The dearest, Cannon Hall Jean, bred from Deepdale Erica, was knocked down to Messrs Liggett, Drumquin, Co Tyrone.

Selling at 1400gns to Messrs Quinigan, Co Clare, was Cannon Hall Jacky. Her dam is Goldies Erica,

The consignment of Badger Face Texels from Russell Millen's Knockmult flock, Coleraine, reached 1000gns on three occasions for in-lamb gimmers due to Duhonw Jam, a ram that has sired progeny to 7500gns. The buyers were Messrs Farrelly, Newry; Messrs Flanagan, Co Armagh, and Messrs Keys, respectively.

Averages:
Badger Face Texel
7gimmers, £900.00

Dutch Spotted
13 gimmers, £2023.26
6 ewe lambs, £2493.75.

Suffolks
22 ewe lambs £1522.50
13 ewes, £904.61
52 gimmers £1523.50

Valais Blacknose
19 gimmers, £1271.66.