Spring Stars Poll Dorset & Dorset Horn Show & Sale

The inaugural Spring Stars show and sale of Poll Dorset and Dorset Horn sheep held at Carlisle today saw a top price of 2200gns achieved for the 3^rd prize shearling gimmer Richhill A-Plus from Ben Lamb’s Co Armagh based flock.  This gimmer sired by Sandelford Usain and out of the Olivertree Nik Nak daughter Richhill S78 was purchased by Andrew & Caroline Kennedy from Ballymena for their Mainview.

[caption id="attachment_21667" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Richhill A-Plus - 2200gns[/caption]

Ben also sold the next best price at 2000gns. This was his 1^st prize gimmer, female champion and reserve overall champion Richhill A-Star sired by Sandelford Thunder. This gimmer was purchased by Messrs Hanna from Ballyclare, Northern Ireland.

[caption id="attachment_21640" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Richhill A-Star - 2000gns[/caption]

Best of the rams was a polled lamb from Thomas Wright’s Ballytaggart flock. Ballytaggart Buster sired by Bannside Xavi and out of a homebred ewe by Richhill Samson.  Buster was purchased by Alistair Morton for his Stobilee flock based in Lanark.

[caption id="attachment_21674" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Ballytaggart Buster - 1500gns[/caption]

The supreme and male championship was won by Ballyhamage Braveheart from James and Craig Robson’s Ballyclare based flock who went on to sell for 1200gns and joins the Pembroke flock belonging to David Lewis. This lamb was sired by 2500gns Pembroke Zest is Best who was purchased at the May Fair in 2017.

[caption id="attachment_21672" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Ballyhamage Braveheart - 1200gns[/caption]

Ben Lamb continued his successful day when he sold the best of his rams for 900gns. This was Richhill Bionic, a ram lamb sired by Olivertree Zlatan, Bionic was purchased by Messrs Knox from Ballymoney.  Ben also sold another ram lamb by the same sire for 800gns, Richhill Barney was purchased by Messrs Hall from Co Tyrone.

Also at 900gns was a shearling gimmer from William & Karen Carson, Downkillybegs A102, sired by Deverill Xavi this gimmer’s dam line has bred some high price rams in the past.  She was purchased by Richard Fitton from Bolton.

A horned shearling ram from Sam Driver’s Sandy Lane flock sold for 800gns. Sandy Lane Action Man was sired by Staverton Zanadu who also bred the breed champion at the Great Yorkshire Show last year. Action Man was purchased by Messrs Birch from Bakewell, Derbyshire.

The Reserve Male Championship was won by Seamus Mullan with his lamb Islaharnan Bruno sired by Bannside X51. This lamb sold for 750gns in a half share between Messrs Rankine from Lochgelly, Fife and Messrs Royan, Duns, Berwickshire.

Averages – 17 Shearling Gimmers £542.29; 8 Ewe Lambs £513.19; 4 Shearling Lambs £564.38; 18 Ram Lambs £638.17.

[gallery link="file" ids="21669,21665,21666,21660,21659,21657,21653,21658,21655"]