Dark Diamonds Suffolk Sale

The Dark Diamonds Suffolk sale this year has consignments from thirteen noted breeders, namely - Balquhain flock (Graeme J Christie), Benrafton flock (AJ & NAJ Robinson), Birness flock (George L Stuart), Blackstown Flock (Jack & Alfie Moses), Cairness Flock (JG Douglas), Cairnton flock (John A Gibb), Carony flock (L & M Liggett), Forkins flock (Alistair R Gault), Irongray flock (R & G Hiddleston), Kings flock (TA Irwin & Son), Knockem Flock (B Nicolson), Lakeview flock (Stuart Craft) and the Roundacre flock (Ross Lawrence).  The sale attracted interest from all over the country with buyers from as far away as the Republic of Ireland.

Topping the sale at 13,000gns was new consignors Jack and Alfie Moses whose Blackstown flock was only established in 2015. Their top price gimmer was sired by Rhaeadr Rio and out of a Forkins bred ewe by Mountfield Mustang. This gimmer had been in the final line up at Balmoral Show this year and was sold in lamb to Blackstown Rascal. She was purchased by Messrs Taylor from Co Londonderry.

The Blackstown flock also sold a full ET sister to the top price gimmer for 3000gns. This gimmer had been scanned in lamb to Forkins Big Brother and was purchased by Messrs McMenamin, Co Donegal, Ireland.

George Stuart’s Birness flock sold two gimmers at 9000gns. The first of these was the flocks first gimmer into the ring, 1W:18:02192 sired by Crewelands Megastar and in lamb to 16,000gns Castleisle Capaldi. She was purchased by Messrs Priestley from Co Down who also took a half share in Birness’ other 9000gns gimmer, 1W:18:02147 who was again sired by Megastar and in lamb to Capaldi. Taking the other half share was Messrs Smyth from Co Cavan.

The Cairness flock from Jimmy Douglas topped at 4600gns for a Cairness Agent sired gimmer out of a homebred dam by Cloontagh Chieftain. This gimmer had been scanned in lamb to Cairness A Star and was purchased by Messrs Lucas from Co Donegal. Cairness also sold a Cavanagrove Catalyst daughter for 3400gns, again in lamb to Cairness A Star and this time purchased by Messrs Morgan from Usk, Gwent.

Best of the ewe lambs came from Lesley Liggett’s Carony flock with a Rookery Ringmaster sired lamb who had been the flock’s show lamb this year and was 2^nd at Balmoral Show. This lamb was purchased for 3800gns by Messrs Boden & Davies, Stockport.

Graeme Christie’s Balquhain flock sold a gimmer at 3000gns to Messrs Johnson from Shetland. This daughter of 6000gns Lakeview Under The Radar was a full sister to the Male Champion at the Royal Highland in 2018.

A ewe lamb from Ross Lawrence was another to sell at 3000gns. Sired by Birness Bang Tidy and out of a homebred Roundacre dam by Strathisla Speed this lamb was purchased by Messrs Turner from Newtown, Powys.

Messrs Turner also purchased a ewe lamb from AR Gault’s Forkins flock, this time for 2200gns. This was a daughter of Malinhead Maverick out of a homebred Cairness New Approach sired dam.

Norman Robinson’s Benrafton flock topped at 1800gns for a gimmer sired by Cairness Ignition and scanned in lamb to Finnvale Frankel. The homebred dam of this gimmer was the flock’s show ewe and won Reserve Supreme Champion at Balmoral in 2012.

The Knockem flock from Mr & Mrs B Nicolson topped at 1500gns for a gimmer sired by Lakeview Bob and out of a homebred Lakeview Leeroy sired dam. She sold scanned in lamb to Strathbogie Strongbow to Messrs Callan, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire.

Roy and Gregor Hiddleston’s Irongray flock sold their first gimmer in for 1300gns over the internet bidding system. This daughter of Irongray Ironrod was scanned in lamb to Errigal Hard Rock and sold to Messrs Brims from Wick, Caithness.

The Cairnton flock from John Gibb finished the sale on a high when he sold the last lamb into the ring for a very respectable 900gns. This daughter of Millhouse Remarkable was purchased by Messrs McDonald from the Isle of Islay.

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