Dyed-in-the-wool Texel sheep breeders and a young new recruit to their ranks stole the headlines at the 19th annual Northern Area Texel Sheep Breeders’ winter show and sale of pedigree females at Skipton Auction Mart. (Sat, Dec 3)
The Beautry flock of Stuart Currie at Rathmell secured championship honours with the first prize shearling ewe, while the reserve championship fell to the second prize shearling from Angela Nairey’s Meinspride flock, based near Blackburn.
The principals, which headed the show prices at 1,440gns (’1,512) and 1,150gns (’1,207) respectively, were both bought by 12-year-old Settle Middle School pupil, William Watson, of Hellifield, who only recently established his new flock of pedigree Texels.
Mr Currie, who farms with his wife Gail at Beautry Farm, was making his mark for the second time this year at a northern society fixture. At the 30th anniversary show and sale of pedigree rams and females in September, he was also responsible for the top price 4,100gns (’4,305) shearling ewe, one of the highest ever prices paid at Skipton for a Texel female.
His latest victor, the March, 2010-born Beautry Cub1000149(2), achieved a debut winter show success for Mr Currie, who was reserve champion last year. From the best female line in the Beautry flock, she is a daughter of Procters Oswald, himself out of a home-bred ’5,500 ewe which was a top performer as a lamb when securing honours at the Royal, Great Yorkshire and Royal Lancashire shows.
The Skipton victor ’ the grand dam on the mother’s side was also responsible for the 13,000gns Kribensis ’ has been scanned with twins to the 2,800gns sire Arkle South Pacific, second prize winner at the Scottish National sale. Mr Currie also sold entries at 500gns and 480gns.
Meinspride LNM1000033(E), the February 2010-born reserve champion from Mrs Nairey, based at Bank Hey Farm in Liusey, is a daughter of the Scottish-bred Glenside Drum Major and is carrying twins to Clinerty Solomon, who was purchased for 2,000gns and whose siblings have sold for 14,000gns and 11,000gns.
William Watson bought a total of four Texel females at Skipton to supplement six sheep already acquired from near neighbours and renowned Texel breeders John and Linda Mellin at Hull House, Hellifield, who have given valuable help and advice to the young man as he embarks on his breeding programme, also assisting him to register with the Texel Sheep Society. William is starting off with some of the best sheep from some of the best breeders.
The Meinspride flock also sold well, with other lots making 520gns, 500gns and 400gns.
The first prize ewe lamb came from the Handbank flock of South Yorkshire breeders Bob and Anne Payne, of Carr Head Farm, Stocksbridge, Sheffield. The nine-month-old lamb is a daughter of the Payne’s own sire, Handbank Prince Charming, whose father Handbank Jack The Lad, has had semen sold throughout the UK and in Ireland, Holland, Belgium and the USA.
One of Jack The Lad’s sons was also judged the most beautiful sheep in Holland. His Skipton grand daughter made joint top price in class at 280gns (’294) when joining C Harrison & Son, of Blubberhouses, who also acquired the Paynes’ third prize ewe lamb, a daughter of the home-bred Handbank Rawhide, for the same price.
Mark and Helen Keighley, of Manderlea Farm, Leathley, Otley, who had clinched the Skipton winter Texel championship five times in the previous six years, were again among the honours with the third prize shearling ewe, sold for 620gns to Christine Woodward, Goole, and the fourth in class, which joined RN Kirby & Son, of Wetherby, for 400gns.
The Keighleys also sold two other females at 580gns, as did Jeremy Taylor, of Smallhouse, Broughton, at 550gns each, with the Fimber flock of Jack Lucas, based near Driffield, selling three entries at 420gns and 400gns twice.
The sale produced solid commercial trade, backed up by an average selling price for shearling ewes of ’485.71.
Show judge was David Burkill, whose Beechtree Texel flock is in Driffield, and sponsor was Richard Harrison, of Skipton-based Harrison Agricultural Supplies.
Results and prices: Shearling ewe ’ 1 Stuart Currie, Beautry flock, Rathmell, 1,400gns to William Watson, Hellifield, 2 Mrs Angela Nairey, Meinspride flock, Liusey. 1,150gns to William Watson, 3 Mark & Helen, Keighley, Manderlea flock, Leathley, Otley, 620gns to Christine Woodward, Goole. Ewe lamb ’ 1 & 3 Bob & Anne Payne, Handbank flock, Stocksbidge, both 280gns to C Harrison & Son, Blubberhouses, 3 P Sykes, New Dunsley flock, Holmfirth, 240gns to Andrew Chapman, Driffield.
