Penparc Texels Glenside Seabiscuit – FPG 1100318
The majority of Texel males are sold as lambs with very few kept over to sell as shearlings, although the Dutch Texels are not usually sold as lambs. Steve says: “They need that bit more time to get some size, so we tend to keep them that bit longer, but with the Texels I don’t think its cost effective to keep them to shearlings.” In 2011 50 ram lambs were sold to average £830, with the top price through the sale ring being 3,000gns, with others selling privately from the Royal Welsh show for £5,000 to Mr Powell Jones and family’s Llanthomas flock and £4,500 to Nick Layton’s Lyonshall Flock.
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Normally few females are sold, but for the last few years a consignment has been taken to the Twilight Sale at Carlisle. Steve says: “We were invited a few years ago and have done very well there. It’s a good centre and attracts plenty of buyers.” Stock rams are bought in from other leading flocks to introduce new blood. One of these Clougher Irishman, bought for 8,000gns at Lanark, in partnership with Jim Blakemoor, was responsible for the Smith’s best ever price, 10,000gns for Penparc Lexus at Lanark in 2005.
Another, Jonsland Hallmark, (sired by Penparc Giros) a gift after losing the flock to foot and mouth disease from friend John Jones in 2001, was the sire of Penparc Invest-In-Me, first prize ram lamb at the Royal Welsh in 2002. The one that got away the first time was Tamnamoney Ned, as Steve explains: “I had wanted to buy him after seeing him with his mother as a lamb when visiting Northern Ireland earlier in the year, but didn’t manage it. However, I was able to buy him privately in 2010, when he was a three shear. Immediately afterwards, one of his lambs, Forkins Rock Solid, made the top price of 65,000gns at Lanark and we have also sold lambs by him very well since we have had him.” Several Glenside rams have been bought over the years and one of these, Go-Getter, was the sire of Penparc Jemidar, who sold for 4,200gns to judge, Steve Richardson of the Stonebridge flock, at the National Sale at Worcester in 2003. In 2011 they bought another Glenside ram, Sea Biscuit, by Strathbogie Python, at Lanark. “Glenside sheep have done well for us in the past. We are really impressed with him so far. I have never had a ram lamb which has grown on