Northern Irish National

Northern Irish National Sale

The 2020 Northern Irish National Texel Sale, Ballymena, saw a top of 6000gns and an average of £805.10, up by just shy of £200 on the year with 15 more sold than in 2019.

Leading trade was Tamnamoney Denzil from Roger Strawbridge and family, Coleraine, Co Londonderry. This son of Procters Cocktail, himself a son of the 100,000gns Sportsmans Batman, is out of a dam by Scotsman Ace and sold to Pat and Barry Farrell for the Oberstown flock, Co Meath, Eire.

Second top of 4400gns came for Gary Beacom’s best of the day, Lakeview Duke. Sired by the 65,000gns Garngour Craftsman, the sire of the new world record priced Sportsmans Double Diamond and a host of other five figure sheep at the National sales, he is out of a Sportsmans ewe by Fordafourie Amalert and was bought in the belly of his dam at the Christmas Stars Sale, last December. Buying this one was John Leitch, Castlederg, Co Tyrone.

Another Tamnamoney lamb then followed at 3500gns for the Strawbridge family. This was Tamnamoney Double Barrel. Again by Procters Cocktail, he’s out of another Ace-sired dam and was bought by Neil McIlwaine, Newtonstewart, Co Tyrone, for the Corrick flock.

Gary Beacom followed close behind when taking 3200gns for Lakeview Dirty Dancer, a son of the 15,000gns Harestone Commander out of a Plasucha-bred dam by Plasucha All Star. He sold to Alastair Gault for the Forkins flock, Newtonabbey.

Shearling Rams

Topping the shearling rams at 2000gns on a trade which saw the average jump £220, was John Watson’s Duvarren Cantona, a son of the homebred Duvarren Aston Martin out of a dam by Duvarren Testarossa. He was knocked down to Fraser Tweed, Glenarm, Co Antrim.

Next to take the money here was Adrian Liggett’s Corbo Co Pilot at 1900gns. This Strathbogie Best Bet son is out of a dam by Springwell Viera and sold to J and R Hynes, Rathfriland.

Gimmers

Alastair Gault’s Forkins flock took top call of 2300gns in the gimmers for GAF1902421, a Scotsman Avicii daughter out of a dam by Glenside Valhalla. She sold to Sean Burns, Rathfriland, Co Down.

A 1400gns sale followed that for John Trimble, with his Curley gimmer selling to G Murphy, Clogherhead, Drogheda. This was TYC1900878, a Mullan Armani daughter out of a dam by Holylee Volcano.

Top flock ram lamb averages Lakeview £3045 for three Tamnamoney £2900.62 for four Glenhone £1680 for two Tullagh £1627.50 for three Millburn £1365 for two Alderview £1286.25 for two Loughash £1120 for three

Top flock shearling ram averages Duvarren £1391.25 for four Aideshill £1260 for two Ballygroogan £1172.50 for three Hillhead £1018.50 for five

Averages

145 ram lambs £805.10 46 shearling rams £919.89 23 gimmers £801.20

Tamnamoney Denzil - R Strawbridge - sold for 6000gns

Lakeview Duke - G C Beacom - sold for 4400gns Tamnamoney Double Barrel - R Strawbridge - sold for 3500gns

Lakeview Dirty Dancer - G C Beacom - sold for 3200gns Tullagh Dragon - Messrs J & R Currie - sold for 3000gns

Forkins - GAF1902473 - Alistair Gault - sold for 2300gns