Having previewed the gimmers and the tup lambs here comes the biggy, the preview for the 725 shearling rams entered for this week’s Beltex sale at Carlisle.
With another mammoth entry this year the shearlings will be sold in two separate rings to try and ensure an earlier finish than has been experienced in previous years. If it works it will certainly be a nice change to get away in good time!
Anyway back to the business of the preview. First pick here is the Borderesk pen of Anne Story and I’d expect her first couple in to be decent sorts going by their pedigrees. The first in Borderesk Roulette (lot 625) should be a decent tup, being by 3600gns sire Borderesk Power Point and out of a dam by Headlind Mega Lad.
And the Dooley pen of David Thornley contains a couple worthy of mention, in the form of Dooley Rock (lot 637) a full brother to 18,000gns tup Dooley Napal and Dooley Racer (lot 638), a Bacus son which was overall champion at Yorkshire this summer.
Anyone at the Highland this year can’t have helped but be impressed by the overall champion, Orkney Royal Dutchess from the Coplands and they have a full brother on offer in Orkney Rock Solid (lot 650). He is by the Forglen tup out of Orney Karen.
It’s good to see breeders taking on recording as part of their management and one of those using it now is Mary Dunlop in the Corstane flock. He pen contains a number of tups with figures in the upper reaches of the breed and one these, Corstane Romano could well make some reasonable money. He is by Clary Number One, a 7700gns buy and is out of an Airyolland Hunter daughter. He is in the top 5% for scan weight and overall index.
Heading across the water from Northern Ireland is Colin Barnes with his team of Beechtree sheep. Taking the eye among these is Beechtree RAF, a Beachtree Moody Blue son out of a dam by noted sire The Rustler, she is also dam to Beechtree Maxi Muscle.
As well as having an interesting pen of lambs Paul Tippetts heads to Carlisle with what looks on paper to be a strong shearling pen too. Pick among these is Hackney Rocky (lot 731), a Kaiser Chief son out of Corra Nasturtium, full sister to the breed record priced female Corra Natasha. He was first prize ram lamb at the Welsh last year.
And if it’s real carcass you’re looking for then I’ve no doubt Andrew and Becky Bishops pen will be worth a look. They’ve got a good mix of bloodlines in their pen, including a lead tup by Dooley Nutter, the sire of one half of the champion pair at Agri-Expo last year.
The Kingledores entry will surely be worth a look and the first tup in Kingledores Renegade is one to watch I’d say. He is by Clary Prankster and out of a Ulysses daughter. He also picked up a third prize ticket at the Highland this year.
Another of the Northern Irish contingents, the Artnagullion flock, should have some decent shearlings forward, with their second in, Artnagullion Rocky (lot 905), being one to watch. He’s by Clary Platform and out of a Ulysses dam and was first at Balmoral and the Irish national.
Moving through the catalogue the Tercrosset pen from the Whitefords will doubtless be worth a look, with the first in, Tercrosset Real McCoy (lot 1072) by Airyolland Nailer and out of a dam by Cookstown Hamish, well worth a look from his pedigree.
The McCrabbe family always bring a decent pen and with Wade judging this year they’ll not have the chance to repeat last year’s championship win, but their shearling Ardstewart Ravel (lot 1106) by Beachy Playboy and out of a dam by Ardstewart King of Speads should be a fair thing. He goes back to Corstane Mighty Max.
Heading to Carlisle from Wales will be Michael Owens, his lead tup in, Glantre Ronaldo, is a full brother to 3600gns sire Glantre Norris and could well cause some eager bidding. He’s by Airyolland Loyalty and out of a dam by an imported sire.
We’re getting through these tups now, with the next pick being from Stuart Wood’s pen. Here I like the look of his first in Woodies Rookie by Ryder Pavarotti, a Viagrow son out of a dam full of imported breeding. Also in this pen are a couple of imported tups which may well be worthy of a further look.
And as in the lambs the Clary pen will surely not disappoint. Pick of these should be Clary Rolls Royce (lot 1198), a Kaiser Chief out of noted dam Clary Kinswomen. He was second at the Highland earlier in the year.
Young George Cropper may have a shearling to check out in the form of Hudhey Rocksolid (lot 1270). He’s a son of Borderesk Leap Frog out of a Kaiser Chief dam, so combines some good breeding there.
The Buckles pen is one of those to feature Napal sons and their third in is from a good female line, with maternal brothers sold at 4400gns and a maternal sister at 4000gns. This is Buckles Royalty (lot 1302), he’s by Napal and out of Buckles J2O, a Hercules daughter.
Airyolland Nailer’s breeding features in the McQuistin’s pen, with their first in being a grandson of Nailer which carries the highest gigot score of all recorded Beltex. This is Airyolland Red Beard (lot 1312), while their fourth in, Airyolland Ramesses (lot 1315) is a maternal brother to Nailer by Napal.
And that concludes the shearling tup preview. No doubt there will be some I’ve not mentioned that you think worthy of it, so feel free to add comments below.
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