The annual Blue Texel and Badger Face Texel show and sale double bill at CCM Skipton attracted good interest once again as the popularity of both breeds continues to grow.
Top came from an unshown shearling ewe from David Alexander’s Millside flock, Galston, Ayrshire, bred by Walston Fireboy out of a Millside ewe. She sold for 1100gns and made her way to her new home of T and A C Patchett, Leeming Bar, North Yorkshire.
The second highest price went to Elsa McKechnie’s Silver Birch flock at Long Gill Farm, Wigglesworth, when her third prize March 2023-born shearling ewe, Silver Birch Hop, by Glenrock Franco, sold for 1000gns, also falling to the Patchetts.
The show was kindly judged by Northern Ireland’s Matthew Burleigh, who stood supreme champion at the previous day’s annual pedigree Beltex society highlight. He awarded top honours to the female champion, the shearling ewe from the Arn Gill flock of Patrick Wilson, Langleydale, Barnard Castle. Arn Gill Hazel, is a January 2023-born triplet out of an Arn Gill Dutch import and sired by Criffel Fortune, purchased in 2021 for 2000gns and, incidentally, never beaten in the show ring. The victor made 500gns, joining Stuart Rhodes, Brompton.
Reserve female champion was Skipton debutant, 18-year-old Joe Thornley, Joe’s flock, Diesworth, Leicestershire, with his shearling ewe, Joe’s Heidi, a single March 2023-born out of Joe’s Barbie and sired by Top-bank Fearless.
Becoming an old hand at breeding and showing, Joe started off his flock as a youngster in 2013 and three years later when just ten sold a home-bred ram, Joe’s Alun, for a then record price of 18,000gns. Joe, who went home with a number of rosettes from the show, sold his female reserve for 600gns, again to Stuart Rhodes.
Reserve male champion went to the first prize shearling ram, Towerview Hells Bells, from Caroline Cochran, Towerview flock, Darwen, which also made the best price for a shearling ram on the day at 700gns. The February 2023-born, ram, which has won multiple shows around the county this year, is a Hackney Demonstrator son and out of Whatmore Baguette. He joined the local show team of John Stephenson and Jill Perrings, Bordley.
Averages: shearling rams £259; ram lambs £546; shearling ewes £541 and ewe lambs £341(CCM Skipton)
