The society show and sale was held at Stirling and was kindly judged by Jennifer Duncan of the Jems flock, Cornhill, Banff. Buyers were careful with their money, 43 lots sold to a top price of 1700gns that was hit twice for the overall and reserve overall champion.
The first prize gimmer, Hunters Hannah from Messrs W J & M Hunter, Insch, Aberdeenshire was later awarded the female champion rosette and the overall championship sash, an early February-2023 born gimmer she was sired by Stonycroft Fifa bred from Hunters Elisha and was purchased by J Taylor, St Margarets Hope, Orkney for 1700gns.
Matching the top bid of 1700gns was the ram lamb class winner, male champion and reserve overall champion from Miss Stephanie Dick. Stephick Jack Sparrow is bred from Stephick Goddess and sired by Cynllwyn Golden Boy ET, the sire of the 2023 Royal Highland Show male and reserve overall champion, he went home with J Taylor, Killin Perthshire.
J Forster, Lilliesleaf, Melrose had to bid to 1200gns to secure Mr David Alexander’s sixth place Millside ram lamb sired by Dragon Fab and bred from Millside 02557. The judge’s own ram lamb who couldn’t be shown also hit four figures, Jems Jake (ET) a Caryl’s Blue Hulk (ET) x Nantyderri Forever (ET) was snapped up at 1000gns by W K Duthie, Woodside of Chapelton, Brechin.
R McCulloch, Over Hill House, Armadale, West Lothian, bid 1000gns twice for two gimmers from the Hunter’s stable, the first was the second prize gimmer Hunters Hippy Chick by Brandon Franck whilst his next was a Beili Blues Elliot (ET) sired gimmer, Hunters Heidi.
Third prize mid-March gimmer, Millside 02689 from David Alexander, Galston, Ayrshire, homebred on both sides also went under the hammer for 1000gns, she caught the eye of D Taylor, Kincardine Road, Crieff.
Messrs Hunter also led the averages with five gimmers selling to an average of £1134, with David Alexander’s Millside flock following ‘hot on their heels’ in the gimmer section with an average of £931.88 for four sold.
Mr McCulloch also paid the highest price for a shearling ram, at 900gns he secured the class winner Hunters Haggis, a Brandon Frank triplet born in early-February. S MacKintosh, Bridge of Allan, Stirling put her money on the second prize shearling securing, Southfield Hobnob, a Strawfrank Geronimo son for 550gns from Master A Crombie, Letham, Airth.
Andrew Weir & Morgan Kay, Castlemill, Bonnybridge, sold their first placed ewe lamb and the reserve female champion for 600gns. The Derg Fireball sired lamb was born on Valentines day and bred from Paverham Emily. She was spotted by W A & D Roberston of Blackwaterfoot, Isle of Arran, who also purchased her twin sister, a third prize winner in the same class, Castlemill Jelly Baby was knocked down at 700gns.
