The Northern Ireland Texel Sheep Breeders Club staged a well-supported pre-sale show and sale at Draperstown, with a strong catalogue and active ringside bidding producing several notable prices for pedigree shearling rams.
Champion and top prices
The day’s Champion, Lylehill Jumper GAX2600847(E1) from Alan Glendinning’s Lylehill flock, realised the sale top of 1,150gns. The Champion is a son of Strathbogie Gladiator and out of a Procters Chumba Wumba daughter.
Two shearling rams matched at 1,100gns. Stephen Etherson’s Killans Italian ESK2502550(1) — sired by Largy Frank the Tank and out of a Seaforde Flash Harry daughter — led the shearling ram section for Killans and sold for 1,100gns. Robert Watters’ Forest View Incredible WVU2500909(1), a Maineview Fantastic son out of an Auldhouseburn Captain Corelli-sired ewe, also made 1,100gns, indicating strong demand for well-bred sires.
Reserve Champion and second in the pre-sale championship was Lylehill James GAX2600824(E1), which sold to a buyer at 950gns. Other leading prices included Lylehill Jackie GAX2600763(E1), a full brother to the reserve, which changed hands at 850gns.
Show judging and sponsorship
The pre-sale judging was carried out by Jonathan McKinney and the event was sponsored by CVS Vets. Organisers reported a successful move to the new sales venue, with the sponsor supporting the pre-sale championship presentation.
- Champion: Lylehill Jumper GAX2600847(E1) — 1,150gns
- Shearling rams: Killans Italian ESK2502550(1) — 1,100gns; Forest View Incredible WVU2500909(1) — 1,100gns
- Reserve Champion: Lylehill James GAX2600824(E1) — 950gns
- Other: Lylehill Jackie GAX2600763(E1) — 850gns
| lot | ram | sale price (gns) |
|---|---|---|
| Champion | Lylehill Jumper GAX2600847(E1) | 1,150 |
| Shearling ram | Killans Italian ESK2502550(1) | 1,100 |
| Shearling ram | Forest View Incredible WVU2500909(1) | 1,100 |
| Reserve Champion | Lylehill James GAX2600824(E1) | 950 |
| Shearling ram | Lylehill Jackie GAX2600763(E1) | 850 |
Event reports noted the combination of presence, pedigree and influential sires in the day’s leading entries; the Champion and several top-priced rams carry bloodlines from well-known sires including Strathbogie Gladiator, Largy Frank the Tank, Maineview Fantastic and Procters Chumba Wumba.
Overall, the sale demonstrated sustained commercial interest in quality Texel breeding stock, with buyers prepared to pay strong prices for rams showing power, correctness and sought-after parentage.
