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Birness Suffolks come out on top at the Aberdeen Christmas Classic


By David Porter

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Pedigree female sheep met a strong trade throughout the Aberdeen Christmas Classic held at Aberdeen and Northern Marts’ Thainstone Centre this week.

A total of 148 of the 157 sheep forward changed hands to average £930.81 and saw 61 lots sell to 41 different buyers through the Thainstone Online platform which attracted huge interest from across the UK.

Birness 3800gns
Birness 3800gns

George and Melvin Stuart’s Birness flock from Milltown of Birness, Ellon, well and truly led the way, when they received 3800gns on two occasions, firstly for a gimmer and then for a ewe lamb.

This was a gimmer by Limestone Legacy, out of a home-bred ewe by Lakeview Irish Cream, which is scanned due with twins to the £30,000 Salopian Scuderia.

She sold north to David Delday’s 15-ewe Newark flock at Quoy Belloch, Deerness, Orkney.

The Birness flock sold two other gimmers at 2500gns and 2000gns, with the dearest selling to Martin Bignel, Smaladh Farm, Gruinart, Bridgend.

Another by Limestone Legacy, she is out of a Limestone Legend ewe and sold carrying a single to Forkins Firecracker.

Selling for 2000gns to Caithness with Angus Brims, Thuster Mains, Bilbster, Wick, was a daughter of Crewlands Megastar, of a Redbrae Rambo ewe, which is due with twins to Forkins Firecracker.

The family’s ewe lamb at 3800gns sold to Stewart Lathangie’s Pyeston flock Star, Glenrothes.

This was a daughter of the £16,000 Castleisle Capaldi, out of a home-bred ewe by Lakeview Gold Rush.

Rory and Pat Machray’s Middlemuir Suffolk flock near Inverurie, topped at 2200gns for a ewe lamb by Cairness A Star, out of a home-bred ewe which produced a 1500gns ewe lamb last year.

She sold to Ian Fitzsimon, Burnhead flock, Shawhead, Dumfries.

Texel gimmers sold to 2700gns for the first through the ring from Jim Innes of the Strathbogie flock, Dunscroft, Huntly.

Selling to Northern Ireland with J Trimble, Newry, Co Down, was a daughter of Sportsmans Benchmark, out of Millar’s Windbrook ewe, which is scanned in lamb to Knap Don Diablo.

Albert and George Howie’s Knock Texel consignment from West Knock, Mintlaw, peaked at 2200gns for a Sportsmans Supreme daughter in-lamb to Knock Dalwhinnie.

She sold to W Ridge, Brook Farm, Little Stretton, Church Stretton, Shropshire.

Three Texel gimmers made 1800gns from the Strathbogie, Milnbank and Hilltop flocks.

The first at this money from Jim Innes when sold to Andrew Gunn, The Shiran, Hill of Forss, Thurso, was another Sportsmans Benchmark daughter in-lamb to Milnbank Dance Monkey.

Robbie Wilson’s Milnbank topper was a gimmer by Cowal Bucking Bronco scanned in-lamb to Sportsmans Dirty Harry, which sold to Martin Cursiter, Laga Farms, Orkney.

Last at this money from Kenny Pratt’s Hilltop flock at Maryculter, was a daughter of Garngour Bullet, scanned in lamb to Castlecairn Diamond.

She sold to LS Flett and Co, Nistagar, Harray, Orkney.

Blue Texel gimmers reached a top of 1700gns for a gimmer from Penny Troup, Shaggart, Sauchen, Inverurie, when sold to RE and RF Scott, Dawn Cottage, Holm, Orkney, while fellow breeder Jennifer Duncan, Inchford, Cornhill, received 1200gns twice.

The first from Jennifer sold to J Reid, Muirton, Drybridge, Buckie, while the other was bought by K and N Mackay, Smithy House, East Mey, Thurso.

Top price amongst the Beltex breed was 700gns from the Mair family, Muirfield, Everton of Auchry, Cuminestown, when sold to Andrew Morton, Lochend Farm, Denny, while a Charollais cross Texel ewe scanned in-lamb to a Texel from the Ingram family, Logie Durno, Pitcaple, made 1100gns to Messrs Thomson, Northern Ireland.


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