BYGONE DAYS: Brisk trade at Ballymena Mart for a show and sale of Texels

The sale saw 34 shearling sell to an average of almost £360 while 85 ram lambs sold to an average of almost £270.

James Adams from Glarryford, Co Antrim, took the top price of the evening with a Forkins Mr Muscle son which was sold to Gareth Tumelty’s Aideshill Flock for 700 guineas. This lamb had previously taken third place in the open ram lamb class.

Following closely behind in the price stakes was the show champion, a Douganhill McFly son which was shown by Alastair Gault and which joined the Bushmills flock of David Chestnutt for 680 guineas.

David, who judged the show, was certainly impressed by this “well-muscled” lamb, having placed him first in the recorded ram lamb class before awarding him the championship.

Topping the shearling section was the third placed shearling ram shown by Mary Clarke from Dundonald, Co Down, which was sold for 600 guineas, while John Watson presented an unplaced Tamnamoney King of the Mountain son which was sold for 550 guineas.

Henry Gamble from Bangor, Co Down, realised 520 guineas for his second placed shearling and local man Millar McClelland sold his Baltier bred son for 450 guineas, while Paddy Kinney from Crumlin, Co Antrim, sold his first placed shearling and reserve show champion for 420 guineas.

The first placed lamb in the open class was shown by Austin Shaw, club chairman, and was sold for 400 guineas while other leading prices included John Currie’s second placed recorded lamb which sold for 580 guineas and an unplaced lamb shown by Alex and John Minnis and which sold for 520 guineas.