Dingwall Mart records 'smashed to smithereens' amid a 'ferocious frenzy of bidding at annual blackface rams show and sale
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
DINGWALL and Highland Marts Ltd sold 193 rams at its annual show and sale of blackface rams sponsored by HBS Ring Limited.
The overall champion was a shearling from Messrs K. and J. Matheson, Milton Farm, Aberarder realising £1,200. The reserve champion award went to a three shear from W. G. MacPherson, Blackford, realising £3,000.
Shearlings (161) sold to £10,000 from Keepers Cottage, Tomatin.
Two Shears (23) sold to £1,200 from Blackford.
Three Shears (5) sold to £3,000 for the reserve champion from Blackford.
Ram Lambs (4) sold to £400 from Harestone.
The verdict: “The annual Blackface breeding sheep saw centre records amongst the males and females smashed to smithereens."
Firstly, a new centre record was set, as a trio of gimmers graced the ring from Messrs Midlock eventually being knocked
down at £310 to Mr A. A. MacDonald, 3 Kilvaxter. Later in the day amongst the tups’ fireworks lit up the ring as an
outstanding shearling from Mr R. Thomson, Keepers Cottage was finally knocked down after a ferocious frenzy of
bidding at £10,000 to Messrs K. & J. Matheson, Milton Farm and seeing a new centre record in the process.
Overall, the tup trade was the dearest ever witnessed at this centre as tups with size and good skins met a firm enquiry
throughout.
A highlight of the sale this year was the reduction of the renowned Gorthleck flock from Messrs E. Fraser & Co. A firm trade was witnessed throughout for these sheep with many intending purchasers ventured home empty handed.
Other leading prices per head:
Shearlings – Abersky, £3,000 & £1,000; Clashnoir, £1,600 (thrice), £1,400 (twice), £1,200 (thrice) & £1,000;
Achdregnie, £1,600 & £1,400; Harestone, £1,200; Glenbow, £1,200; Milton Farm, £1,200; Livet, £1,200; Midlock Farm,
£1,000, Balchraggan, £1,000.
Two Shears – Milton Farm, £1,000, Newton of Crathie, £500 (twice) & £450.
Three Shears – Achdregnie, £700.
Ram Lambs – South Bragar, £400.
The mart sold 3,696 store sheep at their sale of Blackface and Cross ewes, gimmers and ewe lambs.
Ewe Lambs (380) averaged £74.42 (last year £56.46) and sold to £140 for a pen of Blackfaces from Gorthleck Mains, Inverness.
Store Lambs (133) sold to £95 gross for a pen of Cheviots from Glentruim Farms.
Ewes (2387) averaged £60.08 (last year £59,00) and sold to £165 gross from Gorthleck Mains.
Gimmers (470) averaged £137.85 (last year £122.39) and sold to £310 gross from Midlock Farm, Crawford.
Feeding Sheep (326) sold to £90 gross for a cheviot ewe from Glentruim Farms.
Other leading prices per head:
Ewe Lambs: BF – Newton of Crathie, Ballater, £120 &£80, Gorthleck Mains, £120 &; £90, Suisgill Estate, Helmsdale, £98, Croft na Garn, Boat of Garten, £95 7 £90, Tigh N’Ulaidh, Tomatin, £82, (twice).
Ewes: BF - Gorthleck Mains, £160, £82, (twice), £80, (thrice), Dalbuiack, Carrbridge, £125 &£120, Glenrinnes Farms, Dufftown, £118 &£82, Ardchronie, Ardgay, £98, Achnamoine, Watten, £90 &£88, Tulloch Farm, Dingwall, £80, West Bruiach, Kiltarlity, £80, Drynie farm, Dingwall, £80, (twice).
Gimmers: BF – Midlock Farm, £200, Gorthleck Mains, £195, £185, £180, £170, £162 & £135, 20 South Brager, Isle of Brager, £190 & £170, Glenbow, Wester Craiglands, £175 & £142, Harestone, Insch, £168 &£140, Keepers Cottage, Tomatin, £155, Inverinate Estate, £155 & £142, 25 Portnalong, Carbost, £152, Mill of Towie Farm, Drummuir, £150 & £135, 17B Habost, Ness, £140, & £130,Tulloch Farm, £132 & £125, Woodlands, Daviot, £130 & £122, Woodside of Culloden, Inverness, £128, £126 &£125, Achnamoine, £120, Newton of Crathie, £115, Rurach Croft, Inverinate, £112:
Mule – Glentruim Farms, £150, Clune & Corrybrough Estate, £132, Abhainn Sith, Granton on Spey, £100; TexX –
Glentruim Farms, £140 & £135, East Croft Roy, Newtonmore, £130; SuffX – East Croft Roy, £140.
