| 2013-09-23 |    |
Spiros Springs the Double at CCM Skipton Texel Sale
Calderdale’s Spiros Spyrou reigned supreme and also secured top price honours at the 32nd annual two-day show and sale of pedigree rams and females staged by Northern Area Texel Sheep Breeders Association at Skipton Auction Mart. (Thus & Fri, Sept 19 & 20)
Mr Spyrou, who runs his pedigree Texel flock at Gib Farm, Hebden Bridge, and is immediate past chairman of Northern Area Texel Sheep Breeders, clinched supreme championship honours with his first prize shearling ewe and female champion.
Spiros Spyrou with the Supreme Champion
By the Scottish-bred Glenside Razzle Dazzle son, the 4,500gns Deveronvale Superb, acquired as a lamb two years ago by Mr Spyrou, a London-born son of Cypriot parents, the 19-month-old victor is out of a dam by his own Gib Farm Moose The Moochie (by Cornerstone Isaac), who also sired the shearling ewe champion at Lanark in 2010, which was sold by Peter Woof, who runs the Stainton flock near Kendal, for 7,000gns.
The title winner, the first of Deveronvale Superb’s progeny to appear in the show ring, went on to sell for a price-topping 3,800gns to Steven and Janet Symes, who run the Anglezarke Texel flock at Heath Charnock, near Chorley in Lancashire. Both work as doctors in Westhoughton and the Skipton champion will prove a valuable addition to their flock of 20 Texel ewes. It was one of two top quality shearling ewes they acquired on the day.
The 2012 reserve supreme champion, David Houghton, whose Tophill flock is based at Isherwood Farm, Affetside, Bury, repeated the feat this year with his first prize ram lamb and male champion, a February-born son of the Highland Show winner Milnbank Times Square (by Castlecairn SAS Commander), acquired for 16,000gns by the exhibitor. Out a Tamnamoney Rob Roy-sired home-bred dam, the runner-up - a full brother has sold for 7,000gns - made 1,300gns when joining TH Peel in Embsay.
Mr Houghton was also responsible for the top price 1,600gns ram lamb, a February-born son also by Milnbank Times Square, out of an Ettrick Mighty Mouse-sired dam, which found a new home in West Cumbria with AW Beattie, of St Bees.
A solid commercial base underpinned trade throughout the sale, with the 459-strong entry – 160 females and 299 rams – achieving a 90% clearance rate.
David Towell’s Moor Top flock at Upper Leys Farm, Glusburn, a constant high price achiever at the Skipton highlight, was again prominent with the sale-leading pen of eight shearling rams, six of which achieved four figure prices.
The pick of them and the day’s highest priced male at 2,700gns was the home-bred Moor Top Tauras, a well-bred March 2012-born son of Moor Top Star, out of a Stainton O2-sired dam. The buyer was County Durham’s M Wood, of Barnard Castle.
Mr Towell’s seven remaining shearling ram entries were all by his own Moor Top Outlaw and the best of these on price achieved 2,400gns when also selling to AW Beattie. Two further Outlaw sons sold well at 1,900gns and 1,800gns to Pilkington Farms, of Hartington, Buxton, and PR&EE Clarke, of Grantham, respectively.
Well-known North Craven breeder Stuart Currie, who runs the Beautry flock in Rathmell and is another high achiever at the annual fixture, stepped forward again with a first-rate pen of five gimmer shearlings, all daughters of the Campbell Rob Roy son, Arkle South Pacific, acquired last year from Cumbrian breeder George Wilkinson.
The pick of these on price at 2,300gns was a February, 2012-born ewe, out of a Procters Oswald-sired dam, which became the second flock-boosting female acquisition by the Doctors Symes. Next best at 2,200gns was an entry out of a Brague Jodami-sired home-bred dam, which joined the East Yorkshire Samsar flock of Sam and Sarah Beechell in Beswick, Driffield. Mr Beechell is vice-chairman of Northern Area Texel Sheepbreeders, while his wife is secretary. A third Currie ewe returned to her place of origin when joining P Strickland in Eldroth for 2,000gns.
The reserve male championship fell to the first prize shearling ram from the Stonebridge flock of Steve and Sherry Richardson – Mr Richardson is the current Northern Area Texel Sheep Breeders chairman - of Mount Pleasant Farm, Great Houghton, Barnsley.
Langlands Tom Tom, by the highly regarded Goldies Supreme, bred in Dumfriesshire by Jim Goldie and now with the Durham-based Nesbitt-Wilkinson-Parkin partnership, sold for 1,500gns to SJ&RK Handley, of Thornton-in-Lonsdale.
The first prize ewe lamb came from the Gillians Laithe flock of young up-and-coming local breeder William Watson in Hellifield. His February-born lamb is by the Castlecairn Red Arrow son Hull House Tiberius, from John and Linda Mellin’s flock, also based in Hellifield.
Out of a Knock Orocco-sired dam, the red rosette winner made 300gns when also joining North Craven’s P Strickland. William Watson was also in action at the ringside when buying a total of four prize-winning shearling ewes, among them David Houghton’s third prize daughter of Tamnamoney Rob Roy at 1,250gns. The Mellins themselves achieved 1,400gns with a shearling ewe.
The first four prize-winning shearling rams all made four figures, with the fourth placed achieving joint top price in class of 1,500gns. Shown by Bob Newby, who runs the Rudding flock in Walshford Bridge, Wetherby, the Stonebridge Ritchie son joined WH&MA Keighley in Leathley, Otley.
The second prize shearling ram from Peter Longdin, who runs the Wellingley flock in Tickhill Doncaster, sold to for 1,400gns to G&RJ Dickinson in Grafton, York, while the third prize winner from Angela Nairey’s Meinspride flock in Liusey, Blackburn, became a 1,200gns acquisition by Norfolk’s H Harvey & Son, of Waxham.
Also notable at 1,350gns was the fifth prize ram lamb from John North’s Loxley flock in Tickhill, Doncaster. The son of Mellor Vale Top Man (by Milnbank Special One), out of a Garngour Patriot-sired dam, was a first prize winner at this year’s Ryedale Show. He found a new home in Wigton, Cumbria, with the Barrow farming family.
Overall selling averages, with 2012 comparisons bracketed, were: Shearling Ewes – £419.71 (£478.21), Ewe Lambs – £315 (£133.50), Aged Rams - £546, Shearling Rams – £647.39 (£681.53). Ram Lambs – £452.45 (£409.96).
Show judge was Tina Ashley, who runs Lincs Texel in Boston, with sponsors Jamesons Feeds, Townson Fuels, Galloway & Macleod, CCM Auctions and Janet Sheard, agent for Massey Feeds and Glasson Group.
Show results, prices and buyers: Shearling Ewe – 1 S Spyrou 3800gns to SR Symes, 2 SC Currie 2000gns to P Strickland, 3 JD Houghton 1250gns to W Watson, 4 MA Keighley 750gns to Tom Ryder, 5 JL North 600gns to W Watson, 6 A&G Brown 450gns to W Watson.
Shearling Ram – 1 S&S Richardson 1500gns to SJ&RK Handley, 2 HM&PC Longdin 1400gns to G&RJ Dickinson, 3 A Nairey 1200gns to H Harvey & Son, 4 R Newby 1500gns to WH&MA Keighley, 5 GL Riby 750gns to G Morton, 6 T Nesbitt 600gns to GW&J Mercer.
Ram Lamb -1 JD Houghton 1300gns to TH Peel, 2 JS Lodge 650gns to S&GA Potter, 3 P Dawson unsold, 4 GL Riby 450gns to F Wardell, 5 JL North,1350gns to Messrs Barrow, Wigton, 6 JM&M Perrings 420gns to James Robertshaw, Keelham Farm Shop.
Ewe Lamb 1 W Watson 300gns to P Strickland.
