The Diamonds and Pearls 60th and 30th anniversary sale of Southdown females for the Long family’s and Sid Cook’s Chaileybrook and Brant flocks, respectively, saw a flying trade, with a new female breed record set twice at 1200gns and a new ewe lamb record also set at 1050gns.
Auctioneer Paul Gentry said the sale represented the cream of Southdown genetics and comprised an exceptionally level show of ewes. “Without a doubt a sale of this calibre is rare in any breed, both flocks have enjoyed continued success throughout their histories and today’s sale was another unique chapter in that history.”
First to hit the milestone 1200gns was a Chaileybrook shearling ewe, Chaileybrook 13/0024, a daughter of the legendary French sire TC4028 (The Frog) and out of a Southern Cross ewe by East Dean 05/0271 and carrying a pair by TC10187 (Sarkozy). This is a first lamb from the Southern Cross ewe was a star of the sale and attracted plenty of pre-sale interest as well as drawing buyers on the day. The subject of a rapid bidding war she was knocked down to Miranda Wallace for her 15-ewe Sharpham flock, Buckfastleigh, Devon.
The second to make this money and claim the joint record was another daughter of The Frog and this time out of the homebred Chaileybrook 05/0002. This one’s dam was interbreed champion at South of England in 2006 and is also dam to Chaileybrook 12/0008, the breed’s £2500 male record holder. Sold carrying triplets to Sarkozy she went to the Wheeler family for their Waterloo flock, Cheltenham.
Following that and taking the third and final bid at 1000gns or more was ewe lamb Chaileybrook 14/0021. Sired by Sarkozy, this outstanding lamb is out of Chaileybrook 06/0014, a daughter of The Frog and was another to attract plenty of pre-sale attention. She sold on the phone to new breeders Celeste and Florence McKeague, Ayrshire.
A pair from Chaileybrook then made 600gns, with the first of these being the two crop ewe Chaileybrook 11/0036. Sired by Southern Cross 07/0013, she is out of Chaileybrook 07/0013, herself a daughter of The Frog and was sold carrying twins by the homebred sire Chaileybrook 13/0001, a full brother to the second 1200gns gimmer. This one sold to Messrs White, Hexham.
The other at this level was the shearling ewe Chaileybrook 13/0027. A triplet carrying gimmer by Sarkozy she is out of Chaileybrook 07/0014, a daughter of The Frog. She sold to Nigel Barrington Fuller for the De Pibrac flock, Essex, carrying triplets to Chaileybrook 13/0001.
Then came the best price of the day from Sid Cook’s Brant consignment. This was a 520gns call for Brant 12/00109, a daughter of Chaileybrook 09/0002 out of a dam by Brant X637. Sold carrying a pair by Sarkozy she was the pick of Robert Paton, Bedfordshire.
After that at 500gns was Chaileybrook 10/0033. This four crop daughter of The Frog is a full sister to the second 1200gns gimmer and is exactly the same way bred as Chaileybrook 09/007, interbreed champion at South of England in 2010. This one was sold carrying twins to Sarkozy and heads to previous buyers Celeste and Florence McKeague.
Also at this price was the shearling ewe Chaileybrook 13/0022, a Sarkozy daughter out of Chaileybrook 06/0014, making her a full sister to the 1050gns ewe lamb. She was sold in-lamb to the homebred sire Tadpole and found a new home with the McKeagues again.
Just shy of that at 480gns was Brant 11/0097, a two-crop daughter of Brant 06/032 and out of a Brant W583 daughter. Going back to the Royal Show male champion Brant U470 she was carrying twins to Wattisfield 11/00081 and was the choice of Russell Davies, Pembrokeshire.
Selling at the same price was a Chaileybrook shearling ewe, Chaileybrook 13/0023. Sired by another imported French sire, MM10021 (Mr Muscle), she is out of a daughter of The Frog and is from the same family as the second 1200gns gimmer. She sold carrying twins to Sarkozy and was bought by Messrs White, Hexham.
Then making 450gns was the very last lot of the day, Chaileybrook 14/0047. This embryo transfer bred ewe lamb is a full sister to the second 1200gns gimmer and sold after frenetic bidding to the Wheeler family, Cheltenham.
Averages: Six Chaileybrook flock ewes £379.75, 16 Brant flock ewes £360.28, nine Chaileybrook shearling ewes £623, nine Brant shearling ewes £306.83, six Chaileybrook ewe lambs £486.50 (Newark Livestock Sales).
