No record this time but steady trade marks Lanark ram sales

Unlike last year, when the Texel ram sale at Lanark was dominated by a world record price of £231,000 for a sheep, yesterday's trade was more structured leaving both the top pedigree breeders and commercial buyers leaving the sale happy with the trade.

Some 361 ram lambs were sold at an average of 2,445 compared with 12 months ago when 357 sold at an average of 2,256.

Although it was well below last year's stratospheric top price, Alastair Gault, Forkins, Newton Abbey was well contented after watching auctioneer Brian Ross take the bidding up to 65,000 guineas before dropping the hammer with Trinidad Investments, High Weald, Sussex, the last bidder.

Trinidad is owned by Brazilian businessman Cornelio Brennand and under his farm manager, Peter Sutton, they started in Texels four years ago. Yesterday was by far their biggest purchase for his 250 ewe flock.

The second top trade of the day saw the bidding rise quickly to 50,000 guineas when Willie Knox, Haddo, Turriff's top lamb came into the ring with the successful bidder being Jeff Aiken of Procters Farms, Lancashire.

Two sales took place at 40,000 guineas. The first saw Tom and Robert Laird, Cambwell, Biggar sell the reserve show champion to Aberdeenshire buying pair, Kenny Pratt, Hilltop, Peterculter and Albert and George Howie, Knock, Peterhead .

Then John Forsyth, Glenside, Maybole sold his top lamb at the same level to another North East pairing Graham Morrison, Deveronvale, Banff and Margaret Lyon, Milnbank, Turriff. There was a lot of interest in the pen from Welsh breeder Iolo Jones, Llangwym, Denbigh, and his best lamb went for 32,000 guineas to Malcolm Reid, Stichill, Kelso.

Last year, Jimmy Douglas of Cairness bought the world record breaker. Yesterday he recouped some of that cash when he sold the first progeny of the record breaker. His top lamb sold for 30,000 guineas to John Sinnett, Stockton Court.

At 22,000 guineas, the Campbell family of Lochgoilhead sold their leader to Charlie Boden for his Sportsman's flock, Stockport.

Archie McGregor, Allanfauld, Kilsyth, sold his top lamb for 18,000 guineas to a buying quartet headed by the Lairds of Cambwell and including Nesbit of Alwent, Lodge of Heyworth and Ritchison of Stone Bridge

At 14,000 guineas, Darren McKay, Rowandale, Co Antrim, sold to Aberdeenshire pairing William and Carole Ingram, Logie Durno, and Albert and George Howie.

There were four sales at the 11,000 guinea level with father and son team, Brian and Brian Buchan, Clinterty, Fraserburgh, selling the show champion to joint buyers Bruce Renwick, Castlecairn, Kelso, and John Forsyth.