RECORDS tumbled at the North West Texel Club’s opening sale of the season at the Junction 36 Rural Auction Centre at Crooklands.

Paul Gentry, head of farmstock at North West Auctions, said: “Demand for the quality stock on offer was exceptional and all vendors are to be congratulated for putting forward such good consignments.”

Heading up the prices, and setting a new centre record (for Texels) of 5,500gns, was a gimmer from Messr Bradley’s Far Hey flock from Salterforth. She went to Adam and Jessica Neachell, of Staffordshire, as foundation stock for their new flock.

A gimmer from Ryan Bradley was sold to J Porter, of Long Marton, near Appleby, for 1200gns.

Just shy of that was a 1100gns gimmer from Sam Barlow’s Littlewood flock. It went home with R and E Ladds, of Benson Hall, Kendal.

Next best in the females - and a centre record for a Texel ewe lamb - was a 2,000 guineas call for the first prize ewe lamb from the pre-sale show. The lamb, from Richard Wilson, of the Eden Valley, was sold to new breeder Emma Carr, of Deal, Kent.

Top of the older ewes was one from the Forth House flock of I Jaeban. She was a Winston daughter and was out of a dam by Castlecairn Red Arrow, and was also bought by the Neachells.

Setting a new centre Texel ram lamb record at 2,500gns was Peter Woof’s Stainton Cruiser, an Auldhouseburn Bolt son, out of a dam by Knock Yankee. Stainton Cruiser sold with an index of 156, and found a new home with Kevin Cochrane, of Darwen. Of the shearling rams the best call was 1,300gns for Meinspride Buster from Angela Nairey. He was taken on by an R Mason, of Out Rawcliffe, near Preston.