Ram lambs with performance recorded figures took the top prizes and prices at the Suffolk Sheep Society premier show and sale at Edinburgh (Fri Sat July 22/23).

Endorsing the Society's slogan “Suffolks have figures to kill for,” it was recorded lambs forward from William Tait's Burnview flock, based in Co Tyrone, N Ireland and Tom Bailey's Glenho flock which took the champion and reserve with top prices of 32,000gns and 30,000gns respectively.

The Burnview champion, with a 20 week weight of 84kg and EBV (Estimated Breeding Value) for 20 wk weight of 9.49kg, was by Kings High and Mighty out of a ewe by Cairness Royal Court, and grand dam by Muiresk Maccaravelle, was praised by judge, Charlie Proctor.

“The champion has exceptional conformation with outstanding length of body and backend,” said the judge. He was purchased by father and son, John and John Hanley, of Co Tiperary. This was one of a number of South of Ireland significant purchases.

It was William Tait's second breed champion, having taken the title in 2000 and his third consecutive win of the record lamb class -this time with a bonus of a £1,000 prize and stronger opposition from 21 competitors.

Reserve champion and a 30,000gns price tag went to the South of Ireland's Tom Bailey, with his recorded ram by last year's Edinburgh top price, Boreland Buddah, out of a dam by Stockton Almighty and grand dam by Stockton Ace. The lamb, which was part of the champion pen of three, was purchased by Bryden Nicolson, Shetland and Robbie Wislon, Aberdeenshire.

Also running the bidding to 30,000gns was Angus O Wilson's 5th placed ram lamb, by Glenhead Glaramara, out of a dam by Cairness Expression, grand dam by Cairness Calibre. He was bought by a consortium: Jimmy Douglas, Ian Barbour and the Weaver Griffiths partnership from Orkney.

Selling very late in the sale proved to suit Angus Wilson, who drew three consortiums on six lambs sold achieving the second to best sale average of £7,053; only beaten by W Tait's champion team which hit £8,103 on five sold.

Eight of the ten ram lambs to achieve five figure prices were performance recorded, Jimmy Douglas contributing three of them. Two by Mullanboy Mohammed, namely the sixth place ram lamb, out of Muiresk Momento's 11,000gns sister, achieved 20,000gns, sold to Mark McMenamin, of Co Donegal, Eire. From the Cairness 3rd prize pen of three Gerry Killilea of Co Galway paid 19,000gns to secure another Mohammed lamb. The third was secured by Claude Vanwijnsberghe, of Belgium for 12,000gns. The Cairness flock achieved the best gross harvest of £82,896.

South of Ireland's, Tom and Jeff Bailey paid 11,000gns for George L Stuart's Birness recorded 84kg lamb by Plasllewelyn Pure Genius. While Daren Jones, of Carlisle, bid to 16,000gns to secure Nan Moir's lamb by Santon Scooby.

A team of eight yielded Robbie Wilson, Strathisla, a top price of 25,000gns for a late born lamb by Deveronside the Messiah, out of a ewe by Glenisla Godfather. He was purchased by John Sinnett, being out of the same ewe as the current Sire of the Year, and owned by John Sinnett, Strathisla Dead Lucky.

John Sinnett sold his highest price of 20,000gns to Keith Evans, who produced last year's Plasllewelyn champion. The lamb by Cairness Impact took the third prize ticket in the ram lamb class, while Stockton's second prize pen of three notched up another 18,000gns with two lambs by Stockton Gold Sovereign and one by Stockton Gold Bullion.

Speaking at the event John Sinnett joint sponsor, with Gardners Feeds, of the £1,000 recorded lamb class says: “The winning lambs demonstrate Suffolks are the best sheep and now have the figures too. The best lambs, show and sale, came out of the MLC class and overall the recorded lambs averaged £3,193 on 122 recorded lambs sold. We hope this will encourage more breeders to sign up for performance recording.”

Society commercial director Robyn Hulme adds, “Commercial producers are increasingly turning to figures. The sheep in this sale undoubtedly prove that the growth rate of the Suffolk is unrivalled and this bodes well for the commercial farmer.”

Auctioneer David Leggatt said he was delighted with the event: “We sold 45 more than last year, having a real focus on commercial attributes which are so important in relation to future lamb production and the SFP.”

Top averages: S & W Tait, Co Tyrone, £9723 (5); Angus O Wilson, Berwickshire £7053 (6); J Douglas, Aberdeenshire £6908 (12); R H Wilson, Aberdeenshire, £6450 (8); Nan Moir, Aberdeenshire £5870 (3); W H Sinnett & Sons, Worcestershire, £5420 (9); Tom Bailey, Co Meath, Eire, £5385 (8); J. H. Stewart, Co Down, N Ireland, £4,725 (6); Jeff Bailey, Co Meath, £3220 (3); George L Stuart, Aberdeenshire £2583 (10); R M Greig, Aberdeenshire, £2170 (3); Gordon Mackie, Angus, £2765 (3); C A Proctor, Aberdeenshire, £2152 (7); A J Benzie, Aberdeenshire, £1811 (3); James Young, Aberdeenshire, £1745 (4); James Fleming, Lanarkshire, £1491 (5); R D Fleming, Dumfreisshire, £1313 (4); Ian Barbour, Annan, £1298 (7); R H Black, Fife, £1168 (4); D W Henderson, Northumberland £1155 (3); J & A Howie, Lanarkshire, £1113 (5).

Sale average: Recorded lambs £3193 on 122 recorded ram lambs sold.

Overall average £2563.69 on 220 ram lambs sold. (Sale grossed £564,012.75).

SHOW RESULTS

Breed champion and best ram lamb: Messrs S & W Tait, Burnview, Co Tyrone, N. Ireland; reserve, T Bailey, Glenho, Co Meath, Eire

Best pen of three: T. Bailey, Glenho; reserve, W H Sinnett & Sons, Stockton, Worc;

Best ram lamb Northern Area: J G Douglas, Cairness, Aberdeenshire; reserve, George L Stuart, Birness, Aberdeenshire

Shepherd's prize: Kirsten Tait (16yrs old) Co Tyrone, N. Ireland.

Ram lamb (MLC recorded): 1, Messrs S & W Tait, Burnview; 2 T. Bailey, Glenho; 3 J G Douglas, Cairness; 4 Robert H Wilson, Strathisla, Aberdeenshire; 5 J H Stewart, Castlewellan, Co Down, N. Ireland; 6 George L Stuart, Birness, HC, (highly commended) R D Fleming, Boreland, Dumfriesshire.

Ram Lamb: 1A J & A R Benzie, Meikleson, Aberdeenshire; 2 Ronald M Greig, Tillydesk, Aberdeenshire; 3 Messrs W H Sinnett & Sons, Stockton; 4 Jeff Bailey, Baileys, Co Meath, Eire; 5 Angus O Wilson, Glenhead, Berwickshire; 6 Keith W Hourston, Didcot, Orkney; HC Messrs S & W Tait, Burnview.

Pen of three ram lambs: 1 T Bailey, Glenho; 2 W H Sinnett , Stockton; 3 J G Douglas, Cairness; 4 J H Stewart, Castlewellan; 5 George L Stuart, Birness; 6 Robert H Wilson, Strathisla.

Next week's show and sale is at Worcester Market, on Friday and Saturday, July 29 & 30. Visit www.suffolksheep.org for more details