Charollais breeders were delighted to be in Worcester Market for probably the first pedigree ram sale of the year to be held live. Strict Covid measures were in place that allowed this sale to go ahead. Taking the sale by storm was Mike and Melanie Alford’s Foxhill Flock of Charollais from Devon. Their ram lamb Va Va Voom was knocked down for 16,000gns after a flurry of bids from all round the sale ring.

Beating the opposition were the Ingram family from the renowned Logie Durno and Loanhead Flocks in Aberdeenshire. The dam of this lamb was described by the Alford’s as the ‘best in the flock’; a daughter of Crogham Hannibal II, the ewe was Breed and Interbreed Champion at the Devon County Show. Va Va Voom’s sire was Loanhead Triathlon, sired by the Royal Highland Show Charollais Champion of the Decade, Rhaeadr Orlando. The Foxhill flock also achieved 2,500gns for the next best in their pen, also sired by Triathlon Foxhill Victor went to Jeremy Price, Hereford and Esmor Evans from Mold.

Leading the shearling trade was a strong, well-fleshed ram from Jonathan Wales’s Thackwood flock in Cumbria. This January born tup by Netherton Sea the Stars was knocked down for 4,600gns to Mike Alford.

The Ingrams had taken the decision to offer their ram lambs for sale privately prior to the sale, due to the uncertainty of trading conditions, but presented two pens of cracking shearling tups. Leading their trade at 3,600gns was Loanhead Unstoppable. This very heavily fleshed tup was sired by Cannahars Super Star and goes back to Cumbria to join Jonathan Wales’s Thackwood Flock. Also going to Cumbria was Logie Durno Ultra, a son of Hollylodge Supreme, which sold for 2,500gns to David and Johnathan Norman for their Kirkhouse Flock. Another son of Supreme, a huge tup Logie Durno Upperclass sold for 2,300gns to Simon Turkington from Melrose.

Next best in the lamb category were two lambs at 3,200gns. First was Wernfawr Vinnie from David Curran’s flock in Brecon. His sire was Bronwydd Tomahawk out of a consistent Glyn Coch Night to Remember sired ewe. Determined to secure this smart lamb was Colin Bowen from Pembrokeshire, Gwyndy Flock.

Artnagullion Vagabon made the same money for William McAllister over from Northern Ireland for the sale. This good looking lamb was sired by the flock’s purchase from last year’s premier sale, Loanhead Upper Class out of a Knockin Shop ewe with show pedigree. Tim Prichard from the Castellau Flock in Glamorgan secured him at 3,200gns.

A very high performance index tup lamb from Robert Whittaker, Jedburgh attracted a trio of Signet flocks. Hundalee Volcano had very high figures for all traits putting him in the Top 1% for the breed. His sire was Edstaston U R The Man, purchased at last year’s sale. Sharing the 2,500gns price tag were the Redhill Flock, Rutland, Rainbow Flock, Cheshire and the Lowerye Flock from Powys.

Emyr Hughes from Pembrokeshire had a super pen of lambs forward all sired by Ffrwd U Belter, topping the trade at 2,000gns was Bronwydd Vinnie Jones sold to Geoff Biddulph from the Gawsworth Flock in Cheshire. Close behind at 1,900gns was Bronwydd Va Va Voom which sold to Chris Timm, Wensleydale Flock in Yorkshire. His third lamb went to regular German buyer, Volker Derbisz for 1,600gns.

Another smart pen of lambs was presented by Justin Evans from Glamorganshire. His leader was Sant Andras Vanquish, a Bronwydd Tomahawk sired lamb with style and power which sold for 2,000gns to Grug Flock of Geraint Evans from Newcastle Emlyn. New Charollais flock owner, Richard White from Yorkshire bought Sant Andras Vantage for 1,600gns.

Society Chairman Arwyn Thomas from Carmarthenshire sold his son of Arbryn Tonto for 1,900gns to Gail Hodgson and George Wearmouth for their Shield Ash flock in County Durham. At the same price was Ffrwd Vunipola from Dewi Evans on Anglesey. The buyer for this son of Edstaston Sotogrande was D A Thomas, Dafolog Flock Carmarthenshire.

Although numbers forward were down on previous years the average prices achieved matched other sales; shearling rams were up by £567 and ram lambs back by only £73.