A ‘SUPERSTAR’ was hailed at a great annual Ross-shire sheep show amidst ‘fairytale’ trade that sent sellers home with jingling pockets and smiles on their faces.

Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd sold 650 rams at its Great Annual Show and Sale of North Country Cheviot Hill Rams generously sponsored by D.R. Alexander Trailers, Keoltag.

The judge, Neil Montgomery, Ose Farm, Struan awarded the Overall Champion to a Two Shear Ram from Farquhar Renwick, Strathcanaird.

Reserve Champion went to an Aged Ram from Badanloch Estate, Kinbrace.

Shearlings (54) sold to £2000 gross 3 times from Castle Grant Home Farm, Grantown on Spey and from 12 Bualnaluib.

Two Shears (482) sold to £8000 gross from Allanshaws, Galashiels.

Three Shears (81) sold to £7500 gross from Mill House, Stainland.

Four Shear and over (28) sold to £4000 gross from Bowmont Farming, Attonburn.

The verdict from the mart was upbeat: “The four words of every best story ever told ‘once upon a time’ and it truly was a fairytale trade. Which greeted vendors…who went home with dreams fulfilled and pockets full. A new centre record average of £930 per head was achieved across the board, led by annual consigner Messrs Runciman, Allanshaws whose first sheep in the ring set off at a brisk pace racing away to £8,000 heading to Caithness to join the Brackside and Bardnaclavan flocks.”

Closely behind the Allanshaws superstar was another tremendous tup that had serious style, body and power. Lot number 408 from Messrs Campell, Mill House ended a fantastic 2025 sale and show season on another high selling his pen leader for £7500 to Messrs Dunlop, Commonside.

The pre-sale show this year was once again kindly sponsored by D.R. Alexander Trailers, Keoltag and neil Montgomery, Ose Farm taking the judging reigns this year. An outstanding show of sheep were presented in front of the judge and overall the sale witnessed one of the best ever shows of sheep at this sale. Champion this year was found in Farquhar Renwick’s Strathcanaird pen.

A two-shear sired by the great Allanshaws Ben Nevis was easily picked out in the judging ring with eye and character to die for he was snapped up by Pat Wilson Farms for £5,500. Reserve Champion came from the aged tup class from Hugh Mackenzie, Badanloch. Another lad oozing character, he heads to Wales to join up with the Phil Jones flock.”

Other leading prices per head:

Shearlings – Tacher, £1800, £1100, £1000, £800, Castle Grant Home Farm, £1600, £1400, £900, Craiglands, £1600, £800, Backakelday, £1400, 186 Migdale, £1400, Swannay Farm, £1300, £1200, £800, Bardnaclavan Farm, £1100, £900, 12 Bualnaluib, £1000, Kinaldy Farm, £1,000, £900, £800, 27 Portgower, £1000, 2 Ardmore, £900.

Two Shear – Allanshaws, £6800, £5000, (twice), £4800, £2800, Kintail, £6200, £3500, £2500, £2000, £1600, Hollandmake, £6000, Clachan Farm, (Renwick), £5500, (thrice), £4200, £4000, £3500, £2000, £1600, Suisgill Estate, £5200, Inkstack Farm, £4500, Bardnaclavan, £4000, (twice), Mountbenger, £3800, Inverbroom, £3200, £3000, (twice), £2200, (twice), £2000, (twice), £1600, (twice), Dorrery, £3000, £2500, £2000, £1800, £1600, (twice), Dalrachie, £3000, £1600, Catslackburn, £2800, Clachan Farm, (MacDonald), £2800, East Brachmont, £2600, £1600, (twice), £1500, Bedshield, £2200, £1600, (twice), Keppoch Farm, £2200, £1600, Ose Farm, £2000, £1700, Bowmont, £1800, £1600, Badanloch, £1,800, Buchtrig, £1,600, Castle Grant Home Farm, £1600, 186 Migdale, £1600.

Three Shear – Badanloch, £3500, £2400, £2000, (twice), £1800, £1600, £1400, (twice), Balnakeil, £1800, £1400, £1000, £1000, Torrish Farm, £1800, (twice), £1000, Langdale, £1000, Gesto Farm, £1000. Four Shear and over – Catslackburn, £3500, Badanloch, £1,400, £1,200, 3 & 10 Crakaig, £900.

The mart sold 238 Rams at its second Continental Ram Sale.

Suffolk Aged Ram (6) sold to £1000 gross Twice both from Mr R. D. MacDonald, Castle Grant, Home Farm’s dispersal of stock rams.

Suffolk Shearling (36) sold to £950 gross from Messrs. W. & J. Brown, Hilton of Culsh, New Deer.

Suffolk Ram Lamb (9) sold to £450 gross from Messrs. A. Milne, Ardvannie Croft, Edderton.

Badgerfaced Texel Shearling (2) sold to £550 gross from Mr. D. Irvine, Upper Drakemires Farm, Newmill.

Texel Aged Ram (6) sold to £900 gross for a two shear from Ms. S. Johnstone, Croftdhu, Ballindalloch.

Texel Shearling (87) sold to £1,400 gross from Messrs. W. J. Jack & Sons, Woodend, Killearnan.

Blue Texel Aged Ram (One) sold to £400 from Ms. C. Bremner, 1 Bindal Farm Cottages, Tain.

Blue Texel Shearling (6) sold to £900 gross from Ms. E. Bain, Kennachy, Forss.

Blue Texel Ram Lamb (One) sold to £500 gross from Mr. D. Philip, Broombank, Culloden Moor.

Cross Aged Rams (One) sold to £150 gross from Messrs. M. Urquhart, Strathmore, Morefield.

Cross Shearling (37) sold to £1100 gross Twice for a Suffolk x Texel from Messrs. A. Shepherd & Son, Stonyford Farm, Tarland and for a Beltex x Texel from Messrs. M. & J. Cook, Dorrery Farm, Scotscalder.

Cross Ram Lamb (2) sold to £250 gross for a Blue Faced Leicester Cross from Messrs. G. A. Mackie, Drimmie, by Forfar.

Dutch Spotted Shearling (4) sold to £250 gross Twice from Messrs. J. & A. Budge, Knockglass Farm, Watten.

Blue Faced Leicester Aged Ram (8) sold to £1,050 gross from Mr. R. D. MacDonald, Castle Grant Home Farm also from his dispersal of stock rams.

Blue Faced Leicester Shearling (13) sold to £1400 gross from Mr. P. Gill, Duncroft, Wester Raddery.

Blue Faced Leicester Ram Lamb (3) sold to £300 gross Thrice all from Mr. H. McRae, Shetin Farm, Tarves.

Beltex Aged Ram (One) sold to £350 gross for a two shear from Messrs. R. & A. MacKintosh, Glengolly.

Beltex Shearling (12) sold to E650 gross from Messrs. J. Munro & Son, Invercharron, Ardgay.

Park Cheviot Shearling (3) sold to £500 Twice both from Messrs. W.&J. Brown, Hilton of Culsh.

The verdict was: “Dingwall and Highland Marts held their end of season continental tup sale. Topping the sale was a fantastic Blue Faced Leicester shearling from Mr Philip Gill, Duncroft, Wester Raddery, which realised £1,400 as well as a strong Texel shearling from Messrs. W. J. Jack, Woodend, Killearnan both are regular consignments always with strong pens forward. For the end of season sale a fantastic offering of tups were seen in Dingwall. Buyers were out in force with most tups that passed through the ring keenly bid for as purchasers were last ditch defending to bring home tups for the season ahead.”

Other leading prices:

Aged Rams – Blue Face Leicester - Castle Grant Home Farm, £650 (Twice), £600 & £550; Suffolk – Castle Grant Home Farm - £500.

Three Shears – Suffolk – Mariain, Culnaskeath, £400.

Two Shears – Texel – Burnside Croft, Jamestown, £800, The Cloy, Fortrose, £600, Woodhill, Brae of Balnabeen, £400 (Twice); Blue Faced Leicester – 5 Tomich, Beauly, £500, Whitebog, Rosemarkie, £400 & £350.

Shearlings – Texel – Woodend, £1300 (Thrice), £1100 (Twice) & £800 (Twice), Kennachy, Forss, £1200, £1100 (Five Times), £1050, £950 (Twice) & £900 (Four Times), Veltigar, Tankerness, £1,200, £1,000 (Twice), £900 (Thrice), £850 (Twice) & £800 (Twice), Invercharron, £1,100, £920, £900 (Twice) & £800 (Four Times), The Cloy, £800 & £750; Cross – Dorrery Farm, £1,000 & £800, Stonyford Farm, £950, £850 & £700, 5Tomich, £850 (Twice) & £700, The Arr, Nairn, £850 (Twice), £700 & £650, Invercharron, £800 & £750 (Twice), Hilton of Culsh, £600; Blue Faced Leicester – Duncroft, £1,000, £800 & £750, Whitebog, £500 (Five Times), 5 Tomich, £500; Suffolk – Hilton of Culsh, £850, £800 & £750, Stonyford Farm, £800, £650 (Thrice), £600 & £550 (Four Times), Shop Farm, Scotscalder, £750, The Arr, £700, £650 (Twice) & £600 (Twice); Beltex – Invercharron, £550 (Twice), £450, Upper Auchenlay, £400 (Twice), Runachloie, Gruids, £400 (Twice); Blue Texel – Invercharron, £800, £750 & £550, Kennachy, £650. Ram Lambs – Suffolk – Drimmie, £400, Ardvannie Croft, £350 (Thrice), Upper Drakemires, £300.

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