A huge buzz of excitement ran through the entire Charollais Sale held at Worcester Market at the weekend and was topped when the show champion, Abbie Moseley’s ram lamb Knockin Shockin smashed the breed record when it sold for 25,000 gns. Putting in the final bid, on his own was Shropshire breeder, Robert Gregory.
“I have followed the progress of this lamb for a long time and always felt he was something really special. He has outstanding Charollais qualities of length, width and a serious backend and to boot is in the top 5% of the breed on performance.” Robert was determined to secure this ram for himself and had to beat off bids from all over the UK and Ireland. The sire Oakchurch Ruben was purchased at the 2016 Premier Sale for 3,200 gns and is out of a home-bred yearling ewe at Abbie’s farm at Knockin, near Oswestry.
This price broke the previous record of 10,500 gns for Banwy Immense set in 2008.
Other ram lambs in the Knockin pen were amongst the high-priced animals; at 6,000 gns was Knockin Smart Arse which sold to two Northern Ireland breeders, William McAllister and Ian Craig. This was another Oakchurch Ruben son out of Dalby Malachite ewe and Arjane Jumanji grand dam. Just below this at 5,800 gns was Knockin Stud Muffin by Bronwydd Pride of Pembroke, 1st prize winner at the Royal Welsh Show in 2016. His buyers were C D Timm from Yorkshire and Russell Gray from Lanark.
Early in the day Justin Evans from Dinas Powys sold his tup lamb Sant Andras Sergeant Major for 9,000 gns to Michael Power from Southern Ireland. This son of Rhaeadr Prince was out of a Glyn Coch ewe purchased at the Worcester Saucy Sale in 2013.