It was a record-breaking day for Badger Face Welsh Mountains last Sunday at the Society’s main sale at Brecon Mart, where new records were set for both Torddu ram lambs and ewe lambs. 

Setting a new ram lamb record and highest price of the day at 2250gns was a ram lamb from Gareth Jones, Felingwm, Carmarthen. Sired by the 2023 ram lamb holder from Brecon and carrying a dam line that goes back to a 2018 Royal Welsh champion. The lamb himself was a class winner at this year’s Royal Welsh and after spirited bidding from the ringside, he was finally knocked down to Aron Hemmings, Llanfynydd, Carmarthen. 

Next up in the males selling at 2100gns was a yearling ram from Aled Groucott, Crumlin, Gwent. Having stood reserve champion at this year’s Royal Three Counties, this one carries home bred lines on both sides with the grand sire having been purchased privately from the Joseph family in 2019. Taking this one home was Julie Tamplin, Caerphilly, Glamorgan. 

Buyer of the top priced lamb, Aron Hemmings was in the action himself selling his yearling ram, the champion from this year’s Royal Welsh Show and reserve champion in the pre-sale show. He’s by the same sire as the highest priced ram lamb from the 2022 Brecon sale and found a new home with C Roscoe, Newport. 

Back with ram lambs and Dafydd and Amy Harries, Llangadog, Carmarthenshire, sold theirs for 1400gns. A prize winner at many local shows this year, he was knocked down to D G and B Thomas, Llanddeusant, Carmarthenshire.

Then at 1250gns Aron Hemmings sold another yearling ram, this time the fifth placed ram from the Welsh this year. Taking this one home back to Pandy, Abergavenny, was B J and L A Pritchard. He also sold his second placed ram lamb from the Welsh for 1100gns to T A Davies, Clifford, Hereford. 

Meanwhile, at 1200gns was a yearling ram from Messrs King and Jeffreys, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire. This one is by the 2022 and 2023 Royal Welsh male champion and caught the eye of D J and C K Richardson, Chepstow, Monmouthshire. 

Torddu females topped at 1000gns with a new breed record for a ewe lamb, set by Matthew and Donna Evans, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire. A half-sister to the family’s reserve breed champion at this year’s Royal Welsh Show. This one stood champion in the pre-sale show, judged by Neil Dillon and junior judge Ollie Davies. Backing his judging convictions, this ewe lamb went home with the judge Neil Dillon, Llangadog, Carmarthenshire. 

Having made the journey down from Brough Sowerby, Kirkby Stephens, Ioan Jones then made 650gns for a ewe lamb by a LOC bred ram lamb and was no stranger to success at local shows as a lamb. This one was knocked down to G Jones, Felingwm, Carmarthenshire.

Torwen trade topped at 1050gns on two occasions, the first being for young breeder Llewellyn Evans with a homebred yearling ram. This one was male and reserve breed champion at this year’s Royal Three Counties and second at the Royal Welsh and Brecon Show. After lots of interest the hammer fell to Jenny Langford, Tattenhall, Chester. 

The next at this money was the pre-sale show champion, another yearling from the Davies family, Llanfynydd, Carmarthenshire. This one is half-brother to the champion at this year’s Smallholders Show in the Spring. Buyer here was E Morgan, Hengoed, Mid Glamorgan. 

Then at 920gns came the highest priced ram lamb from Eirian and Jasmine Jones, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire. This one has been a regular class winner on this year’s show circuit, including the Royal Welsh and was the pick of C Jones, Llandeilo. 

Next up at 850gns was another yearling, this time from previous Torddu vendors, Dafydd and Amy Harries. Another class winner from the local shows, this was the pick of Matthew and Donna Evans, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire. 

Torwen female trade topped at 480gns for Messrs King and Jeffreys’ yearling ewe. She was a class winner in the pre-sale show and is by a Cothi sire who himself was top priced ram lamb at the 2021 Brecon Sale.

Ewe lambs topped at 450gns on two occasions, the first for Malcolm Evans, Llandysul, Ceredigion. By a homebred sire with dam lines going back to the 2019 Society Sale top price,she was the choice of S Hermanis, Swansea.

Also at that money was the first placed lamb from this year’s Royal Welsh Show and the pre-sale reserve champion from Gareth Jones. Sired by this year’s Royal Welsh Show champion, she was the pick of G Lloyd, Ammanford, Carmarthenshire.

Torwen: 15 ewes (yearling and older) £240.80; 24 ewe lambs £238.00; 11 rams (yearling and over) £468.68; 12 ram lambs £378.00. 

Torddu: 67 ewes (yearling and older) £306.23; 74 ewe lambs £249.87; 27 rams (yearling and older) £614.05; 23 ram lambs £531.73 (McCartneys).