ETTRICK TEXELS

History of the Flock

ETTRICK Texels were established in 1982 under the prefix of the, then family farm of HILLRIDGE, however when the flock was relocated to the Scottish borders in 1990 it changed its prefix to that of the river which flowed through the hill farm namely ETTRICK. The flock was originally established with the purchase of a ewe and two ewe lambs from the dispersal of the OTTER flock. these ewe lambs were subsequently sold to fund the purchase of a top quality ewe from the HEATHERY HALL flock which then produced our first sale ram lamb HILLRIDGE MIGHTY MOUSE. HEATHERY HALL was one of the original first six importers of Texels into the UK and further purchases were made from them in the formative years to help increase the flock numbers. However it was the purchase of a ewe from the TY HIR flock that was to be the catalyst for one of the best breeding families in the flock - she was the grand dam of the 11'000gns ETTRICK DRAMBUIE and the great grand dam of 16'000gns ETTRICK GLENMORANGIE. Another notable female purchase came from COMBE SLADE, being the grand dam of ETTRICK ACE and many other top breeding females, sale gimmers and show sheep. In 1992 we purchased the 1st prize ewe lamb at Lanark from CAMBWELL - she subsequently won first prize ewe at the RHAS and the breed championship at Peebles show in 1995. her daughter GGH 94 56 sired by TINWALD YORKIE (lived until she was 10yrs old) and was used as an ET donor on numerous occasions and many of our best breeding ewes are descendents of this line. She was also the grand dam of the 8'500gns gimmer that was sold to MILNBANK who in turn was the dam of the 28'000gns JERSEY DUDEK. Dutch blood has been used via the purchase of a female from the LYONS flock and has proved very effective with many good breeding descendents from this gimmer having an influence in the flock. However it is on the male side that some of the biggest influences have occurred. the first 'big' purchase was a third share in the 3'000gns NORESK SCOTCH, he left a great stamp on the flock adding the scale and quality that were required at the time. The biggest influence however was to come when a share of the 17'000gns TINWALD YORKIE was purchased in 1993 he was an instant hit producing top quality males and females. the quality he left is still evident in the flock today. he certainly was one expensive ram who proved to be worth every penny. The next notable sire purchased was the 4'200gns KNOCK FIREFLY again proving to be a massive success both in producing males and females, being the sire of 16'000gns GLENMORANGIE and gimmers selling to 13'000gns and 8'500gns.GLENMORANGIE was also notable in that he was the sire of the record breaking CRAIGHEAD HERCULES. These rams were all bought before the interference from genotyping which changes the selection policy putting a big premium on the purchase of ARR/ARR rams. it was however at the first live ram sale following foot and mouth that another notable purchase was made n the form of the HERCULES son CROOKHOLM IMPRESARIO, who in turn sired our top price ram to date 36'000gns ETTRICK JACKPOT with his first 10sons averaging over £5'000. CLYNNOG JOE TEX was a joint purchase the year we sold JACKPOT and has proved a top class breeder of shearlings and gimmers selling to a top price of 7'500gns (being achieved at the select 7 sale 2005). Showing has also been important to the flock with the most notable successes coming at the Royal show in 2003 and 2004 when the flock won supreme champion with GGH 02 181 and GGH 01 132, the ETTRICK bred aged ram - GENESIS also won supreme champion in 2002 when shown by Mr and Mrs T. W. Helyer, LANGFORD

WEBSITE AUTHOR DAVID GRAY davidgok@hotmail.com