In one of the highest prices Trevor and Judy and Lachie James have received on-property they sold the late-August-drop to long-time sale supporters and noted first cross ewe breeders the Hann family, Nampara Pastoral Company, Penola, for $6400.
The sale-topper was a triplet, sired by Coolawang Victory 40/09 – the champion long wool ram at the 2010 Royal. It had a Border $ index of 110.1.
Nampara also bought the $4800 second-top ram – another sired by Victory.
Rick Foster, Haven Park Enterprises, Casterton, Victoria bought the opening lot of the sale at $2800.
The seven selected stud rams averaged $3057, with studs travelling from as far afield as New South Wales to bid up.
There was also plenty of enthusiasm for the flock rams, with a total clearance of 106 to $1600 four times averaging $970.
At least 90 per cent of the rams went to repeat buyers who filled their orders at a significant discount to last year's stellar sale which averaged $1748.
The absence of one of this year's strongest supporters also provided opportunities for buyers to get into the offering with great carcase merit and good wool type.
The Millicent and Penola areas were well represented among the 31 registered bidders.
Among the multiple buyers at the top-end were D&SJ Decourcy-Ireland, Millicent, taking seven rams $1400, and Limestone Ridge Estate, Coonawarra, with six to $1500.
The sale catered for all budgets, especially in the latter-half of the catalogue where just two rams in the final 35 made $1000 or more.
Volume buyer Chris England, The Snuggery, Kingston, bought 15 rams at a $747 average.