North West Auctions held its much anticipated annual prize show and sale of breeding sheep on Saturday 23rd August, which saw a high quality, catalogued entry of all classes of sheep attracting buyers from far and wide. North West Auctions would like to thank all judges and sponsors from today’s sale and compliment all vendors on the high quality stock presented.
The pre sale show of North of England Mule shearlings competing for the JT Nelson Memorial Shield saw twelve pens presented before the judge, Shane MaGill, who after much deliberation awarded the first prize and Championship rosette to TH Gibson & Son, Staveley for an outstanding pen of ten, which were all purchased at the Kendal NEMSA sale held at J36. The first prize pen of Mule ewes and receiving the Derek Cleasby Memorial Trophy was awarded to a pen of two crop Suffolks from TA&JA Dixon, Selside. The show for Cheviot Mule shearlings was won by JS&KM Wilson, Kendal. The show for ten Masham shearlings were kindly judged by Chris Gibson and won by MJ Woof, Millriggs Farm. The any other breed ewes class was kindly judged by Mark Dodgson who awarded the first prize rosette to J&M Wilson, Selside showing a pen of two crop home bred Texel cross ewes. The Continental and Suffolk shearling class was won by JR&LA Capstick, Killington with a pen of Texel cross ewes.
The sale commenced with Breeding Ewes which saw a packed ringside of buyers keen to secure replacement stock from renowned, regular vendors. North Country Mule ewes sold to a top price of £275 for one crops from JM Mawson, Cleator Moor closely followed by other two crops at £270 and £265 x3 from TA&JA Dixon, Selside. Other two crop ewes were £260 from FI&ME Little, Barrows Green and one crop £260 T Sharp, Levens. Two crop Rough Fell Mule ewes from MJ&JD Handley, Sedbergh sold to £235. Older ewes sold to £220 for three crop Mules from T Edmondson, Ulverston with four crops to £205 from J&R Armitstead, Docker. All Mule ewes forward averaged £206.50.
Suffolk cross ewes sold to £280 for one crop from TA&JA Dixon, Selside who sold others at £265. Older Suffolk cross ewes also sold at £265 from JJ&M Metcalfe, Kirkby Lonsdale. All Suffolk cross ewes averaged £263.53. Pure Texel, three crop ewes sold to £300 from JJ&M Metcalfe, with others at £290 from JT&A Armitstead, Selside. One and two crop Texel cross Mule ewes sold to £275 from FI&ME Little, Barrows Green with others at £255 from JJ&M Metcalfe, Kirkby Londale. Older continental cross ewes generally were £205 to £220, with all sold averaging £221.59. Cheviot cross Mule ewes sold to £265 from J&M Wilson, Selside.
Charity Sheep Auction – Today’s sale saw Ian Little, Helm Croft, Barrows Green kindly donate a Suffolk cross shearling with lamb at foot with all sale proceeds going to Great North Air Ambulance on behalf of Richard and Helen Gardiner and Family, who required the assistance of the air ambulance for life saving transportation of their three month old daughter Grace, back in 2006. Richard, Helen and family are extremely grateful to everyone for their support today.
A larger show of Masham shearlings this year and the first year of a show also at Junction 36. The champions today courtesy of J Woof, Sedbergh making £205. Top price today was from J&C Wright, Skipton with a run of shearlings topping at £250 and not having a pen under £190.
A flying trade for Cheviot Mules, with a large entry forward. Champion pen today was from J Wilson, Wray making £325 and a top price of £330 x2. Trade for these overall was very solid, with all vendors making £230 plus.
The much anticipated and prestigious show and sale of Mule shearlings saw a catalogue entry of 2628 North of England Mules sell to a ringside of local and travelled buyers. The judging was carried out by Mule enthusiast Shane MaGill who went on to back his judgment purchasing the 1st prize pen from TH Gibson & son, Staveley at the day’s top price of £340, with this good home selling pens to £310 x3 and £300 x2. The run from JS&KM Wilson, Kendal sold to £295, with others to £285 from JM Mawson, Cleator Moor, £285 x2 for Messrs Whittaker, Millom and a pen at the same price from N Barker, Dalton. Other noted prices included £280 from M&YA Barker, Halton, £270 Fox Farms, Clitheroe with AR Edmondson, Ulverston selling two pens at the same price. Mule shearlings today averaged a very strong £241.47.
Continental and Suffolk shearlings were also a joy to sell, with good quality very good to sell. Suffolks flew to £390 for a fantastic pair from J&C Airey, Ulverston. The same home had another pair at £375 and three at £370. Texels topped at £355 for the champion pen of ten from JR&LA Capstick, Killington. Another pen of ten from Josh Wilson, Wray sold to £320 for top quality gimmers. An entry of Park type Cheviots topped at £285 for a pen of ten again from J&C Airey, Ulverston.