North West Auctions J36 held its great annual show and sale of hill going Draft Ewes, which had an entry of over 4000 sheep forward. This sale continues to grow in stature each year, attracting both fresh vendors and purchasers who have travelled from as far afield as Scotland and Wales to be with us today. A big thank you also go to our local purchasers for their continued support.
The pre-sale show of Swaledales saw plenty of quality on offer for our judge Mr N Marston of Cockermouth to cast his eye over, who we thank for his time and expertise. Thanks, must also go our sponsors Lake District National Park and Deep Roots Marketing Campaign. The Championship rosette was awarded to E & A Wear, Hartsop who have successfully won this trophy for six years in a row which is a real credit to the wear family and their flock. This year’s pen was once again an outstanding pen of 2 crop Swaledale ewes that went to sell for the highest price of £180 purchased by the judge. The Reserve Championship rosette was awarded to the second prize pen of ewes from R & A Taylforth, Patterdale that went on to sell for £135. The first prize pen of shearlings was awarded to JI, JA & VA Swift, Selside, that went on to sell for £120. Other notable prices from the Swaledales were £135 for ewes from W Richardson & Son, Dufton with others to £115 from the same home. The consignment from JA Alderson, Barras saw his ewes sell to £115 and his shearlings achieve the same price. Plenty of pens of sheep sold around the £100 mark. Big powerful ewes were certainly in the most demand with well-grown shearlings eagerly bid for, with smaller types meeting their value. Swaledale ewes sold to an average of £74.80 with Swaledale Gimmer Shearlings averaging £73.84.
The Swaledale Gimmer lambs met a selective trade with purchasers looking to buy lambs with the potential of growing into strong sheep. Topping the gimmer lamb trade was J Hunter Tebay, selling the first prize pen to £62 followed by £50 from RA Lancaster, Torver.
North West Auctions continue to enjoy a strong working relationship with the Rough Fell Sheep Breeders Association. A strong line up of sheep out for the show for judge Daniel Stephenson, Ravenstonedale who we thank for his time and expertise, with thanks going to the show sponsors PV Dobson & Son, Levens. The Champion pen was awarded to the pen of three crop ewes from W Beck & Son, Tebay. This cracking pen of sheep went on to sell for £130. The Reserve Championship rosette was awarded to SL Hoggarth, Howgill for the first prize pen of shearlings that went to sell for £105.
A fantastic day for Rough Fells sheep breeders with a new record price achieved for draft ewes, this much-admired pen not only had size and power but portrayed fantastic breed qualities creating much interest ringside selling to £280 from E & K Bland, Tebay.
W Beck & Son sold a much-admired individual Rough Fell ewe that went on to sell for £170. Other notable prices for Rough Fell Ewes were £130 from SL Hoggarth and £115 from E & K Bland. The trade saw plenty of demand for big powerful ewes, easily selling in excess of the eighty-pound mark. The overall average for Rough Fell ewes was £75.30 and Rough Fell shearlings sold to £73.05.
The Rough Fell Gimmer Lambs sold to a top of £40 from B Dickinson & Co, Kentmere.
Cheviot ewes were met by plenty of demand ringside, in which more could have easily of been sold. Topping the market at £95 was DJ Clarke, Underbarrow with others selling to £94 twice from KM & KJ Kurwen, Abbeystead with the consignment from P Asbury, Abbeystead selling to £90. There was an overall market average of £79.92.
Herdwicks saw Gimmer Lambs sell to a top of £37 and £36 from B Dickinson & Co, Kentmere.