North West Auctions, J36 held its annual Lakeland Fair which continues to go from strength to strength, attracting a full variety of breeding sheep and our annual end of season ram sale to include Swaledale and Cheviot rams.

Breeding Sheep, Shearlings and Gimmer Lambs

A strong trade was enjoyed throughout the sale with all types of sheep eagerly bid for. The sale commenced in Ring 1 with hill going sheep.

Swaledale ewes met plenty of demand selling to a top of £138 from D Blackmore, Milton Keynes for 2 crop ewes. Draft ewes from Forest Hall sold to £116 and £110, with Swaledale gimmer lambs, once again for Forest Hall, selling to £65 and £60 twice. Swaledale gimmer shearlings sold to £115 from G Sibson, Penrith.

Rough Fell ewes sold to a top of £84 from J & PR Woof, Dent with Rough Fell shearlings to £80 from NC & S Dodd, Kirkby Stephen and Rough Fell gimmer lambs peaked at £72 from T Ellis, New Hutton.

Cheviot ewes twice sold to £90 from Farming for Nature, Naddle with Cheviot gimmer lambs selling to £70 from SM & CM Bewley.

Herdwick sheep were the trade of the day, selling to a top of £86 from E Parker, Carnforth with others £80 from B Dickinson & Co, Kentmere. With plenty of pens of strong Herdwick ewes selling around the £70 mark. Herdwick shearlings sold to a top of £95 from G Armstrong, Nibthwaite. All Herdwick shearlings averaged £87.

Gimmer Lambs
There was a nice entry of gimmer lambs for this end of season sale, which saw Scotch Mule gimmer lambs sell to £105 from JM & AM Morland, Kirkby Stephen who sold others at £192. North Country Mule gimmer lambs sold to £82 from Drinkall Bros, Lancaster and E Parker, Carnforth. Texel gimmer lambs sold to £90 from B & M Slater, Chipping. A trio of Zwartbles from A Crowe and H Rawlinson achieved £90.

Shearlings
Mule shearlings sold to £155 from L Sibson, Cockermouth with other pens nicely selling at £125 - £135. A pen of Cheviot Mules from A Bradley, Crosthwaite achieved £120. A pen of pure Texel shearlings from Lucas & Nairey sold to £300 twice and £250.

Ewes
A wide range of ewes were on offer with younger Mules £95 - £100, Continentals £85 - £120. Older ewes of all breeds were a competitive trade achieving £70 - £90.

Breeding Rams

The annual sale of Swaledale rams at J36 saw tups well bid for. Leading the way was a consignment of shearlings from KM & KJ Curwen, Abbeystead. Topping at £650 sired by the £19,000 Bull and Cave tup, followed by others at £450 and £350. EW & JR Parkinson, Dunsop Bidge sold a shearling to £600.

Aged rams sold to a top of £350 from RM & D Dixon, Longsleddale with others to £320 from RA Clegg & LD Bennet, Seathwaite. Cheviot tups sold to £300 from SC & HB Robinson, Dunsop Bridge as well as KO Stones, Maverick. Leicester rams peaked at £400 from AW & AM Clarke, Troutbeck, with other Leicesters to £400 from TL B & J Knowles, Selside. Terminal sire rams saw Texel shearlings sell to £550 from J Woodburn & Partners, Ulverston followed by others to £520 from Lucas & Nairey, Blackburn, with plenty of powerful, shapey terminal sire rams selling into the 400s.