Great Annual Show & Sale of Mule, Masham, Cheviot Mule, Rough Fell Mule, Continental & Suffolk Gimmer Lambs
The annual ‘Ambleside Fair’ show and sale of Mule, Masham, Cheviot Mule, Rough Fell Mule, Continental and Suffolk gimmer lambs followed by store lambs saw an increased entry of 3,463 gimmer lambs and 1100 store lambs. A buoyant trade was enjoyed throughout the sale with many new and returning buyers around the ringside for the sale.
The pre-sale show was very ably judged by Mike Kaye of Stockport and Tony Pickard of Devon. A nice line up was forward for the show including the new show class for Cheviot Mule Gimmer Lambs. The Mule gimmer lamb class was won by Brian Wilson and family of Ashtead, Selside. The Rough Fell Mule gimmer lambs was won by Ian Mallinson, Borrow Bridge House, Selside and the Masham first prize rosette was awarded to DR Law, Crooksbeck, Ravebstonesdale. The first show of Cheviot Mule gimmer lambs saw the first prize rosette awarded to SR & PA Thompson, Newfield, Firbank who went on to be awarded the overall champion.
Mule gimmer lambs attracted a lot of interest, with the majority being running lambs, with the poor late summer not helping them to grow out as well as they possibly could. North Country Mules sold to a market average of £80.08, an average 90p up on the year. The trade topped at £128 for the first prized pen from Brian Wilson and family with the second prized pen selling to £102 from Clegg and Bennett of Tongue House. The smaller lambs sold to a strong trade for their size, with buyers looking for good dark headed runners.
Mashams sold to a market average of £73.44, an increase of £6.52, topping at £90 for the first prized pen from DR Law of Crooksbeck with JA Bennett of Middale selling to £86 and £83.
A new section in the sale of Cheviot Mules had 448 forward for the sale selling to an overall market average of £89.06, an increase of £1.28. This breed is growing in popularity, attracting interest from buyers from throughout the UK. The trade topped at £120 twice; firstly for the Champion pen from SR & PA Thompson of Newfield and secondly from S Crawford of Staveley. Strong tupping Cheviot Mules sold in excess of £100 regularly.
The sale of Rough Fell Mule Gimmer lambs saw the trade peak at £142, £140 and £132 from Brian and Jayne Knowles of High Borrow Bridge with a cracking consignment of lambs. The first prized pen from Ian Mallinson of Borrow Bridge House sold to £100. There was a strong ringside of buyers for good faced, tupping lambs with smaller running types harder to place this year. There were plenty of well-marked tupping lambs selling between £85 and £95. Rough Fell Mules sold to an average £78.93 which is 92p less than last year.
A buoyant trade for Continental and Suffolk gimmer lambs saw the market average lift by £9.90 from the previous year’s sale. Topping the trade was Fred and Tracey Carr of Nissan Huts selling Texel lambs to £120 and £100. Suffolk Mule gimmer lambs sold to £74 from A Hodgson & Son of Borwick Lodge.