There was an outstanding catalogued entry of 832 rams and females for the popular Lads Night Out Show and Sale attracting buyers and sellers from far and wide resulting in an excellent atmosphere and a marathon 5-hour selling stint over two rings.
Texels lead the way and NWA welcomed top Lincolnshire lamb producer David Fenwick to judge. A tremendous class of 42 shearling rams were put in front of David with John Kelsall, Cold Cotes, taking the top three places, an amazing achievement in its self. The first prize shearling tup went onto be awarded Champion Texel and then onto receive the Champion of Champions. When the Kelsall pen came into the ring the Champion made £1400 selling to the judge, David Fenwick. However, it was the second prize winner that rapidly rolled to £2200 and reaching a new Lads Night Out record, selling to Alan and Trevor Blades, Paddock View. The Kelsall pen also had two others at £1100.
Next in there were three tups at £850 from Messrs W & MM Case, Ulverston, Nic Pagett, Tarleton and Messrs PW & D Swindlehurst, Underbarrow. Topping Texel tup lambs was Messrs Barlow Bros, Preston selling to £500. Messrs W & A Holden, Bold Venture sold to £450 and at the same money was Peter Woof, Kendal.
194 Texel Shearling rams averaged £503.78 and 22 Texel Ram lambs averaged £337.74.
Again, more records were broken in the Beltex and Beltex cross-section with Messrs PD & PJ Mason, Burton-in-Kendal selling Pedigree Beltex shearlings to £1500 to Messrs KB & M Walker, Kirkby-in-Furness. Cross-bred Beltex shearlings had, again, another record tumble with Messrs G & A Shuttleworth, Hornby selling to £1200 to Messrs AC & O Dent, Barnard Castle.
127 Beltex and Beltex Cross Shearling tups sold to average £449.96
Charollais shearlings sold to £500 from MS & AP Lee, Arkholme with others achieving £420 from RJ & J Towers, Ingleton and £400 from J Stott Jnr, Stainton. This was followed by S Cummings, Waberthwaite achieving £260. The show of Charollais rams was kindly judged by Mr H Knowles, Docker who awarded the championship Charollais rosette to a shearling from J Stott Jnr, whose first prize lamb stood as reserve.
Suffolk experienced keen bidding selling to £750 from AR Edmondson, Ulverston with others to £700 from JH Towers & Son, Tunstall and £600 from RA Batty. Suffolk Ram Lambs sold to £650 from, TA Blair, Poulton le Flyde with others at £500 from the same home. P & K Brannen, Penrith sold lambs to £400. The Suffolk judging was conducted by Mr D Dodgson, who awarded the first prize shearling rosette and Champion Suffolk rosette to RA Batty, Endmoor with TA Blair winning the reserve rosette with a lamb.
There was plenty of interest in the mixed breeds section with a two shear Millennium Bleu from Bures Farm, Thetford selling at £450 with shearlings to £350.
The sale of individual females saw 103 forward with buyers keen to secure additional breeding stock. Gimmer Shearlings sold to £350 for a Texel from PK & R Woof, Stainton, who sold others to £300 with MP Berry, Stalmine selling Texel shearlings at £280 and £250 from A Williams, St Helens. An entry of Millennium Bleu shearlings from P Farmer, Stonedge sold to £260 with others at £250. Cross-bred Shearlings sold to £220 for a Texel x Beltex from Ayrtons, Thurnham who sold others to £200 to include a Charollais x Texel.
Older ewes sold to £360 for a Pedigree Texel ewe from IM Jaeban, who sold other one crop ewes at £280, with G Wilson, Carnforth selling one crop Texels to £240. Suffolk ewes from S Wood, Ulverston sold to £260 for a one crop, with others at £240 and £220. Pedigree Charollais ewes from IM Jaeban, Cockermouth sold to £220.
The auctioneers and staff would like to thank all who supported this sale with tups and to those who travelled to judge and those who came to buy. A fantastic atmosphere, roll on next year!