North West Auctions J36 Rural Auction Centre held its annual show and sale of 271 Bluefaced Rams and Females. There was a selective trade with purchasers looking to buy powerful rams full of renowned bloodlines. The pre-sale show was judged by Samantha Fawcett, Skipton who we thank for her time and expertise. There was a strong line up put before her, with 23 forward for the Ram Lamb class. The championship rosette was awarded to G & K Richmond, Inglewhite for lot 44, a 2-shear ram Riddings 752/K002 bred by W & C Porter sired by the renowned Carry House Jackpot. This went onto sell for £800.

There was a very selective trade for females with the first prize gimmer lamb from JW Smith-Jackson, Haltwhistle of the Shafthill flock, sired by the J001 Bailey Mill selling for £200. Also achieving £200 was a Gimmer Shearling, sired by the F004 Midlock from the consignment from JA & CA Gibson, Kendal. A Gimmer lamb from the same home also achieved £200, this was sired by H004 Nunscleugh.

There was plenty of trade for strong ram lambs selling to a top of £1500 from Messrs Lord, North Stainmore. This much-admired lamb Hewgill 980/M034, which was second prize in the show, was sired by F052 Hewgill, which has bred tremendously well for the flock this year. The consignment from RD Archer & Son, Hexham sold to a top of £1400 for Carry House 281/M029, sired by the flocks new stock ram L001 Asby Hall, with another lamb, Carry House 281/M010 form the same pen selling to £1100 sired by L008 Carry House Flash. Achieving £1000 was J Bell, Auchengray with Cottage 3331/M017 sired by L001 Oak House. Also achieving the £1000 mark was HW & G White, Settle with a ram lamb, Ribblesdale 3480/M003 which was sired by L027 Midlock. There was plenty of ram lambs with good crossing lines and well-grown selling between and £600 and £1000.

Leading the way in the Shearling ram section as regular consignor RI Dixon, Low Newton who always brings a powerful pen of rams. Topping his run at £1200 was Low Newton 3229/L001 sired by K007 Marriforth which has crossed well for him with its full brother selling to £950. The consignment from RJ & YL Willison, Levens topped at £950 for a powerful ram Toadhole 4052/L003. Powerful shearlings sold in excess of the £450 mark regularly.

The annual Bluefaced Leicester in-lamb sale will be held on Saturday 25th January 2020.