North West Auctions held its annual show and sale of Rough Fell rams on behalf of the Rough Fell Sheep Breeders Association which had a catalogued entry of 158. Thanks go to the sale sponsor, H Pigney & Son, Appleby in Westmorland and also to all the judges for their time and expertise. The Championship rosette was awarded to lot 137, RF3493 Brownber Chance, from MP & A Capstick, Newbiggin on Lune. This ram was sired by RF3149 Catholes Action and went onto sell for 1000gns. The Reserve Championship was awarded to lot 80, RF 3419 Middleton Hall Casterton, from A & H Watson, Kirkby Lonsdale selling to 750gns. This ram was sired by RF2868 High Cark Ziggy which was the Champion ram when purchased.

The sale was topped by MJ & JD Handley, Sedbergh selling lot 143 RF3431 Catholes Cracker to 4000gns, this much-admired ram, sired by RF2870, was purchased by Amy Harrison, Kentmere. The consignment of rams from I, J & M Mallinson, Selside always attracts plenty of interest. Leading this consignment was lot 116, RF3366 High Cark Class, sired by RF2900 Catholes Zero, selling to 3,500gns. Lot 117 RF3367 High Cark Credit, sired by RF2900 Catholes Zero, and lot 118 RF3368 High Cark Champion, sired by RF3107 Longgills Ace, both sold to 2,000gns. Also achieving the 2000gns mark was lot 136 RF3492 Brownber Classic, sired by Catholes Action, from MP & A Capstick, Newbiggin on Lune and lot 151 RF3413 Holme Class, sired by RF3148 Catholes Ace, from TD, ME & GE Todd, Sedbergh. Plenty more shearling rams sold to the 1,000gns mark and beyond.

The G Armstrong Trophy for the shearling with the best mouth was awarded to lot 89 from NC & S Dodd, Kirkby Stephen that went onto sell for 500gns.

The aged rams and ram lambs were met by a selective trade. Topping the aged rams was the first prize from VR Guy, Tebay selling to 700gns, a 2 shear ram RF3255 which was bred by J Capstick with other aged rams from this home selling to 550gns. Ram lambs sold to a top of 400gns for the first prized lamb from Kieran Milburn, Sedbergh with other ram lambs selling to 350gns from WJ Dawson, Sedbergh.

Shearling rams sold to a market average of £565, aged rams average £315 and Ram lambs averaged £202.