Record-Breaking Day at J36 Rural Auction Centre topping at 4000gns

North West Auctions J36 held its annual show and sale of individual females with a great catalogued entry, boasting some fantastic genetics from all the breeds at the sale. There was a packed ringside throughout the day with buyers travelling from throughout the English counties as well as Scotland, Wales and Ireland.

Rough Fells

The annual show and sale of ‘Rough Diamond’ individual females, on behalf of the Rough Fell Sheep Breeders Association, saw the record smashed by the Reserve Champion, lot 52 from TLB & J Knowles, Selside. This was sired by the record-breaking 10,000gn High Cark Yankie and sold to the new breed record of 1,450gns purchased by J Potter, Tebay.

There was the largest entry of Rough Diamonds seen for some time which saw some strong line ups out for the pre-sale show, with double figures in some classes. Thanks must go to the pre-sale Judge, Mrs Wendy Dickinson, Tebay and sponsors Green Coat Farm. The Championship rosette was awarded to VR Guy of Tebay with a very stylish gimmer shearling sired by RF2871, she was met by keen bidding selling for 1,000gns to the judge Wendy Dickinson, Tebay.
Other notable prices were 500gns for lot 58 from MP & A Capstick, Kirkby Stephen which was the first prize in the ewe class. This was sired by Galloper Park Zoro and carrying twins to the renowned Catholes Action that has done a great job for the flock and was purchased by RL Morris & Partners, Perthshire. First prize Gimmer Hogg was awarded to lot 48 from JE Harding, Wales, sired by Cotegill Zac, sold for 250gns to RL Morris & Partners. The trade in general for Rough Fells saw plenty of customers looking to purchase good quality in-lamb sheep to improve their flocks. The gimmer hogg trade, however, was very selective.

Swaledales

The first individual Swaledale female sale on behalf of the Swaledale Sheep Breeder’s Association saw the largest entry to date with a new record price achieved and vendors leaving well-pleased as more could have been sold to a solid trade. Thanks must go to our pre-sale judge Mr J Natrass, who had some great quality sheep to cast his eye over. The Championship rosette was awarded to PE & KA Sowerby of Kirkby Stephen for a gimmer shearling, sired by a Ghyll House ram, that was in-lamb to the new £16,000 Westend Elvis. She went on to sell for a new centre record of 2000gns, purchased by the judge Mr J Natrass, Alston.
The Reserve Championship was awarded to A & M Skidmore, Tebay for a gimmer shearling sired by Flakebridge Justice and in-lamb to High Birkwith Kisdon 1. She went onto sell for 1200gns. Ewes sold to a top of 1100gns from P Hallam, Horton-in-Ribblesdale, sired by Arnfield ME23 and in-lamb to Hellbeck Icon. The Swaledale gimmer lambs peaked at 600gns from R Hallam, Horton-in-Ribblesdale, this was, again, sired by Arnfield ME23.

Bluefaced Leicesters

There was a record entry of Bluefaced Leicesters that also saw a new record price achieved.

The largest catalogued entry of over 80 Leicesters attracted attention from far and wide with purchasers travelling from Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Devon to be present today. Topping the sale at 4000gns was a pair of embryos in a recipient ewe from NC Marston of the Highberries Flock, Cockermouth and purchased by Ron and Fran Wilson of the Low Tipalt Flock, Armathwaite. The embryos were sired by M001 Highberries, which is sired by B013 Smearsett (Black Tag), and out of a very stylish gimmer hogg, Highberries M050. Higherberries M050 was sired by Smearsett G011 (Ted).

The Championship rosette was awarded to WA & A Booth of the Smearsett Flock, Austwick with L064, sired by H003 Riddings. This much-admired gimmer shearling, carrying a single, sold for 2,000gns purchased by the Walker Family of Dunsop Bridge. The Reserve Champion was awarded to lot 157 Midlock M114 from J Wight & Son, Biggar. This gimmer hogg was sired by L003 Steel which went on to sell for 2000gns to WM Hutchinson & Sons, Kirkby Stephen. Also achieving 2000gns was R Lawrence, Grange-Over-Sands with a gimmer shearling, Midlock L031, carrying twins to Smearsett L011, who sired 5 lambs in the Champion pen of Mule gimmer lambs at the Ambleside Fair sale. This was purchased by A Troughton, Sedbergh.

Other notable prices from the Leicester section included a gimmer shearling, Highberries L044 from NC Marston, sired by Highberries Highlander G001 and carrying twins to Highberries M001. This sold for 1600gns to M Brennand, Cockermouth. The consignment from J Wight & Sons always attracts a great deal of interest with an aged ewe, Midlock H090 which was carrying twins to Hundith L001 selling to 1400gns and purchased by JW & G White, Horton-In-Ribblesdale.
New consignor WM Reed & Sons, Westgate-In-Weardale sold a gimmer hogg by the renowned Highberries H002 for a 1000gns. There was a strong trade throughout with plenty of bidders looking to purchase Leicesters, with strong averages achieved.

Cheviots

A new section this year was the Cheviot females. Leading the way was the consignment from KO Stones, Richmond who sold a North County Cheviot shearling, sired by Allanshaws Nutter carrying a single to 400gns. From the same home was a gimmer shearling, by South Lund Vanish, carrying twins sell to 380gns. Both of these were purchased by GG & MA Long, Ulverston.

Multi-Breed & Commercial Females

The Multi-breed individual females sold to a strong trade for all breeds on offer. Individual Texel shearlings peaked at 350gns from DH Lucas & FA Nairey, Blackburn with the consignment of Texel shearlings from R Wilson, Appleby selling to 350gns three times. Zwartbles sold to a very good trade and saw shearlings in-lamb to the Zwartble sell to 360gns, 340gns and 300gns from DH Hogg, Appleby with Zwartble hoggs from the same home selling to 280gns and 250gns.

The commercial females saw a buoyant trade throughout with all pens meeting eager bidding. Topping the market was the consignment of Mule gimmer shearlings scanned at 200% from TH Gibson & Son, Staveley selling to £190, £180, £175 and £170. All Mule shearlings forward sold to a market average of £164.44. Mule ewes sold to a top of £155 from DH Ashworth, Carnforth with all Mule ewes forward averaging £141. Continental aged ewes topped at £160 from the same home. Swaledale gimmer shearlings scanned in-lamb to a Leicester sold for £155 from N Brown of Littledale. Mule gimmer hoggs, scanned in-lamb, sold to £110 from D & K Swarbrick, Out Rawcliffe.

North West Auctions would like to take this opportunity to thank both vendors and purchasers for making this a successful day and helping the sale grow from strength to strength.