North West Auctions held its Annual Rough Fell Ram sale on behalf of the Rough Fell Sheep Breeders Association. The pre-sale show held under Covid 19 restrictions saw a strong entry once again.
Our pre-sale judges were:
Aged Rams – Miss H Dickinson
Shearling Rams – Mr M German
Ram Lambs – Mr D Watson
Overall Championship – Mr M Dunning
The overall Championship rosette was awarded to Lot 55 from JT Capstick, Newbiggin on Lune. This was with Yewhouse Delboy RF3594 sired by Catholes Action and the mother being sired by Flakebridge Vain. This tup attracted much attention selling to 2800gs purchased by Messrs TD, ME & GE Todd. The Reserve Champion rosette was awarded to ME & A Capstick, Newbiggin on Lune. This was with Brownber Dambuster RF3596 once again sired by Catholes Action doing a great job for both these flocks. The mother going back to the Highlane Thunder Cracker line. This went on to sell for 2400gs to TLB & J Knowles and K Milburn.
The sale commenced with the Aged Rams, the market topping at 400gs for the first prize ram from W J Dawson with Black Horse Banksy RF3223 sired by Flakebridge Year selling to 400gs. All aged rams forward sold to a market average of 248gs.
The ram lambs sold to a top of 500gs from Kieran Milburn, High Roans selling a ram lamb sired by Catholes Bullet. All ram lambs forward averaged 196gs.
The sale topper this year was lot 135 Cotegill Deano RF3559 sired by Brownber Bombshell, consigned by E & K Bland, Gaisgill selling to NC & S Dodd, Kirkby Stephen. Selling to 3200gs was RF3623 Catholes Destroyer consigned by MJ & JD Handley, Sedbergh. This powerful, much admired tup was sired RF3252 purchased by MP & A Capstick.
At 2800gs was High Cark Deigo RF3520 from IJ & M Mallinson, sired by Catholes Zero which went on to sell to W Beck & Son. The consignment from NC & S Dodd, Kirkby Stephen peaked at 2000gs with Long Gills Dynamic sired by High Cark Winder, purchased by B Dickinson & Co with Long Gills Dazzler RF3586 from the same home sired by Holme Buzzard RF3226 purchased by E & K Bland.
The consignment from MP & A Capstick, Newbiggin on Lune sold to 1200gs and 1000gs. GM Sedgwick & Son, Sedbergh twice achieved 1100gs; also at 1100gs was B Dickinson & Co, Kentmere with A E A Harrison, Kentmere and RA Steadman, Gaisgill both achieving 1000gs.
The trade this year saw quality tups in high demand with top breeders looking to improve their flocks but lesser quality tups meeting a sticky trade but with an overall market average for shearlings of 470gs. This year saw rams find new homes in Scotland, Wales and Ireland with a market clearance of 95%.