Saturday 30th January 2021

DIAMOND DELIGHTS DAZZLE TO 8,000GNS

The annual ‘Diamond Delights’ sale at J36 had a fantastic entry of sheep forward with a catalogue full of quality from all breeds; which attracted much attention from throughout the country. This sale included many phone and internet bids and we thank people for their patience on the day.

ROUGH DIAMONDS

The sale commenced with the ‘Rough Diamonds’ sale of individual Rough Fell females on behalf of the Rough Fell Sheep Breeders Association. A much-admired gimmer shearling from MP & A Capstick, Newbiggin-on-Lune sold to 1000gns, sired by ‘Catholes Beast’ carrying twins to ‘Catholes Action’ who has been very successful for this flock, she was purchased by S & W Dickinson, Tebay. Other Gimmer Shearlings from the same home sold twice to 500gns; the first sired by ‘Catholes Action’ and the second sired by ‘Spicegill Braveheart’. In-lamb ewes sold to 600gns from TLB & J Knowles, Selside for a two-crop ewe sired by the 10,000gns ‘High Cark Yankie’, scanned with a single to ‘Black Horse Caramel’.

SWALEDALE STARS

The sale of ‘Swaledale Stars’ on behalf of the Swaledale Sheep Breeders Association had a reduced entry this year due to Covid. The consignment from Andrew Skidmore, Tebay lead the way, with a substitute lot sired by ‘Oakbank Emerald’ out of a Paul Hallam draft ewe. This Shearling was in lamb to ‘Buttrigg Viceroy’ selling for 1600gns to Messrs Bainbridge, Owlands. Others from the same home selling to 1000gns sired by ‘Brownber Napoleon’ in lamb to ‘Oakbank Firestorm’. The gimmer shearling from TA & J Dixon, Selside sired by ‘Whicham Harkerside’ in lamb to the £11,500 ‘Cotegill Upgrade’ selling for 1100gns. Aged ewes once again from the Skidmores sold to 700gns sired by ‘Wolfcleugh Hercules’ in lamb to ‘Flakebridge Justice’.

BLUEFACED BEAUTIES

The ‘Bluefaced Beauties’ sale of individual Bluefaced Leicester females had a record entry forward, which boasted some of the best crossing bloodlines available on the market seen this year. This in turn was matched by numerous records being smashed. It was the much-admired hogg from Neil Marston of the ‘Highberries’ flock that lead the way. This hogg sired by Midlock G034 out of Highberries K050, which was sired by Hundith Z4 saw a huge amount of interest, the gavel finally falling at 8,000gns to J Wight & Sons, Midlock. The ‘Highberries’ flock enjoyed a good day, selling the joint top price ewe with Red Howe K011, sired by Highberries G002 and in lamb to Maqueston M004, selling for 3,500gns to RI Raw, Farleton. They also topped the Recipients carrying embryos entries, selling to 3,000gns, these were sired by Carry House M009 and out of Highberries G043.
Leicester Gimmer Shearlings sold to a top of 5,000gns from JA & R Caton, Otterburn Lodge with M23, sired by the homebred K012 carrying triplets to M4 Asby Hall, she met eager bidding and was purchased by Ellis Bros, Illkey Moor. A much-admired three crop ewe from the same home, Otterburn Lodge J038, whose brothers are doing a great job in the flock, she was in lamb with triplets to Smearsett J001 and sold for 3000gns.
The consignment of Gimmer Hoggs from Messrs Lord, Hewgill attracted plenty of interest peaking at 4000gns, sired by the renowned M039, others from the same home selling to 3,500gns sired by the L007 Riddings. James Taylor from the Lunesdale flock enjoyed a successful day, selling a hogg with breeding which combined the best of the old and new. This hogg sired by the renowned Star Green M1 Red tag and out of a Smearsett G011 Ted mother attracted a lot of interest selling to 3600gns.
J Wight and Son, Midlock presented a great consignment of sheep, peaking at 3500gns for Midlock H088, sired by Midlock Mustang F027 carrying a single to Riddings M001. Other Gimmer Hoggs from the same home sold to 3000gns for Midlock N093, sired by Midlock L027 and Midlock M107 sired by Asby Hall M2 sold to 2200gns. WM Reed & Son of the West Biggins flock have enjoyed a great autumn with mule gimmer lambs and their Leicester tups continued this success. Their much-admired pen leader West Biggins N028, sired by the tup doing a great job for them Highberries H002 sold to 3200gns. The Smearsett flock from WA & A Booth saw their pen leader Red Howe K010, carrying a single to Smearsett G011 Ted sell to 3,000gns, others from the same home selling to 2,600gns sired by Highberries H014 and in lamb to Ted. Following on from their success at J36 winning the Bruce Willison memorial trophy for the best run of Mule Gimmer Lambs, AC & K Pye of the Emmetts flock topped at 2200gns for a gimmer shearling M049, sired by Highberries Hotshot H1 and scanned in lamb to the new stock tup Steel N3.
New for the 2021 sale was the sale of semen. Catching the headlines was consigned by WJ Barker of the Keer flock selling some of the renowned Lunesdale R1 semen which had done a great job for themselves and the Hayshaw flock. It met much interest selling to a 1300gns for 2 pellets and another 2 pellets selling to 900gns. T Ayrton and Son of Hayshaw sold a pellet of there main stock ram Barley J035 for 300gns.

26 BFL in lamb ewes av. £1302
25 BFL in lamb gimmer shearlings av. £1089
41 BFL Gimmer Hoggs av. £1387
3 Mule Ewe recipients carrying Embryos av. £1925

95 BFL sold and 3 Mule recipients

MULTI-BREED INDIVIDUAL SHEEP

This was a sale that created much interest from buyers keen to purchase replacement breeding stock.

KO Stones, North Yorkshire, showed a wonderful run of Cheviot ewes, topping at £520 for a gimmer shearling with others in this consignment selling to £450.

In-lamb Zwartbles created a great deal of interest with all selling above vendors expectations. Anna Quilliam, Witherslack topped the section with a gimmer shearling selling to £520, with in-lamb hoggs from the same home selling to £330. K Little & D McClure, Cartmel sold Texel shearlings to £440 with Suffolks from the same home selling to £420.

COMMERCIAL IN-LAMB SHEEP

A strong trade was seen for all commercial ewes. Cheviot ewes in-lamb to the Cheviot topping this section at £205 from AK Robinson, Clapham. A pen of Charollais x Texel shearlings from DB & RM Willison, Westhouse sold to £190. All Mule ewes and shearlings were keenly bid for with ewes selling to £190 from H Cook, Witherslack and shearlings from A Brown, Littledale to £180. The best Mules regularly sold at £170 - £190. All Mules forward averaged £168.

Swaledale ewes from J Geary, Milton Keynes sold to £162 for 2 crop ewes with 3 crop ewes from the same home selling to £148. Many Swaledale ewes sold around the £130 - £140 mark.

The next sale of In-lamb sheep will be on Thursday 11th February at J36 with a keen interest from buyers. Please contact Bradley Thompson or Ian Atkinson on 015395 66200 before Wednesday 3rd February to enter your sheep.