North West Auction held its annual Show and Sale of Rough Fell Rams, on behalf of the Rough Fell Sheep Association. The pre-sale show saw a strong entry once again, we thank the judges for their time and expertise:

Aged Rams – Miss F Park, Deepslack
Shearling Rams – JE Harding, Winllan
Ram Lambs – R Lowery, Town End Hall
Overall Champion - AJ Harrison, Boundary Beck

The overall Champion rosette was awarded to lot 129 consigned by JT Capstick, Newbiggin on Lune, with Yew House Eclipe, this ram was sired by Lockbank Y2, with the mother being the show ewe from the 2020 flock book. This tup attracted much attention selling to 2600gns and heads to Stafford. The reserve champion was awarded to K Milburn, Sedbergh with the first prize ram lamb, being sire by the renowned Catholes Bullet, with the mother sired by Brownber Wizard.
The sale commenced with aged rams, topping this class was S&A Bland, Gaisgill for the first prize aged tup RF3344 Birchwood Brave Heart selling to 400gns, also achieving this price was E&K Bland, Gaisgill with RF3429 Spicegill Cracker. All aged rams forward averaged 267gns.
An impressive show of ram lambs were forward, with quality lambs attracting keen interest from buyers. It was a good day for the Milburn family in the ram lamb class with Kieran Milburn, High Roans selling lot 25 to 800gns, followed by Kath Milburn, High Roans achieving 400gns with lot 26. All ram lambs averaged 313gns.
The sale concluded with a catalogue entry of 149 shearlings. Hitting the top spot this year was lot 141 RF3691 High Cark Elite, bred by I&M Mallinson, Selside which achieved 3500gns, selling to MJ&JD Handley, Sedbergh, This smart tup was sired the Catholes Concorde. Young shepherdesses Fiona and Laura Hoggarth, Howgill sold RF3719 Birkhaw Emerald to 3200gns, a modern stylish tup shearling which was sired by Barugh Best Man. This was closely followed by 3000gns which was achieved on two occasions. Firstly by MP&A Capstick, Newbiggin on Lune for the first prize open shearling tup, lot 131 RF3813 Brownber Equalizer, sired by Lockbank Y2. And secondly by I&J Mallinson, Selside with RF3693 High Cark Ensign, sired by Catholes Concorde. Strong well bred breeders’ tups sold well, with twenty shearlings breaking the 1000gns barrier, all shearlings averaged 610gns.
The trade today could be described at two tiered, with lesser quality rams harder to place on the day and quality rams seeing an improved trade on the year.
We would like to thank the Rough Fell Sheep Breeders Association for their continued support and look forward to the ‘Rough Diamond’ Show and Sale of in-lamb Rough Fell ewes, gimmer shearlings and gimmer lambs on the 29th January 2022.