A Record-breaking draft ewe sale at J36
The largest entry of draft ewes to date with a record catalogue entry of 5660 Swaledale, Rough Fell and Cheviot was met by a full ring side at J36.
Super Swaledales at J36 sell to a top price of £400.
One of the largest entries of Swaledale sheep in the north of England was met with a very strong trade, with a large quantity of returning buyers as well as fresh faces ring side. One of the strongest line ups of ewes and shearlings out for show with praise going to our vendors for the quality of sheep on offer. The judging was in the capable hands of Steven Allan, Tebay and Robert Marrs, Carlisle who we thank for their time and expertise. The champion rosette winning the ‘Farming in the North’ Trophy for the eighth year in a row was E&A Wear, Hartsop with a cracking pen of two crop ewes going on to sell for a new centre record of £400. The reserve champion rosette was awarded to a much-admired pen of shearlings from A Hartley, Seathwaite going on to sell for £220. The second prize pen of ewes from first time vendor at North West Auctions from R Marwood & Son, Richmond that went on to sell for £260. Swaledale gimmer shearlings today peaked at £225 from JA Alderson, Barras, with others from M&EM Wilson, Middleton-in-Teesdale sold to £220. Other pens of Swaledale shearlings sold to £200 from E&A Wear, Hartsop whom had pens of ewes selling to £200 and £190 twice. Also breaking the £200 mark was a stylish pen of ten ewes from JE&D Hutchinson, Sedbergh achieving £205. The flock dispersal of 400 Swaledale ewes and shearlings from DR&JE Wood, Rivington sold shearlings to £210 and £195 with the ewes from this consignment peaking at £195. Today saw plenty of pens of good quality Swaledale shearlings and ewes regularly selling between £170 and £200. Swaledale gimmer lambs sold to a top of £142 for the first prize pen from R Marwood & Son, Richmond. There was some strong increases in market averages. As all ages of Swaledale ewes averaged £135.25, Swaledale gimmer shearlings averaged £157.10 and Swaledale gimmer lambs selling to an overall market average of £83.86.
Rough Fells at J36
The annual show and sale of Rough Fell breeding females on behalf of the Rough Fell Sheep Breeders Association at J36 was met with a selective trade. The pre-sale show was in the capable hands of up-and-coming local Rough Fell breeder with a keen eye, Ryan Capstick, Newbiggin on Lune. The ‘North Sheep Trophy’ for the Champion pen of Rough Fells was awarded to VR Guy, Tebay selling to £140. The Edmund Capstick Trophy for the best pen of ten shearlings was awarded to P&S Hoggarth, Sedbergh selling to £115. The top price today was £220 for a pen of seven much admired three crop draft ewes from NC&S Dodd, Kirkby Stephen, which attracted much attention from many Rough Fell breeders and were purchased by Kieran Milburn. Gimmer lambs sold to a top of £210 for a stylish individual from Sam Gorst, Old Hutton purchased by S&W Dickinson, Tebay. This was closely followed by a pair of gimmer lambs from E&K Bland, Tebay purchased by RA Steadman at £170. Pens of ten draft ewes sold to a top £145 from B Dickinson & Co, Kentmere. Gimmer shearlings topped at £132 from VR Guy, Tebay. Rough Fell ewes sold to an overall market average of £98.51, with gimmer shearlings averaging £102.12.
Other Hill Breed Sheep
There was a large demand for all other hill breed sheep at J36 today, the sale commenced with the Herdwicks that saw gimmer shearlings sell to a top of £120 from DE&J Waine, Longsleddale with all Herdwick shearlings forward averaging £108.25. Herdwick ewes sold to a top price of £80 from A&M Brennand & Sons, Chapel-le -dale. Cheviot continue to meet strong demand at J36 with this section continuing to grow. Leading the way was the consignment from R Doran, Winmarleigh selling to £225 with gimmer shearlings. As other pens of gimmer shearlings sold to £170, £165 and £160 twice from J Allonby & Son, Grayrigg. Closely followed by Cheviot gimmer shearlings from KM&KJ Curwen, Abbeystead selling to £169. Cheviot ewes sold to a top of £151 from KM&KJ Curwen, Abbeystead. A strong trade for Cheviot gimmer lambs saw the trade peak at £110 from DH Hogg, Murton.