North West Auction’s Annual Draft Ewe Sale of Swaledales, Rough Fells, Cheviots, Herdwicks and Other Hill Going Breeds, saw a record catalogued entry of 5600. The sale created much interest with interest from throughout England, Wales and Scotland.

SWALEDALES
The largest entry of Swaledales seen at J36 saw good quality sheep trade sell to a similar trade as last year with some runs of best quality sheep averaging more then the previous year. Second quality sheep selling to less money this year as to be expected, keeping in line with breeding sheep trends.

The pre-sale show was kindly sponsored by Carrs Billington and the Lake District National Park. A special mention goes to our pre-sale judges Christopher Ryder, Blubberhouses and Martin Cragg, Sedbergh who we thank for their time and expertise. A wonderful line up were forward for our judges to cast their eye over, saw the Champion rosette and the Farming in the North Trophy awarded to E & A Wear, Hartsop for the nineth year in a row with his winning pen of 1 and 2 crop Swaledale ewes. They saw eager bidding ringside, selling to a top price of the day of £390. This much-admired run of sheep sold two crop ewes to £220, £220 and £190. One crops from the same home to £175 and shearlings to the same price. The second prize pen of one and two crop ewes was awarded to R & A Taylforth, Patterdale which went on to sell to £190.

The first prized pen of Swaledale gimmer shearlings was awarded to Antony Hartley, Broughton in Furness which went on to sell for £320 with others from the same home selling to £230. The second and third prize rosette gimmer shearlings were awarded to debutant at J36, N Richardson, Buxton selling to £290 and £170. The first prized pen of three crop ewes and upwards was awarded to Thomas and Helen Drinkall, Oakenclough with a powerful pen of sheep selling £200. The first pen of gimmer lambs was awarded to R Marwood & Son, Richmond selling to £110 whom enjoyed a successful day with the consignment selling ewes to £280 and gimmer shearlings to £280.

Other leading prices saw a pen of gimmer shearlings from JA Alderson, Barras sell to £240. This was followed by other pens of gimmer shearlings selling to £195 from Fishwick Bros, Longsleddale and £190 from MP & A Capstick, Kirkby Stephen. There were plenty of pens of good quality sheep sold in excess of the one-hundred-and-fifty-pound mark. All Swaledale ewes forward sold to an overall market average of £118.74. Gimmer shearlings sold to an overall market average of £127.

ROUGH FELLS
The annual show and sale of Rough Fell breeding females on behalf of the Rough Fell Sheep Breeders Association, was met with a fierce trade from start to finish. All vendors leaving with a smile on their face.

The pre-sale show was in the capable hands of Mr John Capstick, Sedbergh and we thank him for his time and expertise. The North Sheep Trophy for the Champion pen of Rough Fells was awarded to VR Guy, Tebay which went on to sell for £180. The Edmund Capstick Trophy for the best pen of 10 Shearlings was awarded to VR Guy also, going on to sell for £115.

In general, Rough Fell draft ewes showing strength and power were regularly selling £125 - £135, with pens outside the show selling to £160 twice from NC & S Dodd, Kirkby Stephen. 314 ewes averaged £116.09 up £17.58 on the year.

Shearlings would be the trade of the day with many new customers forward looking to purchase young replacement stock. Selling to a top of £152 from P & S Hoggarth, Howgill. Other nice pens sold to £150 from NC & S Dodd, Kirkby Stephen. All shearlings forward averaged an impressive £124.94 up £22.82 on the year.

Gimmer lambs saw keen interest from purchasers with a top of £90 from J Hunter, Tebay with the first prize pen of 10 from A EA Harrison, Kentmere selling to £88.

HERDWICKS
Herdwick ewes sold to £105 from G & SM Stephenson, Ravenstonedale with others achieving £100 from J Willis, Grayrigg. Shearlings sold to £90 from J Willis, Grayrigg who also sold gimmer lambs at £42.

CHEVIOTS
There was keen interest in Cheviots which saw shearlings sell to £170 and £168 from J Allonby, Grayrigg. Others sold to £138 from JW & SE Drinkwater and KM & KJ Curwen. Older ewes sold to £150 from KM & KJ Curwen who sold others at £132. Gimmer lambs sold to £92 from HE & MJ Henderson with others at £70.

OTHER BREEDS
A consignment of Welsh Hill Speckled Faced ewes from JE Handley sold at £92, with gimmer lambs selling to £118.