North West Auctions great annual show and sale Mule, Cheviot Mule, Masham and Continental ewes and shearlings boasted a tremendous catalogue entry of 5000. The trade was seen to be buoyant throughout the sale with purchasers looking to purchase quality replacement stock. The pre sale show saw the strongest offering of Mule shearlings seen at J36 with a real credit going to all vendors. Thanks must go to all our sponsors Shap Fell Garage and MB Nutrition. A special mention to our judge Mr Craig Bradbury, Melrose. The John Nelson memorial shield for the champion pen of Mule gimmer shearlings was awarded to Z Ward & J Robinson, Nether Kellet. The Derek Cleasby memorial trophy was awarded to R Seed & Son, Chipping for a pen of four crop Mule ewes. The Continental shearling class was kindly judge by Ryan and Tom Barnes, Middleton who awarded the first prize rosette to a pen of Texel x Beltex shearlings from J Robinson & Z Ward, Nether Kellett, who also won the second prize rosette, with the third prize being awarded to S Cunliffe, Field Broughton for a pen of pure Texels.
The sale commenced with breeding ewes which saw a large ring side of travelled buyers in attendance, keen to secure replacement stock. Mule ewes sold to a top of £192 for a pen of one crop’s from EM Winspear, Hawes. JM Mawson, Cleatormore sold one crops at £182. Other stronger pens of one crop Mule ewes generally £165 to £180. Two crop Mule ewes sold to £165 on several occasions from FI&ME Little & Sons, Barrows Green. Four crops Mules peaking at £130 from R Seed & Son, Chipping with others at £128 from JE&WB Wearing & Son, Millom. Continental ewes sold to £175 for two crop Texel cross from FI&ME Little & Son, Barrows Green with others from the same good home achieving £172 (x2) and £170. Older Continental ewes sold to £145 from R Seed & Son, Chipping with others also achieving £145 from KA Purtill, Wigan. All ewes forward today averaged £135 with a large entry being older medium ewes, having worked hard this season.
Cheviot Mule shearlings sold to £190 from DE&J Waine, Longsleddale with other pens selling to £185 from J Stott Jnr, Crosscrake. All Cheviot Mules sold to a market average of £181.
Masham shearlings saw a top of £165 from M&J Woof, New Hutton and DE&J Waine, Longsleddale.
Mule gimmer shearling trade saw a full ring side of potential buyers ensuring all pens of sheep were well bid for. It was noted that well bodied, fully vaccinated shearlings attracted keen interest, as did those that had lambed at hoggs. The consignment of Mule gimmer shearlings from J Robinson & Z Ward, Nether Kellett saw their first prize pen of Mule shearlings sell to £280, with other pens selling to £250 from JK&BE Townley, Brook House with this good home selling others at £240. The third prize pen of shearlings from Fox Farms, Clitheroe sold to £235. The annual consignment of Mule gimmer shearlings from TH Gibson & son, Staveley saw his two best pens sell to £230. AJ Geary, Milton Keynes run of sheep attracted plenty of interest with his best selling to £215. A total of 28 pens sold above the £200 mark. All Mule gimmer shearlings forward sold to a market averaged of £172.64, being slightly down on the year.
The sale of Continental gimmer shearlings saw an eager ring side of buyers keen to secure sheep suited for premium prime lamb production. The sale peaked at £260 for a pen of ten ¾ bred Texel shearlings from EJ Ward & Son, Nether Kellet who sold another pen fulls at £255. The annual consignment from S Cunliffe, Field Broughton sold to £240 with others from the same good home regularly £185 to £215. A well received entry from JR&LA Capstick, Killington sold to £238 who sold other pens at £200(x2) and £195. JS&KM Wilson & Son, Heslington topped at £235 with others at £230 and £225. Beltex x shearlings from TJ Jackson, Grimsargh sold to £215 with Dutch Spotted x from Messrs Moorhouse a& Richardson, Field Broughton selling to £202. First cross Texels sold to £180 from S Cunliffe, with others achieving £175 from J&R Waller, Killington. Suffolk x Mules sold to £160 from T Wilson, Flookburgh.
Vendors should be congratulated for another good high quality market of sheep, continuing to attract new buyers. The next sale of breeding ewes and gimmer shearlings is on Saturday the 16th September, with catalogue entries required by Wednesday 30th August.