4490 DRAFT EWES FORWARD FOR THE ANNUAL DRAFT EWE DAY SALE

Swaledales

All classes of Swaledales in massive demand, and nice to sell throughout the sale.
The pre sale show was kindly judged by Jimmy Bell and Frank Kitching, who we thank for their time and expertise, and sponsored by MB Nutrition, Carrs Billington, Lake District National Park & Joe Taylforth Sheep Scanning. They awarded the prizes as follows:

10 SWALEDALE EWES (3 CROP UPWARDS)
1st Messrs Hutchinson, Bridge Farm- £210
2nd JE & DJ Hutchinson, Hebblethwaite- £240
3rd Drinkall Bros, Catshaw Hall Farm- £250

10 SWALEDALE EWES (1 & 2 CROP)
1st E & A Wear, Grove Farm- £430
2nd GH & C Marwood & Sons, Hill Top Farm- £245
3rd R & A Taylforth, Side Farm- £195

10 SWALEDALE GIMMER SHEARLINGS
1st JA Alderson, Barras Farm- £250
2nd JA Simpson, Millstones- £225
3rd A Hartley, Tuner Hall- £240

10 SWALEDALE GIMMER LAMBS
1st Forrest Hall Farm LLP, Forest Hall- £92
2nd Forrest Hall Farm LLP, Forest Hall- £90
3rd RA Lancaster, Green Cottages- £88

CHAMPION – E & A Wear, Grove Farm
RESERVE CHAMPION – GH & C Marwood & Sons, Hill Top Farm

Top end Swaledale ewes were regularly £170-£200, with good farming ewes £130-£160 with only smaller leaner ewes £120 or less.
2857 Swaledales ewes averaged £140.79, which is £23.43 up on the year. The champion pen of 2 crop ewes from E & A Wear, Hartsop went on to sell for £430. RS & BA Harker, Overthwaite sold their top pen of 3 crop ewes to £250 with Drinkall Bros, Over Wyresdale selling 3 crop ewes also at £250. Closely followed behind was GH & C Marwood, Newsham with 1 and 2 crop ewes achieving £245. JE & DJ Hutchinson, Cautley had 3 crop ewes making £240, with E & A Wear, Hartsop also at £240 with 2 crop ewes. A much admired run from Calderside Farm, Garstang topping at £230 for 3 crop ewes.

Swaledale shearlings saw top pens £200+, with plenty of honest working sorts from £170-£190. 583 Swaledale shearlings averaged £163.22, which is £39.22 up on the year. This section was topped at £250 from JA Alderson, Kirkby Stephen closely followed by Anthony Hartley, Seathwaite at £240, who sold others at £225. RF & CE Hodgson, Pennington achieved £235 closely followed by JA Simpson, Barnacre selling their much admired pen at £225.

Gimmer lambs concluded the Swaledale section, with 145 Swaledale gimmer lambs averaging £65.78. This section topped at £92 and £90 from the well followed annual consignment from Forest Hall Farm, Kendal closely followed by RA Lancaster, Coniston at £88.

Other Hill Breeds

Cheviot ewes averaged £98.54 with J Woof, Firbank saw a top of £195 and £180 for his 2 crop ewes. Cheviot shearlings averaged £149.02 with Naddle Farm, Penrith topping the shearlings at £162 and £152.

100 Herdwick ewes forward averaged £84.35. G Stephenson, Ravenstonedale topped at £98 and £92. Closely followed behind by RN Hoggarth, Howgill at £90 with VJ Edgar, Brampton also at £90.

Rough Fells

The annual show and sale of Rough Fell ewes and shearlings once again created a good deal of interest from buyers and onlookers nationwide. A terrific show of sheep were forward with credit going to the all vendors for their support. The presale show was kindly judged by Mr John Law, who we thank for sorting through the classes efficiently and expertly. Thanks also goes to the sponsors PV Dobson. The prizes were awarded as follows:

EWES (3 CROP)

1st E & K Bland, Cotegill Farm- £130
2ndW Beck & Son, Barugh House- £115
3rd P & S Hoggarth, Birkhaw Farm- £125

SHEARLINGS
1st GW Robinson & Son, Moss End Farm- £145
2nd P & S Hoggarth, Birkhaw Farm- £130
3rd P & S Hoggarth, Birrkhaw Farm- £100

LAMBS
1st E & K Bland, Cotegill Farm- £65

PAIR OF EWES
1st NC & S Dodd, Kirkby Stephen- £205
2nd V Guy, Whinfell Terrace- £205
3rd MP & HM York, Thwaite Farm- £115

PAIR OF SHEARLINGS
1st S & A Bland, Cotegill Farm- £150
2nd RC Lowery, Summer Hill
3rd M Harrison & J Biles, Walna Scar View- £98

CHAMPION – E & K Bland, Cotegill Farm- £130
RESERVE CHAMPION – W Beck & Son, Barugh House- £115

The sale commenced with ewes, these all selling to average £101.81. Top call of £205 was achieved 3 times, firstly for a pair from VR Guy, Tebay with 3 more from this home at the same price. A further pair from NC & S Dodd, Kirkby Stephen reaching £205.

Shearlings received as much interest, these levelling out at £106.76 and selling to a top of £150 for the 1st prize pair from SA Bland, Gaisgill. GW Robinson, Crooklands sold his first price pen of 10 from £145 whilst D Stephenson, Ravenstondale sold 5 for £132.

Gimmer Lambs sold to £75 from AJ Ellis, New Hutton with other pens to £70 from J Capstick, Sedbergh and J Hunter, Tebay.