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List of sires sold for over £1000 in 2005 - click here
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Martinstown
Bluefaced Leicester Sale
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Mr
Alistair Christie wih his Champion
lamb. Also pictured is Mr Matt Drummond, judge for the days proceedings. |
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Mr
J Minnis with his Reserve
Champion Lamb. |
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Carlisle
BlueFaced Leicester Sale
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 Top price at the Carlisle BFL sale went to Robert Neill with Rossiebank X1, which sold to D H Hall & Son, West End, Kirkbamton, Carlisle for 4,500gns  Lord 3,500gns to Lawson Bros  Shearling from John & Jenny Wharton, Blackford, made 3500 gns at the Carlisle BFL sale, selling to D E & A M Hodgson, Shap  3,200 gns from Ashcleugh to Scotts, Thirwell Castle  Champion Male from J Mounsey made 3000gns  C & D Hall, Firth made 3,000 gns  M/s Marston, High Berries sold to G Taylor for 3,000 gns  X1 Rossiebank made 3000 gns for Robert Neill 
Female Champion and Supreme Champion at the Carlisle BFL sale saw this shearling from Alison Bastion, Dumfries sell for 1000gns to Dai Williams, Wernfawr |
It
was the big Four O for the Leicester sale at Carlisle, and did they
have a party! Bucking the trend this year, the sale actually saw a rise
in the averages, and over a dozen sheep sold for 3000gns or more, in
a day that saw nearly £350,000 change hands for the 731 head of sheep
sold. Auctioneer John Wharton was delighted with the days trade "There
was a strong demand for sheep, for both crossing and pedigree stocks,
reflecting that there is still a confidence in the market for good correct
types. We had buyers from the length and breadth of the country, from
Devon to Aberdeenshire".
Top of the tree was a ram lamb from R Neill, as his Rossiebank flock drew in the bidders. The big crowd at the mart had hardly had time to settle when the Rossiebank consignment came into the ring. The flock has won 5 championships on the show circuit this year and buyers were keen to buy into these successful bloodlines. His top priced lamb was by the W1 Ashes that he had bought privately of Frank Johnson last year, and out of one of his best breeding ewes, by the R2 Wallholme. Taking home this R1 testing lamb were M/s D H Hall & Son, West End. The underbidder, Glen Shapiro, wasn't to be out done a second time as she bought the next lamb from the same consignment for 3000 gns. This well grown lamb was by the same sire, and out of a ewe by the R12 Red Cottage tup. Robin and Martin Archer from Carry House continued their decent sales season, as they took the top price from shearlings, and the day's second highest price, when they sold their R2 testing ram W34 Carry House for 3800 gns. Full of crossing blood, this tup by the T14 Hewgill and out of a ewe by the K6 Riddings, sold to S Sutcliffe, Cragg Hill, Horton in Ribblesdale. Another lot from the same consignment, out of a ewe same way bred as the mother to the first and by the S12 Riddings went on to make 2000 gns. John Wharton had more than one reason to be pleased with the trade, as he saw a shearling of his own go through the ring at 3500 gns. This powerful tup was the sire to all the Wharton's lambs in this years top ten Mules and 34 out of his top 42 were by him, proving himself without a doubt. The breeding behind this R1 tester was T1 Highberries out of a ewe by the P2 Haining House. Taking him home, a short distance down the M6 to Shap, was M/s D E &A M Hodgson, Green Farm. It wouldn't be a proper sale in the North West if the Lords from Low Dowgill weren't hitting the headlines in someway. They did it again late on the day, when once again, that now familiar one - two, T29 Hewgill, out of a N34 Hewgill combined, and produced three excellent prices. Their first into the ring made 3000 gns, the next, twin to the top priced lamb at Hawes, went a little further, stopping at 3500 gns, when the Lawson brothers from the Stubsgill and Hundith flocks outbid all on comers to land him. The third with the same combination finished at 2200 gns, and combined with the last lot from the Hewgill consignment, which fetched 1600gns, saw them finish with another sale topping average of £2703.75, giving them a massive average over the three sales they have sold at of over £2600 for 24 lambs sold. The ring had just managed to draw breath after the Lords consignment when B Moore from the Ashcleugh flock sold his X2 lamb to R & M Scott Thirwell Castle for 3200gns. This classy lamb, full of homebred crossing blood, sired by a S1 Ashcleugh tup and out of a ewe by the K3 Ashcleugh. Making a very impressive debut at the sale were R & F H Marston, High Berries, Carlisle. They have been selling some impressive gimmers of late at the Carlisle lamb sales, and taking the second highest flock average this year of £75.41 for 190 lambs sold. Their first lamb raced away to make 2200 gns, and its twin next but one made 2500 gns, but the star of the pen was the second in the ring, X3 High Berries, by the homebred T4 High Berries, which was the champion at the 2004 progeny show Penrith, selling for 3000 gns, to Geoff Taylor, Swarthburn. The Marstons ended the day with an average of £2152.50. Champion male came from John Mounsey, who had been judging at Penrith the previous day. His top lamb came through the ranks of lambs shown, thought to around 150, at the sale, and caught the eye of the judge of the day, Edward Helme, Arkholme near Lancaster. This is the third time that the Walton flock has taken the champions ticket at the Carlisle sale, and he also equalled their top price of 3000gns, selling to Alec Bisset, Middle Dukesfield, buying back in some of his own blood lines, as the lamb was by W1 East Dukesfield and out of a ewe by the R29 Middle Dukesfield. Alison Bastion from the Rowandale flock took the supreme champion with a gimmer shearling by the N25 Nithsdale and out of a ewe by the R3 Rowandale. This proud R1 testing sheep made 1000gns selling to Mr Williams, Wernfawr, Wales. Averages - Rams Aged - £488.33 for 18 Shearlings - £641.72 for 163 (£592 for 166, 2004) Lambs - £509.52 for 366 (£477.54 for 354, 2004) Ewes Aged - £232.96 for 27 Shearlings £239.42 for 103 Lambs - £210.37 for 54 Show Rams Aged - 1. W T Underwood, Lyneside, 2. R McTurk, Barlaes, 3 M/s G & C Neve & Son, Haining House Shearlings - 1. C R & S E Hill, Arkleby, 2. C & D Hall, Firth 3. J Fleming, Border Esk Lambs - 1. J Mounsey, Walton, 2. C L MacGillivray, Red Cottage, 3. R E Wharton, Bellestyle Ewes Aged - 1. S Crozier, Watersyke, 2. A M Little, The Close 3. A M Little, The Close Shearlings - 1. A Bastion, Rowandale, 2. S A Harding, Shrewbridge, 3. A M Little, The Close Lambs - 1. G Shapiro, Hazelwood 2. G Shapiro, Hazelwood 3. S Crozier, Watersyke |
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Penrith
Bluefaced Leicester Sale
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 Champion with breeder, Glen Shapiro (c), Judge, John Mounsey (R) and sponser (L) at the BFL sale held at Penrith  Top price at the Penrith BFL sale went M/s Lord, Low Dowgill with X19 Hewgill, which went on to make £3700, selling H Hutchinson, Eastgate. 
£1600 for M/s Lord, Hewgill, selling to A Slack, Stoneriggs. |
A
decent sized entry at the second BFL sale to be held at the Penrith
Auction Mart, saw the first lamb into the ring set the trade, beating
last years top price by over £1000, and set a benchmark for others to
follow, but unfortunately, that wasn't to be, as trade followed the
pattern of other sales this year with buyers being picky as to what
they are willing to pay big bucks for.
Once again it was the Hewgill flock from M/s Lord that was drawing in the punters, as they brought forwards two with the same breeding as their succesfull Hawes pen, by the T29 Hewgill and out of N34 Hewgill sired ewes. The first one raced away to make £3700, selling to H Hutchinson, Eastgate. The next was felled by the underbidder to the first, Arthur Slack, Stoneriggs Appleby for £1600. Arthur Slack followed this up by buying the Lords third lamb for £800, leaving the Lords a cracking average of £2033.33 for three forward. The days champion, as judged by John Mounsey, went to Glen Shapiro, with a ram lamb, with some tremendous blue bloodline running through it. He was the full brother to her male champion at this years Royal Show, by the Barlaes E Plus, and out of a Shrewbridge E Plus ewe. He sold on for £400. Show Aged - 1. M C Beaty, Grisedale 2 D Banks, Dandi Shearlings - 1. M/s Bennet, Soulby Fell, 2. M/s Raine, Fog Close, 3. M/s Raine, Fog Close Ram Lambs - 1. G Shapiro, Hazelwood, 3. S Ivinson, Addingham Females - 1. J H Bowman, Midscale, 3. Mrs J Wells, Rockholme Champion - G Shapiro, X9 Hazelwood Res Champion - M/s Bennet, Soulby Fell, W8 Fog Close |
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Welshpool
Bluefaced Leicester Sale
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Champion and top price at the Welshpool BFL sale was this shearling from Sophie Harding, which made 1000 gns, selling to Mr Humphreys, Llys Farm |
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Top
priced lamb at Welshpool was this lamb from S A & R P Jones, Meddiant,
Isaf, Colwyn Bay, which made 400gns
to Mr Wiliams, Deunant Isa, Denbigh |
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A
good all round trade at Welshpool saw prices top out at 1000gns, with
a good clearance level.
Top price of 1000 gns went to Sophie Ann Harding with a shearling ram which was placed champion by the judge, W Wearmouth, Eastgate. By the R4 Cocklaw ram that did so well at the progeny show earlier in the year, and out of a Walton ewe, this classy shearling has some great bloodlines running through it, and its full sister bred the 4500 gns ewe which was sold at Carlisle to Glen Shapiro. He was taken home by M/s J P Humphrys, Llys, Powys. Topping the lamb trade was S A & R P Jones, Meddiant, Isaf with a tup lamb by the Scrainwood 'E' Plus and out of a ewe by Prenafal 'A', which sold to Mr Williams, Deunant Isa, Denbigh, for 400 gns. 11 aged rams, 289 shearling rams, 161 ram lambs and 27 females were forward. A brisk trade was experienced with a good clearance in the aged rams and shearlings and the ram lambs slightly harder sold. In the 'Aged Ram' class, first prize was to Mr & Mrs D Watkins, Stormer Hall, Leintwarding, Craven Arms, selling for 600gns and purchased by F Jackson & Son, Pentreshannel Farm, Oswestry. Second went to D A & M D Wright, Heathmynd, Hyssington, Montgomery selling for 350 gns and purchased by D Morris, Tycoch, Machynlleth. Second prize in the yearling rams was awarded to E Owen, Ffrith Arw, Llanddoged, Llanrwst which was sold for 680 gns and purchased by Coleg Powys, Newtown. Other yearlings sold to 600 gns by W J C Pryce, Prenafal, Trefnanney and 580 gns by J Cadwallader, Caemeiriol, Gwystre, Llandrindod Wells. Other notable prices were 310 gns presented by D & S Gethin, Gaer Farm, Forden, and 300gns (x2) by W J C Pryce, Prenafal, Trefnanney and SA Jones, Meddiant Issa. Two year old rams averaged 393.33 gns, and three year olds averaged 335 gns. Yearlings averaged 306.02 gns. Ram Lambs averaged 178.05 gns. |
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Hawes
Bluefaced Leicester Sale
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The
marathon that is the Hawes Bluefaced Leicester sale continued in its
tradition, producing what must be the country's longest single sale.
With the judging starting at 7.30am, selling at 9am and the last lot
being knocked down at 1.30am the following morning, it was a long day
for the 900 or so sheep entered and the 103 vendors, not to mention
the two auctioneers, Raymond Lund and John Cloughton, who presided over
the course of the sale.
With lots forward from all over the country, Hawes is the spiritual centre for the crossing type, and buyers weren't disappointed with the sheep forward, splashing out over £600,000 during the 16 ½ hours of frantic selling, to a top price of £13,000 for a ram lamb. However, the trade followed the trend of the year, with averages being well down on the year, and buyers picking out the best and bidding hard for them. Top of the pops came from W M Hutchinson & Sons, Redgate, Kirkby Stephen, with their X2 lamb, which was third prize earlier in the show, and went on to make £13,000 after some strong bidding, and saw it sell to Welsh breeders D J Abberley, from the Old Hemley flock and K Jones from the Lawson flock. They had to fight off some spirited bidding from other Welsh breeders before they landed their chosen target. The breeding behind this smart lamb is highly impressive, he is sired by the W1 Keer which Redgate bought in a joint buy last year for £10,000, and its mother was by the P1 Kirkby Redgate, which is highly sought after being so impressive within the Redgate Mule lambs. Redgates top 60 mule gimmers this year averaged £125, with 25 by the W1 Keer and the other 35 by the P1 Kirkby Redgate. Redgates first in the ring made £4500, with the exact same breeding behind it, selling to Breckhouse Enterprises, and saw the Kirkby Redgate flock finish with the top average of £4360 for 5 lambs sold. Its not often you manage to make any profit on a old tup when selling it back through the market, but W A & A Booth, Smearsett managed to do just that when they sold their stock ram, T1 Lunesdale, which they paid £8000 in 2002, when they sold him on to M/s Edmundson from the Hawkswell Flock based in Ulverston for £9000. The tup had been used hard on the Smearsett flock, and couldn't be used any more. The Booths also sold a shearling, a son of the T1 Lunesdale for £4600 to messrs G Fairburn, Marriforth. It was another good day at the office for noted Mule breeders, M/s Lord, Low Dowgill with their Hewgill flock. The ring was packed as some of the best crossing lambs to be sold this year came onto the market, with the first lambs by the T29 Hewgill ever to be sold. The T29 has been getting some great mules, with the Lords clocking up championships at Kirkby Stephen, Penrith and reserve at Hawes sales, topping at £280 a head and averaging £190 with these three pens. The atmosphere was electric, and the bidding didn't disappoint, with the first lamb in the ring making £8000, selling to Eric Nelson, Bull & Cave and the second, the same way bred, by the T29 and out of a N34 Hewgill sired ewe, making £7000, selling to M/s Hutchinson, Redgate, and P Brown, Ravenstonedale. Another the same way was sold to Alan Barnes, Cowden for £4000, and another made £3200 selling to J Richardson, Ghyll House. In all the Lords sold 17 lambs averaging out at a highly impressive £2800, going to show that consistently producing quality Mule lambs goes along way to selling your tups. Another big deal saw a tup coming home, when the Ellis Bros sold a 6 shear ram, P5 Lunesdale, for £7000 back to its breeder, Gordon Rawsthorne, who also had a good run of tups, selling to a top of £6000 to T Ayrton & Sons. Gordon also enjoyed a good run with his females, selling after midnight to average £1520 for 10, selling to a top of £2600 to GP Taylor & Sons for a gimmer shearling. Champion of the day came from noted breeder, John Smith-Jackson of the Shafthill flock, with his tup lamb by his W7 Riddings, out of a ewe by the S16 Shafthill, the same sire as the Mule lambs he has won with at Alston for the last 2 years. This cracking lamb made £3400, selling into Scotland to N McQuistin, New Luce. The Shafthill flock averaged £1070 for 5 sold. A top bid of £5000 saw W C Porter & Son from the Riddings make a smashing opening to their pen of lambs, which saw them average out at £1450 for twenty lambs sold. It was their second prize lamb that took the top price, with home bred breeding on both sides, by the noted Riddings Red Tag, and out of a ewe by the N34 Riddings, selling to J Wight, Midlock. Wayne Hutchinson |
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Forward
25 Aged Rams, 161 Shearling Rams, 484 Ram Lambs, and 57 Females (727
in Total)
Aged Rams to £9000 - Average £1285.22 (up £224 on 2004) Leading Prices: W A & A Booth - £9000 to A R Edmondson Ellis Bros - £7000 to G Rawsthorne, Yore House Farm - £2200 to R G Emmott, W J & L A Barker - £2000 to W C Porter & Son, J C & N Throup - £1800 to G W Whitfield & Sons, W A Dinsdale & Son - £1100 to A M & S A Clark, £1000 to WI & AM Atkinson. Shearling Rams to £4600 - Average £589.80 (down £225 on 2004) Prizes - Shearling Rams - 1st & Reserve Champion - J Wight & Sons, Midlock, Crawford - £1200 to W McClaren & Sons, 2. G Davies & Co, Hafrena - £380 to M P Rees, 3. G Davies & Co, Hafrena - £300 to J Mc Neil Leading Prices - W A & A Booth - £4600 to G Fairburn, £3400 to J W Dent & Sons, P Ayrton - £4400 to W I Foster, W A Dinsdale & Son - £4200 to P Hallam, W L & J A Barker - £3800 to W C Porter & Son, £3400 to J & I Whitaker, J Caton - £2200, to A Lodge, Yore House Farm - £2200 to Bank House Farms, K A Fawcett & Sons - £1800 to B S Simpson. Ellis Bros - £1550 to M/s A Kirkpatrick. Leading Flock Averages, Aged and Shearling - W J & L A Barker, £3066.67 for 3, KA Fawcett & Son, £1050 for 3, J Nelson & Son, £750 for 2, M E Towers, £675 for 2, W C Porter & Son, £500 for 3. Ram Lambs to £13,000 Average £960.83 (down £267 on 2004) Prizes - Ram Lambs - 1st & Overall Champion -J W Smith -Jackson, Melkridge - £3400 to N McQuistin, New Luce, 2. W C Porter & Son, Riddings - £5000 to J Wight & Sons, Midlock, 3. W M Hutchinson & Son, Redgate - £13,000 to D J Abberley, Brecon Leading Prices - W M Hutchinson & Son - £13,000 to D J Abberley, £4500 to Breck House Enterprises, M/s Lord - £8000 to J Nelson & Son, £7000 to W M Hutchinson & Son, £4000 to A & K M Barnes, £3200 to B & J Richardson, £3000 to J Ireland & Sons, £3000 to W & R Lawson, G Rawsthorne - £6000 to T Ayrton & Son, £4000 to G P Taylor & Sons, £3600 to W C Porter & Son, £3200 to S W Mawson & Son, £3000 to E G & S Bulmann, W C Porter & Son - £5000 to J Wight & Sons, W & D Lawson & Son - £3800 to J Fawcett & Son (Sw), G P Taylor & Sons - £3600 to AJ Mason, J Caton - £3400 to S Sutcliffe, J W Smith-Jackson - £3400 to N McQuistin, W J & L A Barker - £3000, £3000, to KM & L Throup. Leading Flock Averages - W M Hutchinson & Son, £4360 for 5, M/s Lord, £2800 for 17, G Rawsthorne, £2232.15 for 14, R A Busby, £2000 for 2, J Wight and Sons, £1833.34 for 3, R D Archer & Son, £1625 for 4, W C Porter & Son, £1450 for 20, J Nelson & Son, £1440 for 10, W J & L A Barker, £1425 for 12, W & D Lawson & Son, £1416.67 for 6, E Fairburn & Sons, 1236.85 for 19, G P Taylor & Son, £1166.67 for 6, P Ayrton, £1100 for 4, J Thomas & Son, £1080 for 5, J W Smith-Jackson, £1070 for 5, K A Fawcett & Sons, £1039 for 4, F Dinsdale & Sons, £1025 for 6 Females: Aged Ewes to £2000, Av £887.50 (up £114 on 2004). Gimmer Shearlings to £2600, Av £1029 (up £757 on 2004). Gimmer Lambs to £900, Av £404.35 (down £205 on 2004) Prizes- Female lambs - 1. A J Mason, Embsay - £500 to L Raine & Sons, Coach & Horses, 2. J Fawcett & Sons, Swaledale - £600 to D I L Jones, 3. Ellis Bros Addingham - £550 to B D & M S Hope. Aged Ewes to £2000, Av £887.50 (up £114 on 2004). Gimmer Shearlings to £2600, Av £1029 (up £757 on 2004). Gimmer Lambs to £900, Av £404.35 (down £205 on 2004) Leading Prices - G Rawsthorne - £2600 to G P Taylor & Sons, £2200 to Ellis Bros, £2000 to M Dawson, £1800 to K & R Buckle, £1500 to N & B Hird, £1300 to W A & A Booth, £1300 to J W Dent & Sons, £1100 to AL Dean & Son, K Barker - £1400 to H W & G White, W J & A Barker - £1100 to G & G Jackson, £1000 to W Furniss & Son. Leading Flock Averages - G Rawsthorne, £1520 for 10, K Barker, £1400 for 1, W J & L A Barker, £966.67 for 3, R A Busby & Son, £900 for 1, J Nelson & Son £600 for 2, P. Ayrton £600 for 1. |
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Lanark
Bluefaced Leicester Sale
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Champion
and top price at the Lanark BFL sale went to Robert Struthers, Greenfield
Farm, West Lothian selling to Messrs J Hyslop & Sons for £920
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It
was a buyers market at the 21st annual show and sale to be held at the
Lanark auction mart, as once again, ram prices remained steady as buyers
were selective, only looking to spend what they needed to, and were
cautious with their bids.
The judge, A Clark, Duncanziemere Farm, Cumnock saw his chosen champion easily make the days top price, as the top lamb from J O & R Struthers, Glenelg made £920 The W1 Border Esk sired lamb out of a ewe by the R18 Firth RS, selling to M/s J Hyslop & Sons, after some very careful bidding. Stuart Gray, Scrogton, saw two shearlings by the T7 Dreva make £520 in the best of the shearlings, selling to Allanton Farming and T Laird & Son. The Reserve Champion from James Montgomery, Assloss, by the homebred L1 Assloss, and out of a L1 Woodcroft ewe, made £480, selling to Mr C Weir. Show Results - Lambs - 1. R Struthers, Glenelg, 2. J Montgomerie, Assloss, 3. J Montgomerie, Assloss Averages 24 Aged / Shearling Rams - £279.58 44 Ram Lambs - £240.45 15 Females - £176.67 |
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Hexham
BFL Sale
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 Top priced lamb at Hexham BFL was from A & D Bisset, which made £2400, selling to M C Robinson & Son, Cocklaw 
Setting a personal best was P Walton from Penpeugh, Bardon Mill Hexham, when he sold his lamb for £2200 to Neil Marston, Carlisle 
Overall Champion at the Northumberland Show in June as a lamb, this lamb from R D Archer, Carry House carried on in style as in made £2000, selling to Hazel Brown from the Leadburnlea Flock, Gorebridge  Glen Shapiro made £1900 with this lamb  Reserve Champion lamb at the Hexham BFL sale was from A G & D Bisset, Middle Dukesfield. It went on to make £1800  Champion female at Hexham BFL sale went to Glen Shapiro, with this daughter of her noted show ewe, Hazelwood Robinia, which was this years Royal Show Champion  Champion lamb at the Hexham BFL sale went to R D Archer & Son, Carry House. It sold for £800 to Andrew Fisher |
A
change of date, back to the traditional date for the Hexham Bluefaced
Leicester sale saw a good turn out, with plenty of people around the
ring, but, like all sales this back end, buyers were being cautious
as the reality of the single farm payment changes sink in. There was
a strong trade for good stock, but the bottom end was a bit disappointing,
with the auctioneers working hard to draw out the bids.
Topping the trade, to complete a Kelso and Hexham double with lambs, was A G & D Bisset, Middle Dukesfield, with their second lamb into the ring, which raced away to make £2400, selling to M C Robinson & Son, Cocklaw. This sharp lamb was the champion at Blachland show earlier in the season, and is a full triplet brother to the sales Reserve Champion, which made £1800. This pair of lambs are out of a ewe bought from Glen Shapiro's Hazelwood flock when the Bisset's were restocking after the FMD, and they have sold tups out of her for £1600 and £1050. She is by M2 Cairnsmiddy and the lambs are by a home bred lamb that the Bissets kept back for their own use last back end, W6 Middle Dukesfield, which they tried on a few ewes because they knew the strength of its bloodlines, and he has certainly done them proud! The Middle Dukesfield had a great run of good skinned, sharp lambs, and well turned out by daughter Clare, which saw their 6 lamb's level out at a very respectable £946.66. Making a personal best at the sale, on the back of some top quality mules at the Longtown sales was P F Walton from the Penpeugh flock, based in Bardon Mill, Hexham, when he sold his only lamb foward to N. Marston, Carlisle for £2200. This strong, clean skinned lamb is by a home bred tup, and out of a ewe by the T2 Kilnstown. The pre-sale champion was, once again, from the Carry House flock run by Robin and Martin Archer. This type 2 lamb was by the W1 Thornton le Dale, which Martin had AI'd 6 ewes to, and out of a ewe by the P5 Carry House. Andrew Fisher was the buyer paying £800. The real fireworks from the Carry House pen was their first lot, X1, by the noted T1 Cocklaw, which has exceeded in the show circuits over the last couple of years, and out of a ewe by the P5 Carry House again. Hazel Brown from Leadburnlea took the bidding to £2000, and Carry House retained a share of the stylish R2 testing lamb, which won the Overall BFL championship at the Northumberland show as a very young lamb in June. Mike Charlton from West Raw took a lamb home from the Carry House consignment too, paying £1400 for R2 tester by the Riddings S12, out of a Riddings M23. Glen Shapiro had a good run with her lambs, topping with a R1 testing lamb by the T1 Shrewbridge E+ which sold for £1900, and also saw her forth prize lamb, by the T5 Barlaes E+, which had a field day at the Penrith progeny show, fetch £1100. Setting the standards in the shearling section was R M English of the Brown Leazes flock who saw messrs Browell from the Quarry House flock take home the pen leader for £1500, but their run of quality tups saw them average out at £1030 for their 5 rams forward. Champion female came from Glen Shapiro's Hazelwood flock, which was forward as part of her reduction sale. This smart ewe is by the T5 Barlaes E+, and out of Glens show ewe, Hazelwood Robinia, which was the breed champion at this years Royal Show. She fetched £1400, selling to Robin Waite, Shrewsbury. Show Results - Aged Rams - 1. 106 - M C Robinson & Sons, Cocklaw, 2. 192 - M Jopling & Son, Wiserley, 3. 123 J Browell & Sons, Quarry House Shearlings - 1. 109 J Elliot, Branton, 2. 136 J Herdman, Edlingham, 3. V59 R D Archer & Son, Carry House Ram Lambs - 1. 290 R D Archer & Son, Carry House, 2. 207- A G & D Bissett, Middle Dukesfield, 3. 313 - A Peart & Son, Woodcroft Male Champion - 290 Carry House Reserve Male Champion - 207 Middle Dukesfield Ewe or Gimmer - 1. 358 G Shapiro, Hazelwood, 2. 340 G Shapiro, Hazelwood, 3. 387 W Johnson & Son, Blackhalls Ewe Lamb - 1. 382 R D Archer & Son, Carry House, 2. 385 R D Archer & Son, Carry House, 3. 373 W Wearmouth & Son, Rosehill Top Averages Shearlings - Brownsleazes 5 @ 1050.00, Carry House 8 @ 556.25, Edlingham Newtown 7 @ 502.85, Camphill 6 @ 473.33, Hotbank 7 @ 468.57, Thornley Hall 5 @ 444.00, Quarry House 10 @ 436.00 Top Averages Lambs - Quarry House 2 @ 1000.00, Middle Dukesfield 6 @ 946.66, Carry House 7 @ 895.71, Hazelwood 5 @ 774.00, Redburn 3 @ 716.66, Mossvale 3 @ 516.66. Ashes 6 @ 511.66 |
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Castle
Douglas Bluefaced Leicester Sale
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 Topping the trade at Castle Douglas was John Park, Sanquhar, with an R1 rated shearling, which sold for a centre record price for a shearling, making £5500, selling to Fred & Robert Loughridge from the Orravale flock in Northern Ireland  James Thomas & Son from the Ewanston flock made the highest price lamb at Castle Douglas, with Timothy Wray, Northern Ireland being the final bidder  Champion Lamb at Castle Douglas came from James Arthur, Carnwath, which sold to the judge, J Aiken, Dromara, Co. Down for £3000  Teviot X2 from R H Bell, Roxburgh Mill made £3000 
3rd Prize Shearling from M & C Drummond, Cassington, Maybole, made £2200  Reserve Champion at Castle Douglas BFL sale went to Robert McTurk's, Barlaes, tup lamb which sold for £2100 |
 Tup lamb judging at Castle Douglas Castle Douglas saw some of the best trade yet at this years Blue Faced Leicester Ram sales as buyers were out in force looking for top quality tups. A strong contingent of buyers from Northern Ireland boosted trade as several top lots went back over the water, including both the top priced lots, as well as others going to the province, helped put a good bottom in the trade. Auctioneer Robin Anderson was delighted with the days trade "We weren't sure what trade was going to be like, but the bidders were keen for the good lots, of which there were plenty, and most lots found new homes". Top lot of the day saw a new centre record for a shearling, as the first lot of the last consignment, from John Park, Forebrae, saw some brisk bidding, which saw it finally felled by brothers, Fred and Robert Loughridge of the Orravale flock in Northern Ireland for £5500. This well grown shearling was by the £7500 T1 Breckhouse that was bought in Hawes 3 years since, shared with Alec Brown, Macqueston, and was also the breeding behind the MacQueston number two, which made £2100.  A Brown, MacQueston, made £2100 for his top lamb Topping the lamb trade was James Thomas & Son, Ewanston, with their R1 lamb by the V3 Brieryside, which was champion in Castle Douglas 2 years ago, and out of a ewe by the P14 Walton E, which was the male champion at the Millenium BFL show. Timothy Wray was the lucky buyer, reinvesting after his successful run at Ballymoney last week, sharing this sharp lamb with Phil McCormick. The judge, J Aiken, Dromara, backed his judgment in the ring when he bought the day's champion from James Arthur of the Greenaton flock, who was making his debut at the sale. This fine skinned lamb had already been placed during the summer, taking the Reserve Champion male at the Highland show. The bloodlines running through the lamb were good too, sired by the V2 Leadburnlea, and its mother was by the L1 Pennine, sire of many excellent Cocklaw sheep, including the noted "Sparky" ewe. The hammer dropped at a personal best for the Greenaton flock, making £3000. The Teviot consignment from R H Bell & Co always has its admirers, and this year was no exception, with a pen of strong, good skinned lambs. The first two lambs out of this packet shared identical breeding, with homebred sires on both sides, and grossed £5500 between them. First in the ring, by the P1 Teviot made £2500, selling to P B Adams & Co and J Miller & Son. The next lot proved to be the star of the pen making £3000, selling to R Harding from the Shrewbridge flock. The Teviot flock ended with an average of £1376 for five lots sold. The reserve champion from Robert McTurk, an R1 genotype by the V1 Carnew E, which was the champion in Ballymoney when bought, and out of a ewe by the T1 Middle, made £2100, selling to M/s Sandilands, Threepwood and R H Bell at the Teviot Flock. Third prize in the shearling section from M & C Drummond, Cassington made £2200, selling after a successful show season, which had seen the R1 Knockairdie "Blue Diamond" sired ram pick up numerous prizes, including the Breed Championship at Ayr, and the Reserve Interbreed at the same show. The tup sold in a 2 way split to David Cruickshank, Nithsdale and R C Bell, Knockairdie. Show Results Shearling - 1. P Adams, Clugston (£780),2. D Cruickshank, Nithsdale (£480), 3. M & C Drummond, Cassington (£2200) Lambs - 1. J Arthur, Greenaton (£3000), 2. R McTurk, Barlaes (£2100), 3. H Brown, Leadburnlea (£850) Averages - 225 Shearlings - £493.43 145 Lambs - £514.69 |
 Top priced ram - 2,050 gns from Geoff Cox, Cannington flock  Judge - Mr Robert Currie presents Mr Aled Jones with his champion prize  Champion - Ram Lamb from A Jones, Craig Yr Orsedd flock 
Female Champion & Reserve Supreme Champion - a gimmer from M Roberts, Myfyrian flock 
Setting a personal best - M T Abberley with a shearling who sold for 1,700 gns 
A ram lamb from Michael James, Blaenduhonw flock  Aged Ram from J Stott, Laund flock  Class of Ram Lambs being judged this year at Builth Wells  Ram Lamb being judged |
Buyers
were out at Builth Wells with a specific mission, namely to buy a good,
strong powerful tup for as little as they could get away with! That
was the impression that auctioneer Trevor Simpson was getting as he
sold in rings nine and ten. The bids were there, and most lots found
a new home, but people were wanting to slow the bidding down as much
as possible, making a £20 bid rather than a £50. This is an indication
of the uncertain market that we are facing at the moment.
There was still plenty of enthusiasm around though, as the pre sale show attested, as a good crowd gathered on the Sunday night to watch Robert Currie, from Tayburn, apply his lifelong expertise, and he certainly needed to draw on his experience when faced with some strong classes with over thirty sheep to pick from.  Judge - Mr Robert Currie studies the ram lambs very carefully Show Results Aged Rams - 1. J Stott (Laund), 2. N & S MacCreath (Pentre), 3. G W Howatson (Tudno) Shearling Rams - 1. R & S Harding (Shrewbridge), 2. A Jones (Craig Yr Orsedd), 3. R & S Harding (Shrewbridge) Ram Lambs - 1. A Jones (Craig Yr Orsedd), 2. D Jones (Pigot), 3. T Harris (Bonvilston) Aged Ewes - 1. M Roberts (Myfyrian),2. J H Sordy (Alnham), 3. A Christopher (Rocko) Ewe Lambs - 1. T Harris (Bonvilston), 2. T Harris (Bonvilston), 3. G P Williams & Co (Elian) Champion - Ram Lamb - A Jones Reserve Champion - Ewe - M Roberts Cream of the crop was a ram lamb by the T4 Cocklaw E plus, from Aled Jones's Craig Yr Orsedd flock, established only 8 years ago. This flock of 70 ewes now can boast of producing a champion at one of the strongest shows of sheep in the country. The lamb was also part of the winning 3 lambs at the Welshpool progeny show, and had come on well since then. He sold to G P Williams of the Elian flock for 1150gns. Topping the days trade was a tremendously strong shearling from Geoff Cox, from the Cannington flock in Devon. This R1 genotype ram combined some of the best crossing blood with the distributes needed by the societys reference sires. He is by the V2 Cannington and out of a P4 Ty-Gwyn. The tup carried on his journey north from Devon, as society Chairman, Dennis Lumley, from the Nookton flock in Northumberland was the final bidder at 2050gns. Setting a personal best from the 60 strong Hemley Hall flock was MT Abberley, with his R1 sired shearling ram by the V12 Riddings and out of a M2 Ty-Gwyn, showing good strong crossing lines on both sides, which raced away to fetch 1700gns selling to D.S Brute, going for use on pedigree sheep and crossing. Proving that "good things come to those who wait", as the advertising slogan would have us believe, Michael James from the Blaenduhonw flock, Builth Wells, rounded off a great personal weekend for himself, as as the very last flock into the ring he topped the ram lamb trade with a stonker of a lamb. This March born lamb by the V33 Tan House out of a P4 College ewe had attracted a lot of attention, both for his breeding, style and strength. David Jones was the final bidder, beating off a strong challenge by M Roberts for this lambs services. The female trade proved to much better than anticipated beforehand, with some keen bidding as breeders looked to buy in some new genetics, and only 4 out of 59 ewes passed through the ring unsold for Michael Walton the auctioneers taking the bids in Ring 10, up to a top of 500gns for a shearling ewe from G Sordy & Sons Alnham Farms. This R1 genotype ewe was by T9 Hazelwood, and out of a ewe by the R6 Midlock. M Roberts, Myfyrian, had the female champion and also the Reserve Supreme Champion with a sweet gimmer shearling by his T4 Carry House, which has done the flock proud over the last couple of years, and out of a ewe by the K24 Fell View. It sold for 440gns to M/s Evans. Averages Ring 9 (rams) sold Top Average Aged 8 - £525 £393.75 Shearlings 352 - £1785 £393.67 Lambs 142 - £1575 £275.65 Ring 10 Aged 6 - £609 £327.25 Shearlings 269 - £2152 £420.70 Lambs 65 - £1207 £352.88 Yr. Ewe 4 - £168 £149.63 Waltons Ring 10 Aged ewe 3 - £168 £126 Shearling ewe 42 - £525 £236.75 Ewe Lambs 10 - £357 £232.05 |
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It
was a case of like father, like son at the Ballymena Bluefaced Leicester
sale as Timothy Wray stole the limelight with his Knockstaken flock,
as judge, John Smith-Jackson placed the champion and reserve championship
places to father and son. The champion was sired by the runner up, probably
quite a unique situation at any show!
The reserve champion, W3 Beech Lodge, also took the day's top price of £3000, after some keen bidding, the hammer fell, with Mr Staunton, Tourmakeady, co Mayo the final man in. The breeding behind this stylish R1 ram is T2 Brablagh out of a P2 Mossvale ewe, and he was also the sire to the top three ram lambs, from the same flock, making £1350, £1300 and £1200 for the champion, which sold to R.A.F. Bryson, MEENAN.  Second top priced shearling - £1700 from McCormick Bros, Brablagh flock Second top price of the day went to the McCormick Bros, BRABLAGH, Ballymena. With a homebred R1 genotype shearling out of a homebred ewe and by the T4 LEARMORE, he was bought by P Staunton for £1700. Taking home the top priced ram lamb was T & W Bell, KEMPT VIEW. The overall view of the sale seemed to be good, with a strong demand for good quality stock, with a very great clearance. Averages: Lambs(65) - £470.72 Shearlings & Aged rams(131) £680.02. |
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Top
Priced Ram - £3,700
From M C Robinson & Son of Cocklaw R1 ram by a Teviot E Plus sire and out of a L1 Pennie A sired ewe |
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Champion
From M/s Wight of Midlock R1 ram by S2 Hafrona sold for £2,000 |
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Top
priced lamb Sold for 1000 gns from A Bisset, Middle Dukesfield to R & B Waite |
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Damp
weather at the Dectomax Kelso Ram sales dampened the buyers a little,
but saw the bidding top last years price as the demand for top quality
sires continued. The rain might have made for less people standing around
the rings, but the bidders were there, usually standing under the canvas
instead of around the ring, when the right tups came along.
Star of the day was from M C Robinson & Son Cocklaw, with a R1 ram by the Teviot E Plus, and out of a L1 Pennie A sired ewe. This smart, alert shearling saw bidding reach £3700 before Trevor Simpson dropped the hammer, selling away to N Sinclair, Shielsknowe Farm, Jedburgh. The Robinsons had a good day all round, averaging £893.15 for 20 lots sold. Champion of the sale ably judged the previous night of the sale by James Porter, Riddings, came from the same flock as last year, with the Wight's of Midlock picking up the red ticket. This R1 shearling by the S2 Hafrona sold for £2000 to Mr Glasgow, Selton Farm, Peeblesshire. Taking the reserve champion were the Snaiths from Clennell, with a Shearling bred at Scrainwood, and by the V1Brarg out of a R1 Broomley Fell sired ewe. He went for £1800. Another Clennell ram with the same breeding behind him went for the flock top price of £2000, which helped boost their average, despite being first through the Hexham & Northern Ring No. 17, to £785 for 25 sold. Top average of the day came from James Herdman, Edlingham, who followed the Clennell consignment in, selling 10 shearlings for an average of £1025. Commenting on the sale, Hexham and Northern Auctioneer, Trevor Simpson, said that good quality stock had been good to sell, but trade dropped of a little later as buyers bought up, and retired out of the rain, but all in all, quite a satisfactory sale. Judging: Shearlings 1. J Wight & Sons, Midlock 2. M J Snaith, Clennell Ram Lambs 1. M/s Hewson, Parton 2. J Warnock & Sons, Coutermuir Averages: Ring 15, Lawrie & Symington: 324 sold for £560.28 Ring 17, Hexham & Northern: 229 Shearlings sold to £576.16 |
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Hewgill Takes Top Honours At Hawes
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Champion Female Reserve
Female
1st Prize Ewe - Midlock |
Setting
the pace once again at the spring breeding sale of BFL gimmers at Hawes
was messers Lord, Low Dowgill, Kirkby Stephen. The Lords, who are noted
mule breeders, took both the champion and reserve championship places
with gimmer lambs, both by the same sire, the M8 Hewgill. This M8 tup
was also the sire to the winner of the breeders cup from the backend
sales, where the Lords took the highest Average at BFL sales for 6 rams
by one sire.
The judge, Jack Lawson, saw his selection vindicated as the two lambs took the top prices. the Champion was bid to £2600, and taking home this exceptional R1 genotype gimmer was noted breeder, Alan Barnes. The reserve Champion, same way bred as the champion, was bid to £2000, where it went back to the small Jubilee flock run by James Caton, Gildersleet, Settle. Sellers from over the border in Scotland had a canny trade also, as Alan Wight, Midlock, saw his 1st prize ewe by the R40 Midlock, and carrying triplets to the S2 Hafrena make £650, selling to R Collingwood. The Collingwoods followed that up by buying the 2nd prize ewe of Ellis Bros for £900. This ewe was by the N3 New hall, and was in lamb to the P5 Lunsedlae. Society Chairman, James Porter, Riddings, also had a good day at the sale, taking 3rd prize in the show with a R1 tester by the L36 Riddings, and ended up averaging £550 for 3 gimmer hoggs, selling to a top of £800. Averages; Ewes £583 .top of £900 Shearlings £360 top of £400 Lambs £524 ..top of £2600 |
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Carlisle Enjoyed Cracking Trade
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 Champion Female  Reserve Female  3,500 gns Female - Hewgill  1,400 gns Female - Hewgill  1,300 gns Female - Craigskean |
The
sale of registered Blue Faced Leicester females at Carlisle's Borderway
Mart enjoyed a cracking trade, as demand for quality females was reflected
in some very healthy prices. Once again it was a good day at the office
for the Lord's, Low Dowgill, Kirkby Stephen, as both their gimmer lambs
broke through the 1000gn mark. Their first, an R1 tester by the noted
M8 home bred sire made 3500gns, selling to Stephen Sutcliffe, Craghill
Farm, Horton -in Ribblesdale. The Lords second lamb, again by the M8
Hewgill made 1400gns, selling to debut buyer Stephen Sutcliffe, Holme
Farm, Horton in Ribblesdale.
The demand for the crossing type was evident again as J&M Kerr Craigskean, who runs a flock of 25 BFL ewes in Ayrshire, sold a lamb to Northern Ireland breeder, John Holden from Larne for £1300. The sire of this top priced R1 Craigskean lamb was the V1 Ty-Gwyn, bought in Hawes for £2000. The days champion came from Sophie Ann Harding, of the Shrewbridge flock, based in Nantwich. The judge, Alex Bisset from Middle Dukesfield, saw this 1 crop ewe as a nice strong ewe with a bit of sparkle, and thought she would make a good addition to any flock. Making the addition was Janice Brown, Kylieford, Aberdeenshire. Janice, and husband Frank, were buying BFL for the first time, and came away with around 20 females. They paid 1000gns for the jewel in the crown of this new flock. The ewe is by the noted Lydbury Marcus Elite Plus, sire of the record breaking 5100gn ewe, sold in Carlisle last October. The reserve champion was a gimmer shearling from the noted Nithsdale flock run by David Cruickshank. The shearling had been shown previously. Winning at Ayr, and taking the second place at the Royal and Yorkshire shows last year. This daughter of Barlaes Bouncer and in lamb to Nithsdale General, was sold to C Lamont of Black Park near Dumfries for 1600gns. Auctioneer John Wharton, himself a keen breeder, said "A tremendous show of sheep was seen today which resulted in strong bidding throughout the sale from buyers who had travelled from all corners of the UK. A virtual clearance of the sale prevailed with a very stylish ewe lamb selling up to the top price of 3,500gns" Again this was reflected by the society secretary, Fiona Sloan, who was impressed with the numbers of buyers and onlookers alike. "It's really good to see so many new members and new buyers at this sale, which gives a real hope to the continued future of the breed" Averages 16 Ewes £507.94 29 Shearling Gimmers £328.03 14 Ewe Lambs £622.50 Dispersal/Reduction sale averages "Eskley" Flock: 17 Ewes £215.29; 6 Shearling Gimmers £248.50; 5 Ewe Lambs £235.20. "Bowder" Flock: 12 Ewes £360.50; 4 Shearling Gimmers £273.00. "Gwestydd" Flock: 40 Ewes £141.09; 17 Shearling Gimmers £264.97. Auctioneers HARRISON & HETHERINGTON LIMITED, Borderway Mart, Rosehill, Carlisle. Tel - 01228 640924 |