A new decade and a renewed sense of optimism within the sheep industry brought together Bluefaced Leicester breeders from all over the country saw the averages double on the year, with a cracking demand for some of the top crossing bloodlines available.

It was the same one two at the top as last year, with the Judge, James Porter from Riddings, placing a gimmer lamb from the noted Hewgill flock at the top of the tree. This stylish gimmer lamb is by the Z14 Hewgill which sired a lot of the Lord's best lambs last back end and its mother, by M8 Hewgill, goes back to the same bloodline as what Kirkby Redgate were using. Mark Allan from Knock was the eventual buyer, with the auctioneer knocking down the hammer at 3000 gns.

Richard Hutchinson from Kirkby Redgate took the Reserve Ticket with another gimmer lamb, which went on to impress the buyers and after some frantic bidding, Mark Richardson from Harrison & Hetherington, took the final bid from R Wallace, Macherquhat Farm, Ballantrae, Girvan, Ayrshire for 5000 gns. Again it was Hewgill bloodlines doing the business. She is by Y25 Hewgill, which sired 9 out of the Redgate top pen of 10 Mules in 2008, and her mother is by the noted W1 Keer which has done so well for the flock.

One of the main attractions at the sale was the major reduction of the Shafthill flock run by John & Mandy Smith Jackson, Melkridge. Their flock has a great reputation in the breed and there was no room in the ring while they sold their sheep, just retaining 3 ewes and 3 gimmer lambs for future breeding. The highlight of their sale was a bid of 4200 gns for a ewe by the homebred S25 Shafthill and carrying triplets to B3 Highberries. She travelled over the water into Northern Ireland so S Laverty, Orra View. She was out of S44 Shafthill, a 10 year old P3 Hewgill sired ewe which was sold earlier in the sale for 2000 gns, selling to M W Skidmore, Hanging Wells and another half sister, out of the same ewe but by Y8 Shafthill sold for 3200 gns, carrying twins to Z21 Shafthill, selling in a two way split to G E Carter, Parcelstown and Bell & Copeland, Bailey Mill. Staying in the same bloodlines, a ewe by S25 Shafthill, out of the full sister to the S44 Shafthill ewe, sold for 2600 gns to AC & K Pye & Son, Dunkenshaw Farm, from the Emmets flock.

Messrs Wight Midlock always have a good pen of sheep and this year was no different. They took the 1st place in the gimmer class. A son of the £5000 Riddings and out of a ewe by the £17,000 Bull & Cave, this classy ewe had all the best bloodlines running through her, and carrying 3 lambs to Z40 Midlock, it was always going to be an attractive purchase for somebody. It went to Scottish breeder John Kerr of Craigskean for 2200 gns. Midlock sold another 5 gimmers for 2000 gns or over, underlining the demand for their sheep.

Following up a great trade last back end, Neil Marston saw a gimmer break the 2000 gns mark when he sold a Z4 Hundith lamb out of a X1 Snab Green for 2000 gns to G & G Jackson & Son, Anchor Farm, Blubber Houses who were making some strong addions to their flock, also taking home a Shafthill lamb for 2400 gns.

Averages: 41 Ewes £ 852.94, 35 Shearling Gimmers £1210.50, 40 Ewe Lamb £ 972.83, 116 Head £1002.16

 

1st prize gimmer shearling from Midlock - 2200 gns	Gimmer lamb from Neil Marston - 2000 gns
L to R: Mr Thomas, Tanhouse receiving The Helme Trophy from Phil Davies, Association Chairman