Farming Eye

Taking th overall championship honours and top price of the evening sale at Kirkby Stephen yesterda for Swaledales was the Sowerby family, Mossdale. This first proze gimmer and overall champion was knocked down to T Robinson and Sons. The same home also sold the third prize gimmer for £2100 and the second prize gmmer both to Breck House Enterprises.

Champion and top price Swaledale at Kirkby Stephen

The pre-sale reserve champion which came through as winner of the ewe class for J H and J Blacnd, Corwden House, then went on to sell for £1600 to I Collinson, while at £1400 was the third prize ewe from T Brogden selling to Messrs Morris-Eyton and Son and then the second prize ewe from the same class was knocked down at £1300 to P Addyman and Son.

by Chrissie Long

Taking the championship at Bentham under judge Richard Harker of Grayrigg, Kendal and top price on the day was a Bluefaced Leicester hogg by Midlock D45 from Tom Willoughby’s Penhill flock. This one was knocked down to Neil Marston’s Highberries flock. Meanwhile and second prize hogg also from the Penhill flock made £900 to Scottish buyer James Montgomery.

Bentham sale leader at £1600

There was keen demand for all the major hill breeds with John and Jean Bradley, Giggleswick, topping the Dalesbred section with an in lamb shearling selling to Richard Close, Starbotton, for £700.

Then Jean Wilson, Dockray, sold the champion Herdwick in lamb ewe for £550 to Frank Brennand of Chapel le Dale.

Top prices in the Swaledale section was shared between John Bland, Crowden, with an in lamb ewe and Patrick Sowerby, Hawes, with both a ewe and gimmer shearling, both making £550 selling to the judge George Sibson of Keswick.

by Chrissie Long

Taking the champion and top price Swaledale at Hawes sale was Messrs  M W Skidmore, Weardale, which went on to sell for £2900 to S Taylor, while the reserve champion, which came from the same home, then traded at £2200 and was knocked down to Messrs Richardson.

Overall champion at £2900

Of the 38 sheep forward the overall average was £640; ewes £418; gimmer shearlings £742; gimmer hoggs £688.

by Chrissie Long

The first day of the Hawes Swaledale tup sale saw a massive trade for Paul Hallam’s pen from his Derbyshire-based flock. Others from the same home sold at £46,000 and £29,000, with his 12 shearlings tups levelling the day at a mighty £17,525.

Other leading prices included £30,000 paid for Wolfceugh Emperor, from Messrs Skidmore and £26,000 for Crowden Aygill 3, the day’s champion from John Bland.

Selling for £13,000 was the second prize tup from the small breeders class, Grassgill Lodge Harry from Messrs Chester. Then at £12,000 was Buttertubs Ambassador 1, with three then fetching £11,000.

First at this money was Blackburn Dalesman  from David Powson, then at the same money was Howe Green KK1 from Eric and Robert Wear, with the final £11,000 bid coming for Helbeath Limelight 1, the fifth prize tup in the large breeders class from Messrs Brogden.

More details to follow later…….

by Jonathan Long

Friday’s final day of the Kirkby Stephen Swaledale sale saw a bumper trade topping at £46,000 for Butt Rigg Noble from E C Coates. This shearling was knocked down to Redgate, Tailbert, Fernyford and Harkerside.

Following that at £39,000 was the champion from Messrs Nelson, Bull and Cave, with this shearling selling to A D and P Coates, with a half share retained.

Then making £38,000 was one from Messrs Robinson, Catlow, which was bought by J Ireland, Messrs Lightfoot and E J and R J Wear.

And selling at £18,000 was a shearling from Messrs Lawson, Kirkland Green, which went to J Handley.

Close behind at £15,000 was the best of the day from N Richardson, Big Fernyford. This one was knocked down to J and J E Bradley and Messrs Booth. At the same money was one from Gillside Farm.

Overall the 455 shearlings levelled at £1991.94 (Harrison and Hetherington).

More to follow later….

by Jonathan Long

The second day of the Swaledale Sheep Breeders Association C District sale at Kirkby Stephen saw a strong, solid trade which topped at £16,000 for a shearling tup, Banks EC Pink Eye.

Second best of the day was one from the Richardson family, with their tup Ghyll House Client making £15,000.

Following him at £14,000 was Banks EC Jubilee,then at £13,000 was Kettlepot Vandal from the Beckwith family, while a pair sold at £12,000. The first of these was Billing Warrior from I Collinson.

The other at this price was Grayrigg EN 7, the day’s champion from Richard Harker. Then at £11,000 was Grayrigg Hall EN9.

Selling for £9000 was Turner Hall King Kong from Anthony Hartley, with a trio trading at £8000. Taking the first call at this price was Mossdale Jubilee from P E and K A Sowerby, with Mossdale Jimbo from the same home at the same money.

The final £8000 call came for Outhwaite Harker 5 from Randel Raine. And making £5000 was Bleathgill Popeye from W Buckle.

by Jonathan Long

Friday’s sale of Swaledale tup at Middleton in  Teesdale for the Swaledale Sheep Breeders Association A District saw a top call of £4000 paid twice and the shearling tups meeting a brisk trade to end the day with an average up by £61.50 at £504.13.

First to take the day’s top price was a shearling from F and K C Stobart, Grains O Beck, which had been reserve champion in the pre-sale show and first prize shearling in the large breeders show. He sold to G D and J P Nelson

The other at this money was the second prize shearling from the small breeders class from J McLaughlin, Beverley Cottage. Taking him home were S and K Emmott.

Then at £3800 was the third prize shearling from the large breeders class from R Hutchinson and Son, Valley Farm. This one was bought by R and H Wearmouth.

At £2600 was one from M Graham, Hunt House, with the overall champion from R Hird, Gill House, making £2200 when joining G D and J P Nelson.

Following him at £2100 was one from A M Walton, Bowlees, which went to J Hope, while at £2000 was the day’s best confirmation ram from C R Raine and Son, Stanhope Gate. He was knocked down to R N and I M Beaty.

The auctioneers report trade being brisk until late in the sale, with aged rams levelling at £323.33 and ram lambs at £143.33 (Harrison and Hetherington).

by Jonathan Long

Yesterday’s first major Swaledale tup sale of the season got the year’s trade off to a strong start at St John’s Chapel, with the best call of £9000 for a tup from I Collinson, this was Billing Mustard.

Following him at £5500 was another from the same home, Billing Wanderer, while two then sold at £5200. The first of these was Randaleholme Rukin from W and J Raine, with the other at this money being Sanders Close Jewel from W and H I Watson.

Selling at £4000 was one from Bowlees, with W and A R Parker and Sons, Spittal Shield, selling at £3500. Just behind him at £3400 was Whitelees Jester from S and K Emmots.

by Jonathan Long

Despite the roaring trade seen at many Mule ewe lamb sales this autumn, prices at yesterday’s sale of Swaledale draft ewes and gimmers was more cautious than last year, with the overall average falling back by £21.70 on last year.

The 4247 females traded levelled the day at £116.87, with the ewe average settling at £110.45 shearlings averaging £129.75.

Heading the day’s prices were a pen of gimmers from Neil Richardson, Big Fernyford Farm, Reapes Moor, Longnor, Buxton. This second prize pen sold at £250/head to Alan Barnes, Cowden. Mr Barnes also bought Mr Richardson’s third prize pen at £220.

Next best in the gimmers was a £215 sale for a pen from Alan and Fiona Alderson, while Chris Akrigg, Cray, sold his fourth prize shearling pen for the same money to J H Critchlow, Ashbourne.  D and S Hollings, Pecket Well, Hebden Bridge, and D Hargreaves, Airton, both has £200 pens.

Taking top call in the older ewes was Roy Nelson, Bordley, with a pen which made £235/head having stood third in the pre-sale show. This pen sold to Derbyshire with Matthew Critchlow, Buxton.

Selling at £200/head were a pen from F C, N and M Walker, Hartlington, with these heading to S S Richardson, Great Houghton, Barnsley.

Two pens then sold at £195/head, with the first at this money being the first prize pen of ewes from Stuart and Debbie Robinson, Litton and Mike and Ruth Pearson, Horton-in-Ribblesdale. These were bought by A and C Ivinson, Ousby.

The Pen-y-ghent flock of John and Jean Bradley, Giggleswick, also sold at this price, with their pen bought by Ian Lancaster, Wiswell. (Craven Cattle Marts).

by Jonathan Long

Blackface trade at Stirling yesterday may have slipped, but at Middleton in Teesdale yesterday the confidence in the North of England Mule trade was reflected in a flying trade for Swaledale ewes and gimmers, with the overall sale average jumping by £17.25 to level at £145.41 for 3983 sold.

Top call was a £265/head bid for ewes from C R Raine and Sons, Stanhope Gate, which sold to J Metcalf, with these having been second in the pre-sale show.

Second best price in the ewes was £260/head for the first prize pen from F and M P Allinson, West Briscoe which were bought by Messrs Dowson and Sartin. At £220/head was another pen from Stanhope Gate, with plenty of other pens at £150 and above.

Leading the gimmers at £185 was a pen from Shield Hurst Farm, while at £180/head was the first prize pen from E R Thompson, High Corn Park, which found a new home with R F and D Bayles. Selling for £172/head was the second prize pen from M F and K C Stobart, Grains O Beck, which were bought by M and A Donald.

Average; 3983 Swaledale ewes and gimmers £145.41 (Harrison and Hetherington).

by Jonathan Long