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2011-10-03
Leading performer at the annual multi-breed sheep show and sale of pedigree and pure-bred rams and females at Skipton Auction Mart was the first prize Blue Faced Leicester shearling ram and reserve breed champion from Ken and Lynne Throup, of Woofa Bank, Silsden Moor. (Fri, Sept 30)
David Lodge with his Skipton Blue Faced Leicester champion.
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It achieved the highest price of the day at 1,800gns (£1,890) when knocked down to South Yorkshire buyers N & J Taylor, of Sheffield.
With a total entry of over 1,500 sheep across show classes for six breeds and four sales rings in operation, a strong turnout of more than 300 Blue Faced Leicesters was reflected by robust trade, notably for quality crossing rams that had achieved success at recent Mule sheep sales.
The BFL championship fell to a home-bred ram lamb from Wharfedale breeder David Lodge, of Weston, Otley, who also won the breed title in 2009. His latest victor sold for 700gns to show judge Richard Thomas for use on his Tanhouse flock in Llandrindod Wells, Powys. Wales.
The Taylors also paid 1,500gns for the second prize Blue Faced Leicester shearling ram from Ashley and Rachel Caton, of Otterburn, who sold another shearling ram at 1,000gns to David Plews, of Kettlewell. In addition, the Catons presented the second prize and top priced ram lamb, which joined Saddle End Farms at Chipping, Preston, for 800gns
James Dewhirst, of Lothersdale, who topped the 2010 show prices with a Blue Faced Leicester shearling ram, again performed well at this year’s renewal with a 1,100gns shearling ram, acquired locally by Brian Woodsworth, of Storiths.
John and Claire Mason, of Embsay, sold five shearling rams, the best of them at 1,000gns to Matt Tomlinson, of Kilburn in Derbyshire. Two others sold at 950gns each to David Plews and A Newbould & Son, of Dallowgill, Kirkby Malzeard. The overall BFL selling average was £325 a head.
Bob Newby and the Skipton Texel victor.
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The champion Texel was a shearling ram from Bob Newby, of Walshford Bridge, Wetherby. The home-bred son of an Alwent sire sold for 980gns, top price in class, to John Barnes, of Sawley, Clitheroe.
Reserve champion Texel was the first prize shearling ewe from John and Linda Mellin at Hull House, Hellifield, sold for 400gns to Paul Strickland, of Eldroth, Austwick, who also paid 500gns for Mr Mellin’s second prize shearling ewe.
The first prize ram lamb from John and Alison North, of Fenwick, Doncaster, sold for 490gns to J Holden, of Edgeworth, Bolton. The Norths also headed the ram lamb prices at 520gns with an entry bought by Texel champion Mr Newby.
Texel class prices were topped at 1,040gns by a shearling ram from David Towell, of Upper Leys Farm, Glusburn Moor, Keighley, bought by Simon Yates, of Ellinstring, Ripon. Frank Nairey, of Blackburn, sold a shearling ram at 1,000gns to D A Marshall, of Heyshaw, Summerbridge. The breed average was £341 per head, with shearling rams averaging £429.
South Craven’s Graham and Mandy Fort, of Brighton House, Whitley Head, Steeton, exhibited the Suffolk champion, a home-bred shearling ram. The Forts have dominated the breed class for many years, winning the title on several occasions. Their 2011 victor sold to David Whiteley, of Brearton, Otley, for the top price of £1,080gns.
The same buyer, purchasing on behalf of the Yorkshire Spring Mineral Water Company, also paid 1,000gns for the reserve champion Suffolk ram lamb from David Towell. Suffolk shearling rams averaged £411 and ram lambs £344.
There was a clean sweep of the Beltex class prizes by three shearling rams from John and Danusza Wood, of Hill Top Farm, Trawden. The red rosette winner sold at 300gns to R Gregory, of Garstang, while the Woods’ second and third prize winners both made 275gns.
The top price Beltex at 800gns was a shearling ram from James and Thomas Whiteford, of Tercrosset, Brampton, Carlisle, which joined S G Entwistle, of Darwen, Lancs. It was among an annual consignment of 30 rams from the Whitefords. Two others each made 700gns when acquired by Angus Dean, of Threshfield, and Tom Jackson, of Goosnargh.
Paul Slater’s Whiteley Hey flock at Macclesfield was responsible for two Beltex-x-Charollais rams each sold at 600gns.
Gary Middleton and Rebecca Lambert with the Skipton first prize Zwartble gimmer lamb.
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The first prize Charollais shearling ram was shown by Robert Tindall, of Wetherby. The home-bred son of Elm Wick G4 also proved best of breed, heading the show prices at 520gns when acquired by R C & S W Beecroft, of Killinghall, Harrogate. Robert Towers, of Farleton, Lancaster, was responsible for the first prize ram lamb. Shearling rams averaged £349.
Horton-in-Ribblesdale breeders won both first prizes in the Zwartbles class. Tracey Sutcliffe, of Holme Farm, repeated her 2010 success when again showing the first prize ram lamb, top performer at 200gns when joining Kath Hewitt, of Giggleswick. Gary Middleton, of Newlands Farm, marked his show debut by sending out the first prize Zwartbles gimmer lamb, a 125gns acquisition by J B Wilde, of Buxton, Derbyshire.
The multi-breed show was again sponsored by Jonathan Guy, of Worcestershire-based JG Animal Health. Also staged the same day was the annual pedigree show and sale for the north-east region of the Hampshire Down Sheep Breeders’ Association.
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