| 2013-10-07 |    |
Akrigg Champions the Swaledale Females
Nigh on 5,000 head of Swaledale draft ewes and gimmer shearlings were on parade for their annual sale at CCM Skipton. (Sat, Oct 5)
Although the overall selling average of £91.97 per head was down
£24.99 on last
year’s corresponding fixture, trade was better than
expected, with prices not as far back as was feared prior to sale,
yet still offering buyers sheep at better value for money than
recent years.
Pictured with the Skipton Swaledale gimmer shearling champions are, from left, co-judge Jeff Throup, exhibitors Chris and William Akrigg, and co-judge Martin Throup
The day’s top price of £250 per head was achieved by a shearling pen consigned by Carol Mellin, of Oakworth, her charges acquired by W Harrison & Son, of Weston, Otley.
In the show classes, the first prize pen of ten gimmer shearlings from Chris Akrigg, of Manor Farm. Cray, progessed to land championship honours, courtesy of co-judges Jeff and Martin Throup, of Silsden Moor. They went under the hammer for £235 per head when joining J Palmer & Son, of Twiston, Clitheroe.
Bordley’s Roy Nelson presented the first prize and reserve champion pen of ten ewes, which headed the class prices at £220 each when finding a new home with Matthew Critchlow, of Buxton, a regular buyer at the fixture.
John and Jean Bradley, of Giggleswick, achieved £200 per head with their third prize pen of ewes, bought by Sam Booker, of Cowling, while the second prize pen from the Walker farming family in Burnsall made £168 each on joining Ken and Lynne Throup, of Silsden.
The second prize pen of gimmer shearlings from Saddle End Farms, Chipping, sold for £160 each to Cowling’s Andrew Ogden, with the third prize winners from last year’s shearling class victor, Derbyshire’s Neil Richardson, of Longnor, Buxton, falling for £170 per head and returning to their place of origin when joining J Belfield, also from Longnor. The same buyer also paid £212 per head for a pen from Alan Alderson, of Barras, Kirkby Stephen.
Swaledale ewes sold to an overall average of £85.61 per head (-£25.84 on 2012), while shearlings averaged £108.72 (-£21.03).
The show was sponsored by Windle Beech Winthrop Surveyors and JACS Trade & DIY Warehouse.
