WORTHY WINNER: The overall champion on the third and final day of the SSBA C District annual ram sale shown by Messrs Sowerby and which sold for £55,000
WORTHY WINNER: The overall champion on the third and final day of the SSBA C District annual ram sale shown by Messrs Sowerby and which sold for £55,000

ON the third and final day of the annual Swaledale Sheep Breeders’ Association C District ram sale at Kirkby Stephen Auction Mart, £55,000 was paid for the overall champion, from Messrs Sowerby, Oakbank, Barras, Kirkby Stephen.

It was sold to DP&RC Hallam, Arnfield Farm, Tintwistle, Glossop and W Richardson & Son, Ghyll House, Dufton, Appleby.

In all, 468 shearling rams were on offer.

The overall reserve champion was shown by to Messrs J Nelson & Son, Bull & Cave Farm, Clapham, Lancaster, and sold for £18,000 to Messrs CR Raine & Sons, Stanhope Gate Farm, Middleton-In-Teesdale.

The consignment of nine rams from Bull & Cave sold first through the ring to average £13,994.44, while 326 rams sold to average £2,180.86 (-£725.02 on the year), with an 83 per cent clearance rate being achieved.

A two-day Shearling average of £1,780.99 for 646 rams sold was achieved (-£523.23 on the year).

The day’s trade once again saw strong quality rams selling to strong levels and were in demand to the end of the sale.

Results

Class 1 shearling ram: 1, No 762 PE&KA Sowerby, Oak Bank - £55,000 to DP&RC Hallam & W Richardson & Sons; 2, No 741 J Nelson & Son, Bull & Cave - £18,000 to CR Raine & Sons; 3, No 957 RS Harker & Son, Grayrigg - £10,000 to Br Lawson & Son.

Special prize for the best shearling ram in C District: No 762 PE&KA Sowerby, Oak Bank.

Class 2 shearling ram (small breeders): 1, No 1175 TW Hutchinson, Bail Hill - £18,000 to TW Hutchinson, S&A Bland, D&CE Marston & DC&KL Hutchinson; 2, No 1070 MGA Emmott, Wythop Hall - £6,000 to WH&M Hutchinson; 3, No 1032 A Dixon, Hartley Castle - £2,500 to JC&J White.

Special prize for best shearling ram (small breeders) in C District: No 1070 MGA Emmott, Wythop Hall - £6,000 to WH&M Hutchinson.

Best ram shown by a C District member: 1, No 762 PE&KA Sowerby, Oak Bank - £55,000 to DP&RC Hallam & W Richardson & Sons; 2, No 741 J Nelson & Son, Bull & Cave - £18,000 to CR Raine & Sons.

Best ram (small breeders): 1, No 1175TW Hutchinson, Bail Hill - TW Hutchinson, S&A Bland, D&CE Marston & DC&KL Hutchinson.

Best two shearling rams: 1, Nos 1042, 1043 M&MA Ridley, Haltcliffe Farm.

Champion ram: No 762 PE&KA Sowerby, Oak Bank.

Reserve champion: No 741 J Nelson & Son, Bull & Cave.

Leading prices

£55,000, £7,000 Oakbank; £38,000, £22,000, £20,000, £18,000 (2), £6,000, £2,000 Bull & Cave Farm; £26,000, £9,000, £4,500, £3,000, £2,800 Haltcliffe; £21,000 Low Whita Farm; £18,000 Bail Hill; £14,000 Bridge End; £14,000, £4,500, £2,500, £2,000 Catlow Farm; £12,000 Ash Dub; £10,000 (2), £4,500, £2,500, £2,200 Grayrigg Hall; £9,000, £7,500, £4,500, £3,200 (2), £3,000, £2,000 Gillside Farm; £9,000, £2,200 High Stennerskeugh; £8,000, £4,500, £4,000, £2,000 Valley Farm; £8,000, £4,200, £3,000 (2) South Wellhope; £7,000, £3,500 Overthwaite; £6,500, £2,200 Low Oxnop Farm; £6,200 Whicham Hall Farm; £6,000 Wythop Hall Farm; £5,500 Ellerbeck; £5,000, £4,000 (2), £3,000, £2,500, £2,000 Tennant Gill Farm; £5,000 (2) Murton Hall; £5,000, £3,000, £2,000 Frith Holme; £5,000 Kisdon; £4,500 Sanders Close; £4,500, £4,200, £4,000, £3,200, £2,200 Stanhope Gate Farm; £4,500 East House; £4,500 Hoggarths; £4,200 Easegill Head; £4,000 Ash Dub (RC Bainbridge); £4,000, £2,800 Setmabanning; £3,500, £2,000 Gill Gate; £3,500 High Blackton Farm; £3,200, £3,000 Lummas House; £3,200 Thwaite Bridge; £3,000 High Birk Hatt; £2,800 Knowle Bank; £2,500, £2,000 Bleathgill (S Buckle); £2,500, £2,400 Hartley Castle; £2,500, £2,000 Billing Shield Farm; £2,500 Hartley Castle (A Dixon); £2,200 Summer Lodge; £2,200 Stockdale Farm; £2,200, £2,000 Arngill House; £2,000 (2) Round Meadows Farm; £2,000 Barras Farm.

Twenty-four hours earlier, at the second day of the sale 481 shearlings rams were on offer.

The sale topped at £25,000 for the best ram shown by a ‘C’ District member which was consigned by Thomas Brogden, Helbeck, Brough, Kirkby Stephen, and sold to Messrs Harker, Murton Hall, Murton, Appleby-In-Westmorland.

The overall championship was taken by Messrs Ewbank, Intake Farm, Middlesmoor, Harrogate, which went on to sell for £10,000 to Messrs Alderson, Barras Farm, Barras, Kirkby Stephen.

The overall reserve championship was given to Messrs Tully & Hutchinson which went on to make £8,000 selling to Messrs Richardson, Big Fernyford Farm, Reapsmoor, Derbyshire.

In the sale, 320 rams averaged £1,373.63 (-£346.03 on the year).

A clearance rate of more than 80 per cent was achieved, which matched last years sale.

The theme of the day was how strong powerful quality rams sold at a premium.

Results

Class 1 shearling ram: 1, No 691 MR Ewbank, Intake Farm - £10,000 to JA Alderson; 2, No 674 T Brogden, Helbeck - £25,000 to GE Harker; 3, No 722 W Richardson & Son, Ghyll House - £10,000 to MR Ewbank & P Ewbank.

Special prize for best shearling ram in C District: 1, No 674 T Brogden.

Class 2 shearling ram (small breeders): 1, No 331 S Tully & R Hutchinson - £8,000 to N Richardson; 2, No 614 MJ&SA Sunter, Nova Farm - £15,000 to EJ&RJ Wear; 3, No 453 G Dargue, Well House - £800 to WC Porter.

Special prize for best shearling ram (small breeders) in C District: 1, No 453G Dargue, Well House - £800 to WC Porter.

Best ram shown by a C district member: No 674 T Brogden, Helbeck

Best ram (small breeders): No 331 S Tully & R Hutchinson.

Best two shearlings: 1, No 722 & 731 W Richardson & Son, Ghyll House.

Champion ram: No 691 MR Ewbank, Intake Farm.

Reserve champion: No 331S Tully & R Hutchinson.

Leading prices:

£25,000 Helbeck Farm (T Brogden); £16,000, £5,000, £2,800 Arnfield Farm; £16,000, £8,000, £3,000, £2,500 West Briscoe; £15,000 Nova Farm; £12,000, £2,000 Hareden Hall Farm; £10,000, £2,200, £2,000 Ghyll House; £10,000 Intake Farm; £8,500, £5,000, £4,500, £2,000 Howe Green; £8000 S Tully & R Hutchinson; £7,500, £4,000, £3,500, £2,000 New Hall; £7,000, £3,000 (2), £2,200 Rigg Farm; £6,000, £5,500, £5,000, £3,500, £2,200, £2,000 Meadow Bank; £5,500, £2,200 Shepherds Lodge; £5,000, £2,000 Old Spital Farm; £4,500, £3,000, £2,000 Helbeck Farm; £4,000 West Stoney Keld; £4,000 Ravenseat; £4,000, £2,500 West Stonesdale; £3,500 Lanehead Farm; £3,500, £2,000 Garnthwaite; £3,400 High Lane; £3,100, £2,000 Buddle House; £3,000 Punchard House; £2,800 Naby View Farm; £2,600 Wythes Hill; £2,500, £2,000 Stoneriggs; £2,200 Red House Farm; £2,200 Bell Farm; £2,200 Argill House; £2,000 Wescoe; £2,000 (2) Redgate; £2,000 East Unthank Farm; £2,000 Field Head.