Once again Carlisle went against the flow of other sales, with a strong demand for quality tups, and increased averages in the ram lamb section, which sees the reputation of Carlisle as the breeds premier sale further enhanced, as brisk selling and strong demand saw 745 sheep finding new homes after the days trading, with nearly £360,000 changing hands, with 17 lots breaking the 3000gns mark, selling up to 6000gns for a ram lamb from JT & J James, Todhills.

6,000gns

It was the Todhills flock that was the centre of attention all day at Carlisle, as their run of 600 mule ewe lambs at Longtown where they were champions, and at Carlisle, where they picked up the reserve ticket, drew the attention of breeders. Their shearlings earlier in the sale topped out at 4500gns for a Todhills V10 sired ram, out of an N21 Todhills sired ewe, which goes back to an old Hewgill tup. G Taylor, Swarthburn was the eventual buyer, and helped level the pen of 6 shearlings average out at 1800gns. It was the same breeding behind the days top lot, which after some very brisk bidding saw John Wharton's gavel land at 6000gns, leaving the bidder, Raymond Ayrton a bit shocked at the speed of the bidding, with his first bid in at 1800gns and then his next bid was for 6000gns!

The Ayrtons from the Hawshaw flock, Lancashire , shared their purchase with James Porter from the Riddings flock. Lancashire buyers were out in force in the Todhill pen, with Gordon Rawsthorne, Lunesdale, landing the second lamb, which was the same way bred, for 4500gns, re-investing some of the money he made from the Hawes sale last week. The same breeding again was behind the Todhills number 3 lamb, which again after some brisk bidding fetched 4500gns, selling to another Lancashire breeder, Edward Helme of the Salwick flock, Arkholme. The Todhils pen averaged out at an impressive £2982 for 10 lambs.

It wouldn't be a proper sale at Carlisle if the Lords from Low Dowgill weren't headlining in some way, and once again they didn't disappoint, with another son of the homebred V45 Hewgill, which was the sire to last weeks £10,000 Hawes lamb last week, and out of a M8 Hewgill ewe. Their lamb sold for 5000gns, with Sheila Sutcliffe, Crag Hill being the final bidder. The M8 Hewgill was also behind the breeding of the Lords second lamb, sired by T29 Hewgill and out of an M8, which travelled back down the road to Kirkby Stephen, destination Greenriggs, after Colin and June Dent paid 2400gns for him.

Local breeders, WH & DA Gass, Nunscleugh were in on the action with their shearling rams, which saw a top bid from his pen of 4500gns for a V3 Bull & Cave sired ram, out of a K6 Riddings ewe. HW & MA Alderson, Howgill Grange were the final bidders.

James Porter, Riddings had a great Carlisle debut, averaging £3517.50 for his two lambs, with a top call of 3500gns for one of the last lambs by the noted L36 Riddings Red Tag, selling to A Watkins, Shropshire. Riddings other lamb, also by the Red Tag, which died just before clipping this year as a 9 shear, nearly 10 shear, made 3200gns selling to J Kerr, Craigskean, Castle Douglas.

3200gns was also the top price for Shrewbridge breeder, Sophie Harding, when her number one ram lamb sold in a 3 way split into Nothern Ireland to R Loughbridge, A Christie and S Lavery. The lamb was fourth in the morning’s class, and had some great breeding behind him. He was by the W2 E+ and out of a ewe by the Cocklaw R4 which has been doing so well for the Shrewbridge flock. The dam has won red tickets in her class at the Royal Welsh show, and the grandmother to the lamb was the mother to the Champion lamb they sold at Carlisle some years ago for 4500gns.

Champion Ram Lamb

The champion ram lamb, from a class of 60 or so was judged by Scottish breeder, and society Chairman, Neale McQuistin, Airyolland, who was looking for a sheep with strong, correct confirmation and plenty of power. He awarded the coveted red ticket to John Smith Jackson of the Shafthill flock. The lamb, twin to the lamb John sold for £3100 and Hawes last week, was by the homebred Shafthill S25 and out of a ewe by the P3 Hewgill, sold for 3000gns in a 2 way split with J&S Park, Dalpeddar and H&S Hamilton, Cairn Smiddy, both near Sanquhar, Dumfries.

Supreme Champion

The days supreme champion came from the dispersal sale of Messrs Brough, Bush on Lyne, who saw their 4 shear ewe, which has won numerous prizes around the county take the red white and blue ticket. The ewe was bred by A Barrett, Fellview, and has bred show winners too. She was second into the ring and sold for 250gns to Mr J. E. Hewson Drumcork Thornhill Dumfriesshire.

Topping the gimmer trade was a gimmer shearling from the Ellis Bros, Ilkley Moor. It had a lot of Gordon Rawsthorne breeding behind it, sired by the P5 Lunesdale, which was bought back in last year by Gordon for £7000 as an aged ram, and out of a ewe by the M1 Star Green. It sold for 1400gns to Messrs Hutchinson, Kirkby Redgate.

Show Results
Aged Ram
1st 201 Middle Dukesfield
2nd 281 Dunbrach
3rd 19 Cocklaw
4th 49 Parcelstown

Shearling Ram
1st 247 Riddings
2nd 44 Firth
3rd 228 Carry House
4th 213 Watersyke

Lamb Ram
1st 534 Shafthill
2nd 526 Riddings
3rd 610 Mossvale
4th 452 Shrewbridge

Ewe
1st 904 Bush on Lyne
2nd 1141 Hazelwood
3rd 914 Bush on Lyne
4th 999 Ty Gwyn

Shearling Gimmer
1st 979 Kirtlegrange
2nd 1064 Arkleby
3rd 951 Shrewbridge
4th 1066 Parton

Ewe Lamb
1st 1174 Longmynd
2nd 988 Carry House
3rd 1098 Rosehill
4th 922 Bush on Lyne

Male Champion 534 Shafthill

Female Champion 904 Bush on Lyne

Supreme Champion 904 Bush on Lyne Reserve 534 Shafthill

Leading flock averages
Shearling Rams:
Todhills (6) £1,883
Nunscleugh(15) £1,173
Gapshield (11) £1,073
Airyolland (2) £925
Firth (3) £816
Highberries (10) £760
Carry House (2) £650
Morley (9) £637
Haining House (3) £583
Agars Hill (3) £567
Coombcrag (9) £552
Hesley Well (2) £530
Highside (2) £525
Kilnstown (10) £523.

Lamb Rams:
Riddings (2) £3,350
Todhills (10) £2,840
Longmynd (3) £2,300
Ashcleugh (5) £2,070
Hewgill (6) £1,933
Lunesdale (3) £1,733
Kirkby Redgate (2) £1,600
Ty Gwyn (4) £1,462.50
Shrewbridge (5) £1,410
Shafthill (7) £1,340
Hundith (9) £1,218.89
Bog Farm (2) £1,100
Middle Dukesfield (3) £983.33
Davyshield (2) £950
Highberries (5) £840
Kilnstown (8) £730.

Averages:-
17 Aged Rams £346.47
188 Shearling Rams £528.88
367 Ram Lambs £583.56
37 Ewes £196.76
90 Shearling Ewes £198.83
46 Ewe Lambs £229.79

2005 sale report