SHOW AND SALE OF REGISTERED BLUEFACED LEICESTER SHEEP
FRIDAY 8th OCTOBER 2004

The 39th annual show and sale of Registered Bluefaced Leicester rams and females took place within Borderway Mart on Friday 8th October with a catalogued entry of 825.

A larger show of sheep on the year were presented to the usual noted gallery of buyers both well established breeders plus ample purchasers looking for good commercial rams thus resulting in vendors being rewarded by the days trade for their fantastic runs of breeding sheep.

The day got off to an early start with the pre-sale judging of rams being undertaken by Mr Robin Bell of Upper Dallarg, Castle Douglas. It has to be said that the show of rams presented to the judge was one of the very best ever seen for some time, with 20 aged rams, 27 shearling rams and an outstanding show of 62 ram lambs shown, surely to be the best quality seen throughout all the breed society market centres.

With Mr Robin Bell’s expertise and stocksmanship he awarded the Male Championship to the ram lamb which had earlier been awarded the 1st prize ticket in what was said to be “an absolutely outstanding class of ram lambs” consigned by A & J Minnis of “Mossvale”, Comber, Newtonards, Co Down, Northern Ireland which was sold later to D Cruickshank of Drumrash Farm, Parton, Castle Douglas and Messrs Adams of Clugston, Kirkcowan, Newton Stewart for £2,000.

The reserve ticket was presented for the second year in succession to the 2nd prize ram lamb from RE & P Wharton “Bellestyle” of Dykesfield Cottage, Burgh By Sands which sold late in the day for £1,200 to Messrs Wardrop, East Coates, Largo, Levens.

Mossvale Champion Ram	Shrewbridge Champion Female

In the adjacent show ring a tremendous show of females were presented to the judge Mr G Porter of the “Riddings” flock. The championship was awarded to a marvellous shearling gimmer consigned by Miss SA Harding of Shrewbridge Court, Baddington, Nantwich, Cheshire which earlier in the year triumphed at the Royal Highland Show. Later in the day when she entered the sale ring the bids came in thick and fast finally finishing at £5,100 and selling to MC Robinson of the “Cocklaw” flock from Northumberland. The whole consignment from Miss Harding met with a wonderful trade averaging well over £700.

The sale also included the dispersal of the “Kensington” flock on behalf of the late Mr M King from Woodlands Farm, Rillington, North Yorkshire. These well established bloodlines attracted both existing and new breeders and as a result the excellent prices realised ensured that the flock averaged over £400.

Topping the ewe lamb trade was a very smart sheep consigned by B & C Moore of Highside, Kellah, Haltwhistle which realised £2,100 selling to Mrs S Sutcliffe of Craig Hill Farm, Horton-In-Ribblesdale.

The top price of the day came for an ARR/ARR ram lamb from C & D Hall’s “Firth” flock, which was sired by last years top priced Bluefaced Leicester of the season V3 Bull & Cave (pictured on the back of the catalogue). This awesome sheep sold for £6,000 and now joins the “Nunscleugh” flock of WH & DA Gass of Nunscleugh, Bewcastle, Carlisle.

Leading Flock Averages (Rams):- Hewgill (4) £2,425; Ashcleugh (1) £2,200; Firth (6) £1,753.33; Shafthill (7) £1,642.86; Mossvale (6) £1,450; Morley (11) £1,363.64; Nunscleugh (12) £1,054.16.

Leading Prices:-

Aged Rams: £1,900 Kensington; £1,800 Middle Dukesfield; £1,350 Morley; £1,100 Scarrowmanwick.

Shearling Rams: £5,000 & £1,600 (x2) Morley; £2,400 & £1,800 Coombe Crag; £2,400 Kilnstown, £2,300, £1,800 & £1,500 (x2) Nunscleugh; £2,200 Thirlwall; £2,000 Gapshield; £1,800 Haining House.

Lamb Rams: £6,000 & £1,900 Firth; £4,000, £1,800 & £1,700 Shafthill; £3,000, £2,500, £2,200 & £2,000 Hewgill; £3,000 Walton; £2,600 & £2,000 Mossvale; £2,200 Bowder; £2,200 Ashcleugh; £2,000 Watersyke; £1,800 Kemptview, Bush On Lyne, Crossdykes and Mossermains; £1,500 Todhills.

Ewes to £1,000 Shrewbridge. Shearling Gimmers: £5,100 & £1,600 Shrewbridge.

Ewe Lambs £2,100 Ashcleugh; £550 & £500 Coombe Crag.

Kensington (Dispersal): £1,100 (x2), £1,050, £1,000 etc.

Sale Averages:-
16 Aged Rams £677.50
166 Shearling Rams £592.05
354 Lamb Rams £477.54
9 Ewes £504.44
46 Shearling Gimmers £510.43
29 Ewe Lambs £339.66
63 “Kensington” Females £430.79

Prize List:-

Aged Rams:
1st (Middle Dukesfield) £1,800; 2nd (Kensington) £1,900 and 3rd (West End) £250.

Shearling Rams:
1st (Firth) £600; 2nd (West End) £500 and 3rd (Firth) £600.

Lamb Rams:
1st (Mossvale) £2,000; 2nd (Bellestyle) £1,200 and 3rd (Watersyke) £2,000.

Ewes:
1st (Kensington) £700; 2nd (Shrewbridge) £650 and 3rd (Shrewbridge) £1,000.

Shearling Gimmers:
1st (Shrewbridge) £5,100; £2nd (Shrewbridge) £1,600 and 3rd (Cloverfields) £420.

Ewe Lambs:
1st (St Ravenscar) £450; 2nd (Kensington) £1,100 and 3rd (Newmills) £220.

2003 sale report>>

<<back