Both shearling and lamb rams entries were in strong demand with averages rising £50 and £32 respectively at the Bluefaced Leicester show and sale at Borderway Mart, Carlisle on Friday 7th October 2005.

Rossibank Ram Lamb - £4,500

A lamb ram from the Rossiebank flock of Robert Neil, Perthshire secured the leading price of £4,500. This group one lamb, an Ashes bred son and bred from a Wallholme dam, was sold to D & I Hall of West End, Kirkbampton, Carlisle. The batch of 6 Rossiebank lambs sold to average £1,841.66.

Supreme & Female Champion

The day started well with both judges, Mr E Helme of Arkholme, Lancaster and Mr R Raine of Kirkoswald, Penrith, having a tremendous standard of stock forward to the show ring. The days supreme champion was presented to Alison Bastien of the Rowandale flock for a very correct shearling gimmer. The reserve championship ticket went to the male champion, a lamb ram from Messrs Mounsey of the Walton flock.

Both sale rings were packed at all times which resulted in trade being excellent for all types of sheep. A firm commercial trade prevailed with up to 72 stock breeding rams pushing up to the £1,000 barrier and over.

Leading the shearling ram section at £3,800 was an entry from the Carry House flock of RD Archer & Son, Wark, Hexham. A son of Hewgill breeding and out of a Riddings dam, this group two ram sold to Mrs S Sutcliffe of Cragg Hall Farm, Settle.

Reserve Supreme & Male Champion

Next in the shearling ram section at £3,500 was the sole entry from John and Jenni Wharton of the Croft Style flock. Their group one shearling, sired by a Highberries ram and out of a Haining House bred mother, it was knocked down to DE & AM Hodgson of Green Farm, Shap.

Also selling at £3,500 was a lamb ram from the Hewgill flock of Messrs Lord, based at Kirkby Stephen. Sired by their homebred ram and from a homebred dam, this group one lamb sold to joint buyers W & R Lawson of Stubbsgill Farm, Workington and JJ & E Lawson of Kirkland Green, Mealsgate.

In the female section, the first prize ewe from Stephen Crozier of the Watersyke flock secured the top price of £1,200. This ARR/ARR ewe, a daughter of Lochhill E Plus and bred from a Croftstyle sired ewe, she was sold to C Roberts of Caerhun Farm, Conwy.

Close behind at £1,000 was the days supreme and female champion from Alison Bastian of the Rowandale flock based at Auldgirth, Dumfries. Sired by a Nithsdale ram and out of a homebred sired female, this group one gimmer was knocked down to Dai Williams of Llangadog, Dyfed.

Leading flock averages:–

Shearling Rams: Highberries (7) £1,321.43, Nunscleugh (13) £1,200.00, Swathburn (4) £1,125.00, Coombe Crag (10) £865.00, Hargill House (4) £862.50, Todhills (5) £700.00, Gapshield (10) £673.00, Kilnstown (8) £667.50, Firth (4) £537.50, Thirlwall (13) £520.77.

Lamb Rams: Hewgill (6) £2,133.33, Highberries (6) £2,050.00, Rossiebank (6) £1,841.66, Ashcleugh (3) £1,583.33, Nunscleugh (3) £1,566.66, Todhills (5) £1,190.00, Firth (7) £1,104.28, Rowandale (6) £866.66, Weston (3) £860.00, Bellstyle (5) £770.00, Shafthill (9) £746.66, Longmynd (8) £712.50, Kemptview (4) £675.00, Walton (10) £624.00, Watersyke (11) £604.55, Bog Farm (4) £600.00, Middle Dukesfield (7) £514.28.

Leading prices:–

Shearling rams: £3,800, £2,000 Carry House, £3,500 Brenjulin, £3,000 Swathburn, £3,000, £2,500, £2,000 Nunscleugh House, £2,500 East Highberries. Aged rams: £1,000 (x2) Shrewbridge Court, £900 Haggisteon Holm, £800 Glenhowl.

Lamb rams: £4,500, £3,000 Rossiebank, £3,500, £3,000 Low Dowgill, £3,200 High Side (Moore), £3,000 East Highberries, £3,000 Ashfield, £3,000 Lillyburn Farm, £2,800 Fir Tree Farm, £2,800 Cairnhall.

Shearling gimmers: £1,000 Cairnhall, £750 Quarry House Farm, £600 (x2) Mid Todhills. Ewe: £1,200 Raggetsyke, £600 Slade Barn Farm. Ewe lambs: £950 High Side (Moore), £600 Hazelwood Farm.

Averages: 18 aged rams £488.33, 163 shearling rams £641.72, 366 lamb rams £509.52, 27 ewes £232.96, 103 shearling gimmers £239.42, 54 ewe lambs £210.37.