The atmosphere was electric at Carlisle on Thursday 25th September when 6000 Lleyns went under the hammer for the breeds premier annual show and sale. "There was a far better show of sheep forward today with no fewer than 45 rams breaking the 1000gns mark and a new breed record of 9000gns" said auctioneer David Dickinson.

The sale topper was a powerful, showy ARR/ARR ram from John Morton, Bank Hall, Penrith. A288/737, John’s favourite from a pen of 12 which averaged 1727gns, was bid to 9000gns setting a new breed record and was purchased by renowned Lleyn breeders D N Bennett & Son, Tyn-y- Coed, Meifod, Powys. The Bennett family who have a long-established flock also purchased the highest price pen of 5 ewe lambs at £200 from D Alexander, Millside, Galston.

Breed Record: The 9,000gns sale topper from John Morton, Bank Hall which made the highest price yet for a Lleyn.

The Barclays Bank Male Championship was presented to John Geldard, Low Foulshaw Farm, Kendal. His stylish group one genotyped shearling ram realised 4500gns and was knocked down to Rob Wilson, Scales Farm, Penrith. Another from this pen went to well known Texel breeder, Brian Joseph, Waen Farm, Shropshire at 3200gns.

It proved a cracking day for proven stock rams with Dai Morris, Yr Ostrey, Carmarthen selling X 51/ 306 a three shear ram, sire of the 2nd top priced ewe lambs of the day at £150 and this years Royal Welsh Male Champion, for 5000gns to Lord Rosebury Estates, Dalmeny, South Queensferry, Edinburgh as the foundation of a new stud flock. Dai Morris later went on to pay 4800gns for a ARR/ARR two shear ram from Charles Sackville Hamilton, Thrussendale Farm, Malton, N. Yorks. Another two-shear from this pen was knocked down at 2800gns to James Goldie, Townfoot, Dumfries, who was spending out after a good day of sales collecting £200 for a pen of 5 gimmers, also heading for Dalmeny Estates, and selling all 3 joint top priced ram lambs at 800gns.

Keeping the money North of the Border, Farmstock Genetics, Over Whitlaw, Selkirk, paid 4500gns for the best of David Alexander’s pen which averaged 2063gns for 4 rams sold, the top average of the day. Making a worthwhile journey across the water, John Johnstone, Novara, Antrim, Northern Ireland sold his Group 1 shearling ram for 3700gns to Cumbria breeder John Stott. Mr Johnstone also took the female championship with his pen of 5 shearling gimmers which later realised £195 to Mr Griffiths, High House, Hay on Wye. Mr Griffiths was another breeder establishing a new pedigree flock and later bought the top priced females of the day, the 2nd prize pen of 5 typey gimmers from Neil and Debbie McGowan, Incheoch, Perthshire.

Averages: (in brackets 2002 prices).
13 aged rams 1622.65gns (£568.75)
144 Shearling rams 878.68gns (£817.54)
10 Ram lambs 421.05gns (£552.30)
72 five year old ewes £61.42 (£46.67)
59 four year old ewes £74.44 (£98.33)
187 three year olds £93.68 (£90.93)
174 two year old £122.57 (£89.61)
1925 shearlings £107.13 (£99.11)
2226 ewe lambs £69.70 (£53.78)

2002 sale report

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