Longtown Ram Fair Report

C & D Auction Marts Limited had forward 893 head at their Annual Ram Fair at Longtown on Wednesday 5th October 2016.

The sale of 167 Suffolks, 80 Charollais & Charollais x, 131 Beltex & Crossbred and 320 Texels saw a packed ringside of both local and distant buyers all keen for sheep of the best quality, with one of the finest show of commercial rams in the country on offer, a credit to vendors, customers were not disappointed, with all vendors going home delighted, with six rams in the four figure bracket. Also included today was the Annual Shows for both Texels and Suffolks, kindly sponsored by Trojan 4x4.

The sale was topped at £1,700 for a Texel shearling from regular sale topper Mr Bell, Kirkton, Hawick, purchased by Messrs T Cowan, The Ash, Roadhead. Mr Bell also topped the lamb section at £900 to Messrs Hamilton, Earlside, Hawick. Kirkton shearlings averaged £1,036 and lambs averaged £546.

The Texel and Suffolk judging was ably carried out by Mr Neil Sandilands of Wester Ulston Sheep, who awarded the Championship for Texels to Messrs Tough, Easterseat, Carluke selling to the judge at £600. The Reserve went to the shearling from Mr Darling, Riddle Cottage, selling at £580 to R Lewis, Llangollen.

Prize list:-

Shearling ram:-

1^st Prize & Reserve – R B Darling, Riddle Cottage, £580 to RE & SM Lewis, Wales.

2^nd Prize– J Robertson, Becks, £520 to Messrs W Halliday & Son, Capelfoot.

3^rd Prize – A & HC Smith, Crumhaughhill, £780 to Messrs Nicholson, Bombie.

Ram lamb:-

1^st Prize & Champion – J & M Tough, Easterseat, £600 to Wester Ulston Sheep.

2^nd Prize – J Runciman & Son, Allanshaws, £280 to Parkhouse Farmers.

3^rd Prize – Proctors Farm Ltd, £350 to Messrs JE Brockbank & Son, Westward Park.

Leading averages:                             No.                  Top                 Average

Renwick, Craig Douglas                      6                    £1,000             £880

Smith, Crumhaughhill                         4                    £1,050             £762

Bell, Kirkton                                        14                   £1,700             £690

Cakebread, Commonside                  9                      £880                £601

Tough, Easterseat                               5                      £720                £546

Barr, Parkhouse                                  6                      £700                £536

Proctors Farms                                   5                      £780                £510

Robertson, Becks                                7                      £750                £505

Aitken, Upper Cleugh                        3                      £650                £500

Elliott, Duke Street                             6                      £600                £481

Principal prices:-

Shearlings - £1,700, £1,150, £1,100 Kirkton, £1,050 Crumhaughhill, £1,000 Kirkton, £1,000, £920 (x3), £900 Craig Douglas, £850, £800 Commonside, £780 Proctors & Crumhaughhill, £750 Becks, £720 Kirkton, £700 Commonside, Crumhaughhill & Parkhouse, £680 Commonside.

Ram lambs - £900 Kirkton, £720, £600 Easterseat, £550, £500 Kirkton, £480 (x2), £450 Easterseat, £450, £400 Kirkton.

In the Suffolk section the Championship was awarded to regular consignor Messrs Bell, Kinning Hall, which realised £750 to Messrs Holes, Demense, Bewcastle. The Reserve went to the ram lamb from M Sisson, Fenton, which sold for £380 to Messrs Walton, Darlington.

Prize list:-

Shearling ram:-

1^st Prize & Champion – WJ & JG Bell, Kinning Hall, £750 to AF & LA Holes, Demense.

2^nd Prize– WJ & JG Bell, Kinning Hall, £680 to R Peart, Weeds Farm.

3^rd Prize – Messrs Douglas, Catslackburn, £380 to R & T Dun, Gilston.

Ram lamb:-

1^st Prize & Reserve – Messrs Sisson, Fenton Farm, £380 to JR Walton, Hardstone.

2^nd Prize – Messrs Hewson, Burgh Head, £300 to JR Walton, Hardstone.

3^rd Prize – A & J Riley, Whinney Brow, £250 to JR Walton, Hardstone.

Leading averages:                             No.                  Top                 Average

Bell, Kinning Hall                               5                      £750                £546

Retson, Maidencots                            2                      £500                £450

Martindale, Lands                               5                      £520                £420

Beattie, Guardsmill                             4                      £450                £410

Sandiland, Rue Castle Cottage          5                      £520                £390

Principal prices:-

Shearlings - £750, £680, £600 Kinning Hall, £520 Rue Castle Cottage, £500 Maidencots, Langshaw & Lands, £450, £420 Guardsmill & Rue Castle Cottage, £400 Maidencots & Kinning Hall.

Ram lambs - £500 Lands, £380 Fenton, £350, £320 Lands, £300 Burgh Head.

The Charollais section met a mixed trade, with only the best end easily sold.

Principal prices:-

Charollais Cross Shearlings - £420 Carnavel, £380, £350, £320 Lesson Hall

Charollais Shearlings - £380 Thackwood, £280 Upper Auchenlay & Inverae, £250 (x3) Upper Auchenlay.

Charollais Ram lambs - £300 Springfield.

The Beltex and Crossbred section saw an animated trade with the best on offer meeting extreme rates and short of requirements.

Principal prices:-

Beltex Shearlings - £800 Waterside, £780 Flex, £600, £550 Rue Castle Cottage, £520 Sorbie, £480 Rue Castle Cottage, £450 Sorbie & Rue Castle Cottage, £420 Inamay & Waterside, £400 Inamay & Sorbie.

Beltex x Texel Shearlings - £650 Parknook, £480 Whitstonehill, £450 Uppercleuch, £420 Dormansteads, £400 Waterside, £380 Corstane, Whitstonehill & Dormansteads.

Suffolk x Texel Shearlings - £400 Allanshaws, £300 Romanvale.

Texel x Blueface Leicester Shearlings - £500, £450 Four o Boot, £380 Temon.

Suffolk x Beltex Shearlings - £350, £320 Flex.

Blue Texel Ram Lamb - £280, £250 Millside.

Beltex x Texel Ram Lamb - £240 Waterside.

C&D Auction Marts Ltd held their Annual Show and Sale of Blue Faced Leicester Rams, Ram Lambs and Females, where there was an entry of 195. The judging was in the very capable hands of long time Leicester breeder, Raymond Marston, Scaleby, Carlisle, who awarded for the Overall Champion to a registered crossing ram lamb consigned by Messrs IC & JP Copeland, Bailey Mill, who received the G.E. Carter Silver Challenge Trophy and the Robert Telford Memorial Trophy. This lamb went on to create a centre record under the new company of £2,000, and was eventually knocked down to a consortium of three, Messrs JW Smith-Jackson, Hightown, Haltwhistle, J Browell & Sons, Quarry House, Hexham and Messrs Shennan, Farden, Girvan.

The Reserve Champion was a big strong shearling ram from Messrs BD & MS Hope, Albierigg, Canonbie, which realised £800 to Messrs Forster, The Nook, Penton, Carlisle.

Other awards were

Shearling Ram –

2^nd - I & G Aitchison, The Side and sold at £400 to K McGimpsey, Harelawhill Cottage.

Ram Lamb –

2^nd – RW & M Carruthers, Hillbrae and sold at £250 to Mr TJC Bradbury, Satchells.

Trade was strong in all classes, with the very best selling at a premium. Buyers were present from far and wide, all keen for the best stock on offer.

Principal prices:-

Shearlings - £580, £560, £550 (x2), £500 (x2) Parkhill, £500 Shielsknowe, £440 Borthwickshiels, £420 Shielsknowe, £410 Fordland & Terrona, £400 Parkhill.

Ram lambs - £700 Bailey Mill.

Top averages for shearlings was £520 Albierigg (3) and Anderson, Parkhill (7). Ram lamb averages for Bailey Mill £593 (6), who also sold another at £700. Two shear rams to £320 Burgh Head. Ewes to £100 Tecket and ewe lambs to £130 from Wynholm.

Other native breeds of rams sold very well for the best, with North Cheviots to £280 from Gospel Hall. Border Leicester to £190 Kingfisher Farm and Lleyns to £300 from Sharplaw.