Longtown Store & Breeding Sheep Sale Report
C&D Auction Marts Ltd held their annual Border Ewe Sale at Longtown on Wednesday 29th September 2021, where there was a catalogued entry of 10,669.
Buyers were present from all four corners of the UK for this annual sale, with many buyers commenting on the quality of stock forward and trade comparable to last year’s bonanza.
North Country Cheviot ewes sold to £200 from GA Oliver, Elsdonburn, Wooler, others to £185 Garth Farm, £175 Hilltop Farm & Hownam Grange. Gimmers sold to £280 & £250 from WD Allen, Humbleheugh, Alnwick. Ewe lambs sold to £310 from G Davies & Partners, North Synton, Ashkirk, others to £175 from North Synton & Humbleheugh.
A top-quality entry of South Country Cheviots, which is always associated with this annual sale. Buyers were present from all over the UK, trade was extreme throughout with most consignments over £20 up on the year. A dispersal from Messrs Douglas, Carlenrigg, Teviothead sold to a top of £130. Draught ewes selling to a top of £360 for five outstanding Cheviots from B Cockburn, Stirkfield, Lanarkshire, others to £208 & £190 Castle Crawford. Gimmers sold to a top of £245 from M Little, Douglas Terrace, Langholm, others to £210 Mount Benger, £205 Douglas Terrace. Ewe lambs sold to £200 from T Aitchison, North Shortcleugh, Elvanfoot, others to £165 Auldtoon Cottage, £150 North Shortcleugh.
A majorly increased entry of over 3,900 Blackface ewes, shearlings and ewe lambs were forward to a much-increased ring of purchasers ensuring all vendors were delighted with their days trading at Longtown with purchasers looking for strong ewes, with plenty of breed character and good skins. Most consignments of draft ewes would be £10-£20 up on the year, with gimmers taking the biggest jump, seeing the best quality lots being £30-£60 up on the year.
Ewes to £138 from Firm of James Tullie, Bowanhill, Teviothead, others to £112 RDS Forestry, £108 Corehead. Gimmers to £265, £220, £215 from Wanwood Partners, Wanwood Hill, Alston, others to £210 Horseholme. Ewe lambs to £135 from Wanwood Partners, Wanwood Hill, Alston, others to £120 Allensgreen, £115 Prospect House & Wanwood Hill.
Included in the sale was the show for North of England type Blackfaces on behalf of the North of England Blackface Sheep Breeders Association. Results are as follows;
Class One - Shearlings
1st - Wanwood Partners, Wanwood Hill - £265
2nd - Wanwood Partners, Wanwood Hill - £220
3rd - A Murray & Sons, Sewing Shields - £170
Judged by Mr M. Ridley, Shitlington Hall
Class Two – Ewes
1st - Firm of James Tullie, Bowanhill - £138
2nd - Riskinhope Trust, Riskinhope - £100
3rd - Dalgleish & Waugh, The Crew - £88
Judged by Mr A. Murray, Stell Green
A good entry of 888 Swaledales were a much-improved entry on the year. Good sheep met a strong enquiry from a good ring of buyers. Joint top price of £160 for a pen of gimmers from WJ Smith, Fieldhead, Roadhead and from W & JK & MA Ridley, Patties Hill, Roweltown, others to £150 and £145 Patties Hill, £140 Field Head, £130 Dumblar Rigg. Ewes sold to £110 and £110 from R Fraser, Sunnyside, Penton.
Averages
NCC
Ewes - £116.87
NCC Gimmers - £161.13
NCC Ewe Lambs - £112.12
SCC
Ewes - £120.15
SCC Gimmers - £136.07
SCC Ewe Lambs - £83.90
Blackface
Ewes - £77.47.
Blackface Gimmers - £152.51
Blackface Ewe Lambs - £80.11
Swaledale
Ewes - £76.13
Swaledale Gimmers - £125.93
TOP PRICES
Ewes:
South Country Cheviot £360 Stirkfield, £208, £190 Castle Crawford, £185 Stirkfield, £170 Catslackburn, £168 Stirkfield, £165 Castle Crawford, £160 Catslackburn, £158 Skelfhill, £150 Stirkfield, £148 Skelfhill, £145 Catslackburn, £142 Skelfhill, £140 Chanlockfoot & Crossdykes, £135 Cossarhill & Drycleuchlea.
North Country Cheviot £200 Elsdonburn, £185 Garth, £175 Hilltop & Hownam Grange, £160 Garth, £155 Side, £150 Springfield Farm Court, £145 Elsdonburn, £145 Side, £140 West Blackbyre & Springfield Farm Court, £138 Burn, £135 Elsdonburn & Archbank & Marwhirn & Kirkhaugh.
Blackface £138 Bowanhill, £112 RDS Forestry, £108 Corehead, £104 RDS Forestry, £102 Sorbie, £100 Brewery House Barn & Corehead & Riskinhope, £98 BB Timber, £96 RDS Forestry, £95 Glen House.
Swaledale £110, £100 Sunnyside, £92 Low Closegill, £90 Brewery House Barn.
Gimmers:
North Country Cheviot £280, £250 Humbleheugh, £235 Longburgh Fauld & Kinaldy, £230 Kelsocleugh, £225 Kirkhaugh & Garth, £220 Brockhouse & West Blackbyre, £218 Larkhall, £215 Skelfhill.
Blackface £265, £220, £215 Wanwood Hill, £210 Horseholme, £195 High Barmore, £192 Stell Green, £190 High Barmore & Toft House.
South Country Cheviot £145 Douglas Terrace, £210 Mount Benger, £205 Douglas Terrace, £185 The Burrows, £180, £170 Stirkfield, £150 Meadowfoot Park, £140 Mount Benge & Glendinning, £135 Glendinning & Chanlockfoot.
Swaledale £160, £140 Fieldhead, £160, £150, £145, £140 Patties Hill.
Ewe lambs:
North Country Cheviot £310 North Synton, £175 Humbleheugh & North Synton, £165 Brockhouse, £150 Hilltop, £145 North Synton, £140 Elsdonburn, £138 Kirkton & Humbleheugh & Kirkton, £135 Larkhall.
South Country Cheviot £200 North Shortcleugh, £165 Auldtoon Cottage, £150 North Shortcleugh, £135 Skelfhill, £115 The Burrows
Blackface £135, Wanwood Hill, £120 Allensgreen, £115 Wanwood Hill & Prospect House, £108 Prospect House, £110 RDS Forestry, £110 Yatesfield.
LONGTOWN RAMS
N.C. CHEVIOTS TO £1,800 BLUEFACED LEICESTERS TO £2,400
The North Country Cheviot Sheep Society Sale of Park and Hill rams at Longtown on Wednesday 29th September saw strong demand and a level trade for a good entry with 127 registered sheep sold to average £424, up £76 on the year.
Lot 51 NCC Shearling Ram sold for £1800 from S Davies, North Synton
Topping the sale at £1,800 was Scott Davies, North Synton, Ashkirk, with a shearling by Philiphaugh Wrangler, purchased by Simpson Farms, Woodcroft, Hope Valley. Mr Davies had another at £1,200 which went to Kedzlie Farms, Blainslie.
At £1,700, J. Runciman & Sons, Allanshaws sold Allanshaws Bigben by Sebay Xcitable to Keith Stones, Nuncote Nook Farm, Richmond and Peter Hedley, Swinside Townfoot sold one from his Overacres flock at £1,200 to J.G. & S. Thompson, Staindrop with another at £1,050 to Wynholm Farms. Others sold to £920 from Robbie McCormack, Croftheads and £700 from Messrs Matthewson, Soutra; £680 & £650 from Kinaldy and £620, Edenhall.
15 unregistered Cheviot Rams went to £700 for a black Lairg-bred shearling from Potholm, Langholm which went to the Isle of Islay.
Leading N.C. Cheviot Averages Top Avg
North Synton 1,800 748
Croftheads 920 650
Allanshaws 1,700 575
Soutra 700 538
Overacres 1,200 526
Kelsocleugh 520 510
Edenhall 620 490
Kinaldy 680 479
Gillesbie 500 465
Portmore 520 435
Nuncote Nook 550 433
The annual sale of traditionally bred “true-blue” Bluefaced Leicesters saw a quality entry and a great ringside of buyers ensuring a flying trade throughout.
88 Bluefaced Leicesters of all ages sold to average £614 with the 75 shearlings levelling at £623, up £197 on the year.
Lot 204 BFL Shearling Ram sold for £2400 from R A McClymont and Son Kirkstead
Messrs McClymont, Kirkstead, Yarrow took the honours with a centre record sale for a true blue Leicester shearling at £2,400 to Raymond Baynes, Croy, Inverness. Other Kirkstead shearlings took £1,700 to Adam Carr, Burton Meadow, Lancaster and £1,500 to J.S. Gibson, Thornton Tower, Northumberland.
Second top Bluefaced Leicester sale was the £1,800 paid to Hindmarsh Partners, Warkshaugh, Wark, Northumberland by I.H.G. Warden, Skelfhill, Hawick. Others sold to £1,050 from K.E. Hayton, Ghyll Brae, Hethersgill, Carlisle and £1,000 twice from M. & N. Gray, Low Espley, Morpeth, with another from Kirkstead also at £1,000.
Other leading prices: Low Espley £950, £900, £850 & £800; Warkshaugh £850 (twice) & £705; Burgh Head £820 & £750; Raggetsyke £800; Philiphaugh £800 & Springfield £700 (twice). Leading averages: Kirkstead £1,650; Low Espley £930 & Warkshaugh £852.
