Longtown Store & Breeding Sheep Sale Reports

At Longtown on Tuesday, C & D Auction Marts Ltd. conducted the fourth annual show and sale of select breeding females for the Cheviot Sheep Society on Tuesday 18th February 2025.

There was a large ringside of bidders and breed enthusiasts which, combined with on-line interest, ensured an excellent sale.

Ewes averaged £964 (£845 in 2024), gimmers averaged £960 (£868 in 2024) and a single geld hogg made £368 (£336 last year).

The show was  judged by Mr Ewen MacMillan of Lurg, Fintry who selected as champion a two crop ewe from T. Elliot, Hindhope, Jedburgh and backed his judgment by purchasing her at 2,000gns. Sired by Mainside Arthur, she was interbreed champion at the Holm Show in 2022  and sold in-lamb to the £14,000 Skelfhill Unique.

The reserve champion, a four crop ewe from R.H. Paton, Castle Crawford was sired by Mainside Yorkie and sold in-lamb to Skelfhill Utopia for 1,500gns, again to Ewen MacMillan. Castle Crawford topped the gimmer section at 1,900gns for a 1st prize Castle Highlander daughter which went, in-lamb to Glenochar Riot, to Messrs Bridgewater & Wood, Potholm, Langholm.  Bridgewater & Wood also took a Becks sired three crop ewe from W.J.C. & S.J. Weir, Mainside Farm, Hownam at 1,600gns.

Hindhope had a 1,300gns sale for a two crop ewe to A. A. Roskell & Partners, Laverhay and the Hindhope pen of four averaged £1,417.  I. H. G. Warden , Skelfhill also sold at 1,300gns, for a shearling which went to Jack Graham, Birsca, Corrie.

Other ewes sold to 1,200gns Sundhope; 1,100gns Hindhope; 1,100gns Hislop; 1,000gns Hindhope & 900gns Upper Hindhope. Other gimmers to 1,100gns & 1,000gns Castle Crawford & 950gns Upper Hindhope.