LONGTOWN RAM FAIR

The Cumberland & Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart PLC had forward 863 head at their Annual Ram Fair at Longtown on Wednesday 10th October 2012.

The Annual Show & Sale of 684 Texel, Suffolk and Continental Rams and Ram Lambs was held in Longtown on Wednesday with the trade for best quality rams very buoyant and lesser sheep proving harder to cash.

The Show for Texels, kindly sponsored by Trojan 4 x 4, Linstock, was ably judged by Mr S. Pullin, Castlemilk Farms, who awarded the Championship to a Texel shearling ram from first time consignor Mr G. Cakebread, Commonside, Hawick, which realised £620 to Messrs MacGregor, Relief, Lockerbie. The reserve champion went to the 1^st prized ram lamb from last years winners Messrs Tough, Easterseat, Carluke which realised £800 to Mr Errington, Beckhouse.

Prize list:-

Shearling ram:-
1^st Prize and Champion – G. Cakebread, Commonside, £620 to Relief.

2^nd Prize– W.N. Douglas, Catslackburn, £750 to Highlow Hall.

3^rd Prize – D. & D. Aitken, Upper Cleugh, £350 to Beckhall.

Ram lamb:-
1^st Prize and Reserve – J. & M. Tough, Easterseat £800 to Beckhouse.

2^nd Prize – J. & M. Tough, Easterseat £750 to Castlemilk.

3^rd Prize – G. Wilkinson, Arkleby Hall £240 to Tump Farm.

Outwith the show the Texel section was topped at £980 for a shearling ram from Messrs Bell, Kirkton, purchased by Messrs Rennie, Sydenham, Kelso.

Principal prices:-

Shearlings - £980 Kirkton, £880, £800 Crumhaugh Hill, £750 Becks and Catslackburn, £620 Commonside and Catslackburn, £600 Sutton Close and Catslackburn.

Ram lambs - £800, £750 (x2), £500 (x3), £420, £380 Easterseat, £250 Peela Hill, £220 Mossband House and Carran, £200 Sandilands.

Mr Pullin also ably judged the Suffolk Ram Show and awarded the Championship to annual consignors Messrs Martindale, The Lands, Ecclefechan, which realised £500 to Garelaw House. The reserve went to the first prized ram lamb from Messrs Denby, Riddings Hill, Longtown, which realised £380 to an undisclosed buyer.

Prize list:-

Shearling ram:-
1^st Prize and Champion – Messrs Martindale, Land Farm, £500 to Garelaw House.

2^nd Prize– W.N. Douglas, Catslackburn, £480 to Cowcorse.

3^rd Prize – Messrs Hepburn, North House, £400 to Ormiston.

Ram lamb:-
1^st Prize and Reserve – Messrs Denby, Riddings Hill, £380 to undisclosed.

2^nd Prize – Messrs Martindale, Land Farm, £300 to Sceughdyke.

3^rd Prize – Messrs Hewson, Burgh Head, £320 to Slealands.

Outwith the show, shearlings were topped at £550 from Messrs Beattie, Guards Mill, purchased by Mr McGimpsey.

Principal prices:-

Shearlings - £550 Guards Mill, £500 Land Farm, Catslackburn and Guards Mill, £480 Catslackburn, £450, £400 Land Farm, £400 North House.

Ram lambs - £380 Riddings Hill, £360, £350, £320, £300 Land Farm, £300 Burgh Head.

In the Continental and other breed section, the sale was topped at £440 for a Texel x Beltex from Messrs Beard, Dormonsteads, Carlisle, followed at £400 for a Suffolk x Texel from Messrs Runciman, Allanshaws and a Charollais from Messrs Carlile, Fowrass.

Principal prices:-

Shearlings –

Texel x Beltex - £440 Dormonsteads, £400 Allanshaws.

Charollais - £400 Fowrass, £350 Upper Auchenlay, £320, £300 Wester Parkgate, £280 Thackwood.

Charollais x Beltex - £350, £300 (x2) Thackwood.

Suffolk x Texel - £320 Eskdale Street.

Beltex - £300, £260 Tarcoon Cottage.

Dutch Texel - £280 (x2) Kinning Hall.

Bleu d’Maine - £200 Ormiston Lodge.

Rouge - £200 Dinwoodie Green.

Rouge x Texel - £200 Dinwoodie Green.

North Country Cheviot - £200 North Synton.

South Down - £200 North Deanhead.

Hampshire - £150 (x2) Snowden Close.

Ram lambs –

Charollais - £250 Pates Hill, £200 Springfield, Blackhamilton, Pates Hill and Wester Parkgate.

Beltex x Texel - £160, £140 Newton Cottage.

Blue Texel - £250, £240 Millside.

Pure Bred Females realised a top of £270 for a Texel gimmer from C.P. White, Shepherds Cottage, who also sold at £200

Principal prices:-

Gimmers - £270, £200 Shepherds Cottage, £150, £120 (x4) Woodhead.

Ewes lambs - £120, £115 Springfield.

The Annual Show & Sale of non-registered Blue Faced Leicester Rams, Ram Lambs and Females saw 189 head forward.

A good show of crossing rams attracted a huge crowd, trade was very brisk with quality selling extremely well to a top of £1,000 for a shearling from R.W. & M. Carruthers, Pike, Penton, next £950 Peela Hill, £650 Fordlands, £620 Albierigg, £600 Low Struthers.

Ram lambs to £320 Low Struthers, £300 Springwell.

Aged rams to £250 Brenjulin.

Ewe lambs to £160 Peela Hill.

At the show prior to the sale, judging was in the capable hands of Harry Gass, Nunscleugh, Bewcastle who did the job expertly, he awarded the G.E. Carter Silver Challenge Trophy for the Champion Leicester to a shearling ram from Messrs B.D. & M.S. Hope, Albierigg, Canonbie, 2^nd prize was Messrs A. Murray & Sons, Sewing Shields, Haydon Bridge.

The Robert Telford Memorial Trophy for the best ram lamb went to Mr I. Thomason, Lodge, Biggar, 2^nd prize was Messrs Hewson, Burgh Head, Burgh by Sands.