AVERAGES slipped on the year, at Harrison and Hetherington’s show and sale of Swaledale ewes and gimmers at Kirkby Stephen, which attracted an entry of 3525 head.
While more than 40 pens of ewes sold between £150-£600 per head, averages fell by £9.22 per head to level at £126.47 with the gimmer average balancing at £107.75, down £8.96 on 2016 values.
Topping the sale at £660 was the champion pen of 10 ewes from Messrs Hutchinson and Sons, Valley Farm. They were purchased by Messrs Handley, Gunnerfleet, Chapel Le Dale.
Messrs Hutchinson’s consignment of 112 ewes averaged £229.24.
Former Swaledale president, Alan Alderson, Barras, sold the first prize pen of gimmers at £190 per head and the second prize pen of ewes at £230.

LEADING prices:

Ewes – £660, £420, £190, £170 (x2) Valley Farm; £310, £185 Flakebridge Farm; £310 (x2), £150 Long Green; £275, £170 Hoggarths; £260, £210 Buddle House; £230, £190 Barras Farm; £210, £150 Helbeck; £205, £178, £158 Cotegill; £205, £168 New Hall; £202 Uldale Farm; £200 Old Spital Farm; £175 West Stoney Keld; £175, £152 Garnthwaite; £165, £150 The Croft; £160 Pennine View; £155 Greenhow; £155, £154 High Stennerskeugh; £152 Arngill House; £150 Frith Holme.
Gimmers – £190, £160, £142 Barras; £168 Gatehouse Farm; £160, 3148, £130 Hoggarths; £155, £130 The Croft; £154, £140, £138, £135 Thorpe House Farm; £152 Long Green; £138 Oakbank Farm.