Robin Booth, Smearsett, had a field day at Hawes Farmers’ Auction Market’s show and sale of Bluefaced Leicester females, securing both the champion and reserve honours which went on to fetch the top prices of £8000 and £4500 respectively.
The judge, Henry Fairburn, Marriforth, found his champion from the hogg class, which is by R5 Hewgill and out of the best ewe in the flock P19 Smearsett, that goes back to the £13,000 H1 Highberries Hotshot. Adam Lawson, Hundith, finally took this girl home.
The first prize ewe from the same home went on to take the runner-up, carrying triplets to S1 Skelgate. A daughter of G11 Smearsett, Ted, and out of a Highberries-bred ewe by C24 Hewgill. JW Porter and sons, Low Oxnop, gave £4500 for this one.
Robin also sold the top-priced gimmer at £1400 for a daughter of E1 Hewgill. Carrying twins to R6 Smearsett, this one sold to Messrs Bell, Gill Gate.
Following on from their record-breaking sale at Carlisle, the Lord family enjoyed another good sale, taking second prize in the ewe hogg class with S50 Hewgill, which later achieved £2600.
A daughter of the P1 Marriforth, she is out of a ewe by the M39 Hewgill, which has bred well for the Hewgill flock over the years. Buying this one for his 21st birthday was Jackson Twentyman, Great Strickland, for his newly-established Gill Beck flock.
The best from the Riddings pen made £1700 for Geoffrey and William Porter’s fourth prized ewe hogg. This one is by the N2 Skeughdale out of a Jackpot daughter and sold to S Straughan, High Wales Field Farm.
They also took £1600 from RJ Lawrence, Holme Farm, for a Jackpot sired-ewe, carrying twins to N2 Skeughdale.
Geoffrey’s daughter, Marion Porter sold her best ewe at £1400. A daughter of M1 Hewgill, she is carrying twins to her home-bred S3 Skelgate, and sold to JW Porter and sons, Low Oxnop.
Champion and top price from the Swaledale sale, Hawes, came in the form of a gimmer from Robbie Hallam, Horton-in-Ribblesdale. Pre-sale judge Luke Staley, Kaber, watched his champion make £2000 when the hammer fell to J Tully, Eggleston.
Leading Prices
BFL – Hoggs – WA and A Booth £8000; Messrs Lord £2600; WC Porter and Son £1700, £700; J Wight and Sons £700; C and R Metcalfe £600, £550; M Thornborrow £600; R Bland £300.
Ewes – WA and A Booth £4500; WC Porter and Son £1600; M Porter £1400; JA and R Caton £900, £700, £550; J Wight and Sons £700; JC and E Pedley and Sons £550; RJ Hargreaves £400; R and PE Hargreaves £250; R Bland £250, £200.
Gimmers – WA and A Booth £1400; M Thornborrow £1300; J Wight and Sons £1200, £700, £500; JC and N Throup £750; JC and E Pedley and Sons £500; R and PE Hargreaves £450, £350.
Swaledales – Gimmers – RC Hallam £2000, £1400; J and SJ Bland £1400; JR and SL Pratt £250.
Hoggs – J and SJ Bland £1200; NJ Bland £350 (sold for MS Research Charity); RA Sowerby £200.
Ewes – E and K Bland £580, £200; JR and SL Pratt £500.
Averages: Bluefaced Leicesters – Hoggs, £1750; ewes, £942; gimmers, £740. Swaledales – Gimmers, £1262; ewes, £583; hoggs, £426.
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