A SHEARLING ram from Messrs Lord, Hewgill House, not only secured the championship at a show and sale of Bluefaced Leicester rams at Penrith, last week, but also went on to top the entry at £16,500.

With rams meeting a pleasing trade from start to finish – with aged/shearling rams averaged £2603.83 and ram lambs at £504 – it was the K38 Hewgill that led the way. Sired by the G23 Marriforth and out of a home-bred ewe, he sold two ways to A and K Nicholson, Swinside, and JR Ireland and Sons, Stock Howe, as the Hewgill pen levelled at £4271 having also sold to £5000 and £4500.

Hewgill also led the ram lamb entry at £2200.

Also held at Penrith on the same day was the show and sale of 6434 Swaledale, Herdwick and Cheviot females where it was noted that a strong show of ewes and gimmers were of a high standard with the overall average down only £8.50 on the year in what has been a difficult selling season.

It was the first prize pair of Swaledale ewes from Messrs Folder, Wesco, that topped the female entry at £340 while the champion lot, a pen of 10 Swaledale ewes from EJ and RJ Wear, Howe Green, made £300.

Averages included Swaledale gimmers at £78.21 with Herdwick gimmers at £55, Swaledale ewes at £75.07. Herdwick ewes at £50.74 and Cheviot ewes at £81.28.

LEADING awards:

Swaledale females – Pair of ewes – 1, Messrs Folder, Wesco, £340; 2, GL Hutton, Setmabanning, £110; 3, Mounsey, Throstle Hall. Pen of 10 ewe lambs – 1, WD and B Thompson, East Unthank, £90; 2, TW and JR Rebanks, Racy Ghyll Farm, £65. Pen of 10 Swaledale gimmers – 1, Messrs Lightfoot, Gillside, £220; 2, G and A Carrick, Hole House Farm, £120; 3, JB and CJ Little, Pewter Close, £110. Pen of 10 ewes – 1, EJ & RJ Wear, Howe Green, £300; 2, Wesco, £210; 3, Gillside, £280.

LEADING prices:

BFL rams – Shearlings – £16,500, £5000, £4500, £1300, £1000, £800 (x2) West Dowgill (Hewgill). Ram lambs – £2200, £1000 West Dowgill (Hewgill); £1000, £500 Tarn House (Skeughdale); £650, £500 Redgate (Kirkby Redgate); £600 (x2), £480 Bank End Mill (Leavyholme); £600, £400 Hawkswell Farm (Hawkswell); £450, £400 Old Parks (Old Parks). Aged rams – £1800, £700 Hawkswell (Hawkswell); £500 Street House (Street House).

BFL ewe lambs – £350 West Dowgill (Hewgill).

Gimmers – Swale – £220, £135, £100 (x2) Gillside; £120, £100 Hole House Farm (Carrick); £110, £105 Pewter Close; £105 Low Row; £105 Haltcliffe. Herd – £55 Anns Cottage.

Ewes – Swale – £340, £210, £130, £120, £110 Wesco; £300, £160, £150, £125, £110 Howe Green; £280, £155, £145, £125, £120, £115 Gillside; £160, £140 Low Row; £150, £130, £115 (x2), £112 Haltcliffe; £118, £115 Side Farm; £110, £100 Setmabanning; £100 (x2) Dale Head. Herd – £100, £48 Anns Cottage; £95 Shap Abbey; £55 Gillside; £44 Howtown Hotel. Chev – £92, £85 Seathwaite Farm; £90 Chapel Farm (Weir); £85 Dale Head.

Ewe lambs – Swale – £90, £48, £45 East Unthank; £65 Racy Ghyll Farm; £55, £54, £48 (x2), £45 Undercragg; £55 Setmabanning; £52, £46 Hedwynds; £52 Ulcatrow; £50 (x2) Settrah Park; £50 Hollins; £45 High Row Farm. Herd –£55 Baggra Yeat; £52 Hollins Farm; £40 Ulcatrow; £40 Anns Cottage. Chev – £53, £49 Crooklands View.