Recently in Bluefaced Leicesters Category

The female championship title has been awarded to Charles Lowther and his May 2010 born heifer Lowther Capri. This one is by LS Arctic and out of LS Capri and has a SRI and TSI of +12.

Another sizzling sale for Blue faced Leicester breeders at Carlisle with a joint top price of 8000gns.

 

The bids came for two ewe hoggs - one from Richard Hutchinson's Kirkby Redgate flock and the other from John Lord's Hewgill flock. Both flocks are based at Kirkby Stephen in Cumbria.

 

The Carlisle sale completed a phenomenal two days of selling for John Lord who achieved a new breed record price for a female when he sold a ewe hogg at Hawes last Saturday for £11,000.

 

"The breed is riding high at the moment. Demand has been tremendous at both sales," commented John Lord who runs 65 ewes in his Hewgill flock and which produced the previous female record holder at the 2011 Hawes fixture making £8000.

 

Note the Hawes sale is transacted in pounds sterling and the Carlisle sale in guineas.

 

(Harrison and Hetherington)

 

 

A new centre record of £11,000 was paid for a Blue faced Leicester gimmer hogg at Hawes today (Saturday). The North Yorkshire market saw a keen trade at the breed association's annual sale of females but it was a gimmer from the flock of noted breeders Messrs Lord, Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria that topped the day and achieved the new mart record.

 

The hogg (pictured above), by a Hewgill sire, heads for Northern Ireland with joint buyers S Laverty and R Loughridge, Co Antrim. She stood champion under judge Richard Thomas from Powys. The Lord family had a great day also selling at £7500, £5400 and £4600.

 

A gimmer shearling by a Smearsett tup and consigned by the Booth family from Feizor, Austwick, Lancaster stood reserve champion and made £5000 (pictured below) to A and K Pye, Lancaster. She was scanned in-lamb for triplets to a Smearsett sire. The flock's best gimmer hogg realised £2700.

 

Ripon, north Yorkshire breeders E Fairburn and Sons sold a gimmer hogg at £3200 and one from Dales-based flock owners W C Porter and Son, Richmond achieved a best of £3200.

 

A 2008-bred ewe from P Ewbank, High Draymans topped a sale of "crowned" Swaledale ewes at the breed association's show and sale at Hawes making £3200 (below). She stood champion under judges R Harker, Gayle and B Thomas, Horton in Ribblesdale and was bought by RMS Livestock, Castle Bolton.

 

The reserve championship went to a gimmer shearling from M Skidmore, Wolf Cleugh. It made £1800 to D Hanson, Whitby. Gimmer hoggs peaked at £2500 for an entry from P Hallam, Arnfield Farm and bought by I Collinson, Bishop Auckland.

                

Blue faced Leicester - 74 sheep averaged £1425 (up £192 on 2011); gimmer hoggs £1528; gimmer shearlings £1780; ewes £507.

Swaledale - 26 sheep averaged £991 (up £206 on 2011); ewes £1233; gimmer shearlings £882; gimmer hoggs £828.

(Hawes Auction Mart).

 

 

Bluefaced Leicesters sold to a high of £16,500 at Carlisle last Friday, with the top price taken by a ram lamb from Messrs Lord, Hewgill. This son of B41 Hewgill is out of a dam by Z14 Hewgill and sold to in a two-way split to S Allan and Sons, Appleby, and G P Taylor and Sons, also Appleby.

Second best at £16,000 was a lamb from the James' family's Todhills flock. This son of Z6 Todhills is out of a dam by V10 Todhills and was split three ways between Messrs Busby, Dinsdale and Porter, all Richmond.

Following that at £9000 was the best of the day from Messrs Hall's Firth flock. This son of B4 Tanhouse is out of a dam by T5 Dreva and was knocked down to G Pirie, Drymen.

A pair then sold at 7000gns, with the first being a ram lamb from John Smith-Jackson. This was a C2 Shafthill son out of a dam by Z21 Shafthill and sold to a brace of Dumfries-based breeders in the form of K Park and Sons and J and A Brown.

Second at this money was one from Michael James' Duhonw flock. This was a son of B1 Duhonw out of a dam by A5 Hawkswell and sold to J C and E Pedley and Son, Sedbergh.

And selling for 6000gns was another from John Smith-Jackson. This was a son of B20 Shafhill and out of a dam by S25 Shafhill. He sold to Crowhall Farms, Hexham.

Then at 5500gns was a C4 St Ravenscar son from G T Davies and Son, Ty-Gwyn. Out of a dam by W22 Midlock he went home with H G and D Dixon, Morpeth, and R S Mackay, also Morpeth.

Averages; :  121 shearling rams £654.38, 15 aged rams £566.67, 419 ram lambs £925.39,  five ewes £690.00,  41 shearling ewes £462.44, 32 ewe lambs £382.50 (Harrison and Hetherington).

Last week's marathon Bluefaced Leicester sale at Hawes saw both pedigree and Mule breeders reinvesting in the best available crossing tups throughout the 15.5 hour selling stint.

Leading the prices was the pre-sale champion, a tup lamb from Jack Lawson, Hundith. This one is sired by the £9000 Asby Hall tup and out of a ewe by Y1 Midlock. Auctioneer Raymond Lund finally felling the hammer at £16,000, with the tup away to the Bull and Cave flock run by Mark Nelson.

Next best came from the Midlock pen of the Wight family. Their pen leader D41 Midlock, was an ET bred lamb out of a dam by B4 Tanhouse and by last year's £9000 C2 Hewgill champion. He sold at £14,000 to Granville and Paul Fairburn, Marriforth.

Following that was a £10,000 sale for the best of the day from Messrs Lords' Hewgill flock. This one is by B41 Hewgill and out of a ewe by Z14 Hewgill and was bought by George and Josh Shields, Skeughdale.

Then came a £9500 sale for D2 Middleton Hall from David Watson. He's by £2100 sire C2 Bull and Cave and out of a dam by Y15 Hundith and sold to Ashley Caton, Otterburn Lodge.

A brace of lambs then sold at £8500, with the first coming early in the day from Michael James, Duhonw. This one was D3 Dunhonw, a son of A5 Hawkswell out of a dam by Y4 Tanhouse and was knocked down in a four way split to  Messrs Wight Midlock, Harry Gass, Nunscleugh, Messrs Hall, Firth and C Dick, Hamildean.

The other lamb at £8500 came late in the sale from Gordon Rosethorne's Lunesdale pen. Sired by B1 Highberries and out of a dam by M1 Star Green, this one was also shared, with half going to Phillip Dawson, Kentmere and the other half taken by Neil Marston.

And at £8000 was the best of the aged tups a homebred son of £17,000 W2 Lunesdale from W A & A Booth. He's out of a dam by M1 Star Green and has been used at home for several seasons.   He went to Messrs Hutchinson's Kirkby Redgate flock. At the same money was a tup lamb from the same home which sold to R Hargreraves, Barley.

Averages; ram lambs £1401, shearling rams 843, aged rams £1448 (Hawes Farmers Mart).

Bluefaced Leicester breeders reaped the rewards of the strong breeding sheep trade at Castle Douglas on Friday, when a new Scottish record was set for the breed.

Leading the sale was a ram lamb from Messrs Park and Mills, Auchens, Sanquahr, which sold at £18,000 to J and J Cunningham, Parkgatestone, Biggar. Their consignment of eight lambs averaged £3481.25.

In the shearling section an Agglethorpe sired ram from J and A Brown, Macqueston,
Tynron, led the sale at £3900 selling to Loughridge Bros, Northern Ireland. Messrs Brown
went on to sell 10 shearlings to average £1925. Shearling ewes sold to £1000 for one
from J and M Kerr, Craigksean.
 
Averages; 107 ram lambs £870, 189 shearling rams £694.18 (Wallets Marts)

More details to follow.....

Monday's NSA ram sale at Builth Wells saw a buoyant trade with buyers ready to pay good prices for good sheep saw a top price of 6800gns paid for a Bluefaced Leicester and a total of 152 more rams sold than last year, with the sale turnover rising by more than £92,000. Overall 4663 sheep sold to level at £490.96, a rise of £3.95 on 2010.

The 6800 guineas sale was achieved by Aled Jones of Meddiant Isa, Talycafn, Conwy Valley, for D1 Craig Yr Orsedd, a son of B1 Arkleby out of a dam by T29 Scrainwood.  He sold to Myrfyn Roberts, Myfyrian Isaf, Gaerwen, Anglesey. Mr Jones has chosen to retain a half share in the ram.He also had the top price yearling, which sold for 1700gns and the top priced female which sold for 580gns. "The ram lamb was the lamb of a lifetime from the start and was first in the Welsh progeny show in Welshpool in August."

Headline prices at the sale, Europe's biggest, hovered around the 5000gns mark, with 5500gns paid for a Lleyn shearling ram bred by Emrys and Dylan Jones, Lluest Wen, Commins Coch, Machynlleth, He sold to Christine Lewis of Caersws in partnership with Alun Bennett, Meifod. This one was by Bronallt Big Daddy and out of a dam by Balliney Action Man.Next best of the day was a 5000gns for a Texel Angela Nairey's Meainspriede flock, Heys Lane, Blackburn. This one sold to Russell and Gill Watkins of the Millend Flock, Craswell, Herefordshire.And at the same money was a Talybont Welsh Mountain bred by Rob and Llinos Jones, Lower Argoed, Llandeilo Grabham, Erwood. This sold to Rob Davies, Ty Canol, Talybont on Usk.At 3200gns was a Charollais ram lamb bred by Dewi Evans of Tyddyn y Ffrwd,Llangallo, Moelfre, Anglesey. This one was knocked down to Willie and Carole Ingram for their Logie Durno flock, Aberdeenshire.Ram sale chairman Gwynne Davies said that it had been a good sale with the best tups selling exceptionally well. "Both vendors and purchasers have gone home happy. People are willing to pay good money for quality sheep which in the long term will produce the best lambs.
 
Principle averages; 500 Bluefaced Leicester shearling rams £580.43, 103 Bluefaced Leicester ram lambs £531.93, 427 Suffolk shearling rams £541.25, 69 Berrichon Du Cher shearling rams £404.45, 23 Berrichon Du Cher ram lambs £472.73, 48 Beltex shearling rams £523.41, 179 Beltex cross shearlings £536.90, 744 Texel shearling rams £606.14, 300 Texel ram lambs £343.63, 217 Welsh Mountain shearling rams £482.32, 69 South Country Cheviot shearlings £332.65, 163 North Country Cheviot shearling rams £403.69, 162 Lleyn shearling rams £457.16, 298 Charollais shearling rams £614.60, 244 Charollais ram lambs £490.70.

The buoyant Mule trade and overall confidence in the sheep sector failed to translate into a strong Bluefaced Leicester trade at Ballymena, with the top price set at just 2200gns and buyers only bidding strongly for the best of the sheep on offer.

Taking this lead call was a shearling tup from G Walsh, Quoile. This tup, bred by R Kerr, Randox, and by Z8 Lenmore, caught the eye of regular buyer, J Stewart.

Next best of the day was the leading call in the ram lambs, the day's pre-sale champion from Alistair Christie, The Fields.

This one had also stood first in his class at Antrim and Ballymoney shows earlier in the summer and is by X3 St Ravenscar and is out of a ewe by V10 Todhills. Buying the lamb was B Blaney, Cushendall Farm.

Aside from these two buyers were reluctant to break the 2000gns mark, with several lots falling just short of this figure. First to get near was a shearling from Robert Loughridge, Orravale.

This one, not shown is by 3200gns B41 Midlock and out of a T1 Airyolland daughter. He sold at 1900gns to P Staunton, Co Mayo.  

A second to hit the 1900gns mark was from Larne breeder John Holden. His C3 Blairmount, by Firth E+ is out of a ewe by an Orravale sire. He was bought by M Gingles, Kilwaughter. Mr Holden's first into the ring, C6 Blairmount, and by the same sire sold in an 1850gns deal to J McCalmont, Glenarm.

Robert Loughridge then collected 1750gns for his second prized tup, C20 Orravale, sired by B16 Tan House and out of a ewe by W1 Hawshaw. He sold to R Hayes, Plumbrudge.

Hitting 1700gns was a shearling from C A Coulter, Carrick Rock. This was C22 Duhonw, a Michael James bred son of A5 Old Hemley E+. He sold to Michelle Wright.

A total of 4457 rams changed hands at Kelso on Friday for an average price of £649.71, with just shy of 85% of those forward finding new homes, with many taking the strong average as another sign of the optimism pervading in the sheep trade following a strong lamb selling year and bumper replacement ewe prices.

And, while commercial buyers were the mainstay of the strong trade, it was the top end pedigree breeders who paid the day's highest prices.

Taking the top call of the day  at £15,000 was Maurice Hardy-Bishop, Grey Peel, with his Texel shearling ram by Drinkstone Oh So Smart. This one was in the top 1% of the breed for performance recording and was sold in a three-way split to Bruce Goldie, Goldies, Ted Fox, College, and Jonathan Watson, Brijon.

Next best call of the sale was a £7600 bid which saw Mr Watson recoup his outlay when he sold a Texel shearling by College O2 to John Elliot, Roxburgh Mains.

Another pair of Texels took the sale's next highest bid of £7000, with both of these coming from the Gray family's Langside flock. Both of their pen leaders were sons of Rascarrel Panther and sold to Douglas Fleming, Burnhead, and Paul Slater, Whiteley Hey.

Then at £6500 was the best Bluefaced Leicester of the day from Messrs Hall, Lilyburn Firth. This was a son of Tanhouse B4 and sold to Crowhall farms, Hexham

At £4500 was another Texel shearling from the Grays, this was a son Springwell Opinion which was bought by Neil Crighton, Loanend.

And at the same money was another Bluefaced Leicester from Messrs Hall which sold to W Lockhart, Laggan, Monaive.

Messrs Bell, Teviot, then sold their best Texel shearling of the day at £3800. This was a Mitchelhill Paparazzis son which also sold to Mr Crighton.

The largest consignment of the sale once again came from Malcolm and Alistair Stewart's Sandyknowe flock of Suffolks, with their top call a £2000 bid and their 100 strong run levelling the day at £664.40, while the strongest average of the sale was achieved by the Halls with their 18 Bluefaced Leicester shearlings selling to average £1912.22 for 18 sold.

Ram lambs

Best of the day in the ram lambs was a £5000 sale for a Suffolk tup lamb from Iain Barbour, Solwaybank. This one sold to a brace of Southern Irish buyers in the form of Gerry Killelea and James Rooney.

And second top of £2700 came in the Bluefaced Leicesters, when Messrs A G and D Bisset, Middle Dukesfield, sold a son of X6 Clennell.

At the same money was a Texel tup lamb from Robbie Wilson's Milnbank flock, while at £2600 was a Suffolk ram lamb from R Gray's Langside flock.

A £2400 sale saw the Wight family sell the best of their Bluefaced Leicester ram lamb from their Midlock flock, with this one by the same B4 Tanhouse sire as the top priced Bluefaced shearling of the sale.

Averages; Registered rams; 101 Beltex shearlings £462.08, nine Beltex ram lambs £346.67, nine Berrichon Du Cher shearlings £572.22, 14 Berrichon Du Cher ram lambs £405.71, three Blue Texel shearlings £850, 482 Bluefaced Leicester shearlings £879.25, 25 Bluefaced Leicester ram lambs £1012.80, 64 Border Leicester shearlings £545.16. 256 Charollais shearlings £533.75, 58 Charollais ram lambs £376.59, four Easycare shearlings £562.50, 11 Hampshire Down shearlings £460, 108 Lleyn shearlings £375.74, two Millenium Bleu shearlings £300, 74 North Country Cheviot shearlings £383.38, 10 Oxford Down shearlings £219, two Poll Dorset shearlings £415, three Poll Dorset ram lambs £233.33, 455 Suffolk shearlings £712.99, 280 Suffolk ram lambs £587.57, 1144 Texel shearlings £717.11,  89 Texel ram lambs £415.84, eight Vendeen shearlings £487.50. Unregistered rams; 10 Beltex shearlings £219, 465 crossbred rams £509.68, 16 crossbred ram lambs £436.25, 486 Suffolk shearlings £718.19, 269 Texel shearlings £592.97.

Black Welsh Mountain

E O Williams' pair of shearling ewes; res, E O Williams' ram.

 

Bluefaced Leicester

Messrs H W & H M Braddick's ewe lamb.

 

Bleu du Maine

Messrs Norman & Vile's shearling ram; res, Mrs J Bury's senior ram.

 

Charollais

Mrs Jennifer Curtis's ewe; res, Mr G F Burrough's ram.

 

Devon Closewool

Mrs H Marks' shearling ram; res, Mr P A  Dallyn's shearling ewe. 

 

Devon & Cornwall Longwool

J A Darke Ltd's ram; res, J A Darke Ltd's ewe with her lambs.

 

Dorset Down

W D Burrough & Sons Ltd's ram lamb; res, W D Burrough & Sons Ltd's shearling ram.

 

Dorset Horn and Poll Dorset

Mr Rod Dallyn's shearling ewe; res, R & R M Hole's ram lamb.

 

Exmoor Horn

Messrs T  Atkins & Sons' ram; res, Messrs T  Atkins & Sons' yearling ewe.

 

Greyface Dartmoor

Miss Christine Nugent's ewe; res, Mrs S James' yearling ram.

 

Hampshire Down

Mr C J Westlake's pair of ram lambs.

 

Jacob

Dr Jerry Strong's ram; res, J & A Milner's shearling ewe.

 

Lleyn

Mr P J & M Hendy's shearling ewe; res, Mr P J & M Hendy's shearling ewe with twin lambs at foot.

 

Oxford Down

Mrs C J Watson and G C & Grain's ewe; res, Mrs C J Watson and G C & Grain's ram lamb.

 

Ryeland

Mr R P Wear's ewe; res, Mr J (Ifan)E O Lloyd's ram lamb.

 

Scotch Blackface

W J & D M Jordan's ram; res, W J & D M Jordan's yearling ewe.

 

Suffolk

Mr R F Holmes' shearling ewe; res, Mr Phillip Brooks' ram lamb.

 

Texel

Mr C S Pontings' ram; res, Mr A J Carter's shearling ram.

 

Zwartbles

R & V  Grinnall's ram lamb; res, Mr Peter Coombs' ewe.

 

Commercial sheep

Mr Roger Lyons' ewe; res, Steve and Rachel Stamp's ewe. 

Bluefaced Leicester females sold to a high spot of £750 at Skipton on Wednesday, with the top price claimed by Ellis Brothers of Ilkley with a ewe hogg.

This one, which had been champion in the pre-sale show is by a homebrd tup and out of a dam by a Kirkby Redgate sire. She sold to A P Percival, Haworth.

Selling at £600 was an in-lamb ewe from Ashley Caton, Otterburn. This one is by a Bull and Cave sire and was carrying lambs by Midlock X2. She went to G and G Schofield, Buckden.

Then making £480 was an in-lamb ewe from John Stott, Chipping Preston. This one by an Oak House tup was bought by D I Holliday, Clapham.

Following that at £450 was a ewe hogg from Ashley Caton which went to J C and N Troup, Draughton. This was sired by Midlock X2.

Averages; in-lamb ewes £420.10, ewe hoggs £304.28 (Craven Cattle Marts).

Bluefaced Leicester breeders enjoyed a flying female trade at Carlisle on Monday, with buyers from across the UK eager to invest in the best bloodlines available.

Taking the top call in the sale at 6900gns was the pre-sale champion, a hogg from Richard Hutchinson's Kirkby Redgate flock. This one is by £11,000 sire A1 Hewgill and out of a dam by the noted sire W1 Keerwas. She sold in a two way split to Nothern Irish breeders Hugh Henry, Starbog and Graham and Julie Loughery, Temain.Second best of the day was a 4800gns call for another of the hoggs, this time from Messrs Lord's Hewgill flock. This one, by Z14 Hewgill, had stood third in the pre-sale show and sold to James Porter, Riddings.Then making 3800gns was the best of the day from Henry Gass, Nunscleugh. This was a hogg by homebred sire A8 Nunscleugh which sold to K J McGrath, Co Donegal.
At 2700gns was one from Builth Wells-based Michael James. This was hogg by B1 Duhonw and out of a dam by Y4 Tan House. She went back to Wales with M Roberts.A pair of in-lamb shearlings then sold at the next best call of 2600gns. First to make this money was one from the Hewgill entry of Messrs Lord. This was a V45 Hewgill daughter out of a dam by M8 Hewgill. Sold in lamb to B41 Hewgill, she went to Jimmy Bell for the Cottage flock.Second at this money was the best from the Midlock consignment from the Wight family. This was a daughter of £6000 sire A2 Craigskean and carrying twins to Midlock Controversy. She sold to R Loughery, Northern Ireland.Then another from the same home made 2400gns. This time an X001 Riddings daughter out of a dam by V003 Bull and Cave. She was also in-lamb to Controversy and sold to Gordon Gray, Selkirk.Selling at 2200gns was one from Jimmy Bell's Cottage consignment. This was a hogg by A1 Glenane Magners out of a dam by W23 Welland. She sold to E D Harkin, Dunamanagh, Strabane.

Three then sold at 2000gns, with the first being the reserve champion from the pre-sale show,a  hogg by Z14 Hewgill. She sold to Tom Willoughby, Penhill. Second to make this money was another from Michael James, a hogg by B1 Duhonw. She went to W P Sutcliffe.

And the final sale at this price was the best price in the dispersal of traditionally-bred portion of the Archer family's Carry House flock. This was for a shearling by X4Heddon Valley and carrying twins to B4 Broomhills. She sold to R McClymount.

Averages;    57 ewes £498.11, 57 shearlings £817.53, 33 ewe hoggs £1385.05, (Harrison and Hetherington)

The dispersal of John and Margaret Kerr's Craigskean flock of Bluefaced Leicesters at Castle Douglas on Saturday sold to a peak of £7500 for a shearling ewe by Z1 Firth and out of a homebred dam X1. She was scanned carrying triplets and went to Gavin Kerr, Sauchrie Mains.

Second top at £3800 was another shearling by Z1 Firth and out of a homebred ewe X13. Scanned carrying a pair she sold to Henry Larne.

Best of the one-crop ewes was a £2600 bid for a Z1 Firth daughter carrying triplets which sold to R McTurk, Glenhowl, Dalry. In the older ewes the best sale was a £2300 bid for an X1 Craigskean daughter which went to S McClymount, Tinnis, and in the ewe lambs the sale topper sold for £2600.

Averages; 37 in-lamb ewes £1016.48, 19 in-lamb shearlings £1381.05, 31 ewe hoggs £763.87 (Wallets Marts).

Friday's sale of Bluefaced Leicesters saw yet another centre record set in a bumper autumn sheep sales season, with a top call of 10,000gns the best ever at Borderway Mart.

Taking the day's lead bid was a ram lamb by Z6 Todhills and out of a dam by K8 Hewgill, from Messrs James, Roadhead, Carlisle. This one sold in a two way split to
Neil Marston, Highberries and P Dawson, Kentmere Hall.Second top of the day was a 7800gns sale for a ram lamb from the Shafthill flock of John Smith-Jackson. This one, by Z4 Hundith and out of a ewe by homebred sire S15 Shafthill, sold to Messrs Booth for the Smearsett flock.Then at 7200gns was a shearling from the Todhills flock. This one is by the same sire as the top priced lamb and is out of a dam by W4 Hayshaw. He was snapped up by G W Less and Sons, Stockley Burn.Making 7000gns was the best of the day from Neil Marston, Highberries. This was a ram lamb by Z4 Hundith and out of a ewe by X1 Snab Green. He sold in a two-way split to L Smith, Roachburn and Messrs Collingwood, Ambling.And following that at 6500gns was another from the Shafhill flock. This was a Z21 Shaftrfill son out of  a dam by S25 Shafthill and sold to Alan Pye, Emmetts.Trading at 5500gns was Richard Thomas, Tanhouse, when he sold an A3 Old Hemley son out of  a dam by X2 Tanhouse to J A Holden and K McGrath, Co Donegal.

After that came a 5200gns bid for one from Messrs Hewson, Parton. This was a son of X2 Cernyw out of a ewe by Y1 Cendy E+. He was snapped up by A M Little, The Close and Messrs Thomason and Hayton, Pielview.

A pair then sold at 5000gns, the first of which was a B4 Tanhouse son from the Nunscleugh flock of Harry Gass. This one sold to Alan Barnes, Cowden. The second to make this price was another from Richard Tomas. Sired by A3 Old Hemley and out of a ewe by Midlock Controversey, he sold to W P Sutcliffe, Horton in Ribblesdale.

Making 4500gns was a Z6 Todhills son from Messrs James. This was snapped up by Messrs Alderson, Howgill Grange.

Averages; 10 aged rams £715, 111 shearling rams £911.71, 395 ram lambs £835.75, 43 shearling ewes £404.42, 39 ewes £281.79 (Harrison and Hetherington).

Here's a run down from last Tursday's mammoth Bluefaced Leicester sale at Hawes which I believe ran well into the early hours of Friday morning.

Top call in the ram lambs was a £19,000 bid for one from the Wights of Midlock. This was the pick of the pen all of which were by the £12,000 Tan House sire bought at Hawes last year. He was out of a dam by Controversy and sold in a three-way split to J Herdman, Eldingham, Messrs Snaith, Clennel and Messrs Sharp, Newbiiging Well.

Second best was a £14,000 call for another from the same home. By the same sire, this one was knocked down in a two way split to James Porter, Riddings, and Andrew and Mark Brown, Asby Hall.

Then at £10,500 was a lamb from Messrs Lord, Hewgill. This one was by Z14 Hewgill and out of a homebred dam and sold to Colin Lowis for his flock in the Lake District.

The Wights then reinvested some of their earnings when spending £9000 on the pre-sale champion, another from the Lords. This was also by Z14 Hewgill and is out of a dam by M8 Hewgill.

Making £10,000 was a ram lamb from Richard Thomas, Tan House, which had stood reserve champion in the pre-sale show. This is by A3 Old Hemley and is out of a ewe by X2 Tan House. He was snapped up by David and Stephen Abberley, buying for the Old Hemley flock.

Selling at £9200 was the best of the day from Jack Lawson, Hundith. This was a son of Y1 Midlock and sold to Messrs Allinson, Sealhouses.

Mr Thomas then sold his second best at £9100. This one was third behind his pen mate in the ram lamb class and is by the same Old Hemley sire. Buying this one was Hawes-based breeder Granville Fairburn, Marriforth.

In the shearlings the top call was a £7500 bid for one from Michael James, Builth Wells. This one is by R £ Dunhonw E+, he sold to James Porter, Riddings.

Averages; aged rams £1001, shearling rams £1064, ram lambs £1358 (Hawes Farmers Mart).

Taking the top call of £2400 at Hexham's sale of Bluefaced Leicesters was a shearling tup from the Brownleaze family. This one is by A2 Firth and out of a dam by X2 Highberries. Buying this one were two breeders, Messrs Snaith Clennel and J Herman, Eldingham.

Making £1500 was a shearling from Lowes Fell. This A5 Walton son was second in the pre-sale show and out of a dam by homebred W15 Lowes Fell. He was snapped up by Dennis Lumley.

Selling at £1400 was the champion in the pre-sale show, another shearling from Lowes Fell. This son of A5 Walton is out of a dam by a homebred tup and sold to G P Williams, for the Elian flock.

Trading at £1350 was a shearling tup from the Archer family's Carry House flock. This one is by Z1 Breck House and out of a dam by N25 Nunscleugh.

Video footage of the sale can be seen here

A new centre record was set at Castle Douglas on Friday when Bluefaced Leicesters sold to £9000 for a ram lamb from with Wight family, Midlock. This B4 Tanhouse son was bought in a two way split by Messrs Clark, Duncanziemere, and Messrs Hunter, Pennymore.

Following that at £3800 was an A2 Agglethorpe son from Alec Brown, Macqueston, which sold to Messrs Warnock, Dreva. This is out of a dam by X5 Riddings.

And in the shearlings the top call was a £4500 bid for a Z1 Firth son from J and M Kerr, Craigskean, which sold to Crwo Hall Farms, Barden Mill, Hexham.

At £3400 was another from Midlock, again by the Tanhouse sire and out of a dam by £4200 sire Z1 Midlock. He headed home to Northern Ireland with Graham and Julie Loughery.

At the same price was a shearling from Alec Brown. Sired by homebred tup Z8 Macqueston he went to Robert Loughridge for the Orravale flock, Northern Ireland.

Another from Mr Brown then sold at £3000, also finding a new home with Mr Loughridge. Also making this money was the best of the traditional type Bluefaces from Martin Archer's Carry House flock. this one by X4 Heddon Valley sold to J Dykes.

Averages; 172 shearlings £787.97, 124 ram lambs £762.54 (Wallets Marts).

Topping Bentham's sale of Bluefaced Leicesters on Satruday was a £7000 sale for a two shear from Gordon and James Rawsthorne. This one was by T006 Keer and sold to an undisclosed buyer.

Leading the shearling rams was a £5100 bid for a one from G W Whitwell, Lanshaw Farm, which sold to John Nutter, Hurst Green.

At £5000 was the champion from the pre-sale show, a tup lamb from the Rawsthornes, this one went to Messrs White, Barf House, Marrick.Averages; aged rams £669.76, shearling rams £805.36, ram lambs £697.72 (Richard Turner and Son).

The heady demand for breeding sheep this autumn was evident at Ballymena's Bluefaced Leicester sale last week, with a centre record price of 6000gns paid.

Leading the sale was the second prize tup lamb, Temain C1, from Graham and Jane Loughery. Out of the flock's show ewe, Lady Gaga, and by Orravale Y1, sire to the noted Magners. Some frantic bidding saw the hammer finally fall to James Mills, Kilwaughter. The Loughery's are also retaining a half share in the lamb. Top bid in the shearlings was a 4600gns call for the best from Robert Loughbridge's Orravale flock. This one was third in the show. By  Midlock A26, a grandson of Midlock Controversy, and out of a ewe bought from Midlock, herself by Controversy. Final bidder was Steven Kerr.In the lambs the next best was a 3600gns call for the fourth prize lamb from the Loughreys, by the same Orravale sire and out of a ewe by X2 Macqueston, he sold to Robert Loughery, Gortnarney.

Midlock A26 was also behind the champion which came from Mr Loughbridge's pen. It sold for 3100gns to John Skuce and is out of a ewe from John Parke's Forebraes flock which was bought at Castle Douglas for £5500. Another Midlock sired tup sold for 3100gns to Joe Adams and another for 2200gns to B Blaney.

Here's a brief report from Friday's tup sale at Kelso, more details will follow in due course.

Taking the top call of the day at £10,000 were Peter and Lynn Gray with a Texel shearling from their Scrogtonhead flock. This one is a son of Douganhill Monarch, Scrogtonhead Power House. He sold to Jack Arnott, Haymount and the Campbell family, Thrunton.Selling at £7000 was another Texel shearling, this time on from Douganhill Farms which sold to Fraser Beard, Carlisle.Following that at £6000 was one fromAlesx Gray, which sold to Lilburn Estates. This was a Clydeside Oscar son.Top call in the Bluefaced Leicesters on offer was a £7000 call for one from Firth. Then making £5500 was a Blueface from Dreva. Selling for £4800, a new Kelso record for a Suffolk shearling was one from Thrunton, this was a Strathisla Black and Gold son and sold to Mike Davis. Best in the Suffolk ram lambs was a £4200 call for one from the Benzies, Meikleson. This was a Strathisla Speed son.In the Border Leicesters, the breed which used to dominate the sales, the top call was a £3000 bid for one from John Jeffries, Kersnowe.Making £1800 was a Beltex two shear tup from Mary Dunlop, Corstane. More to follow in due course.....

And selling at £1200 was a Beltex shearling from Gavin Shanks, Inveresk.